Crops Grown for Their Leaves 243 
they may be used for forcing during the winter. Trim 
the roots to be used for forcing to a length of 8 inches, and 
cut away the leaves, allowing a short “ crown ” to remain 
on the roots. Then set the roots, about 4 inches 
apart, in a box, placing earth about them to the level of 
the crowns. Water the soil thoroughly, and the next day 
add about 8 inches of clean sand. Place the box in a 
moderately warm cellar (a temperature ranging from 50° 
to 60° is excellent) and keep the sand and soil moist. 
In about 15 days leaves will begin to protrude through 
the sand, and some of the heads will be ready for use. 
The same box and soil may be used for forcing suc- 
cessive crops. ‘The head is a closely compacted, elon- 
gated cluster of tender and well-blanched leaves. The 
ease with which this delightful salad may be had during 
the winter months justifies its thorough trial by the 
home gardener. 
COOL-SEASON LEAFY CROPS GROWN BY THE TRANS- 
PLANTING METHOD 
In general, celery, the various members of the cab- 
bage “tribe, pe-tsai, and head lettuce are long-period 
crops. To obtain good spring or early summer crops 
before hot weather arrives, the plants are forced by 
the transplanting method. The late or autumn crops are 
grown directly from seeds or by transplanting from sow- 
ings made late in spring, or in southern sections even in. 
late summer. Head lettuce is usually grown best as a 
spring crop. Early and late crops of celery, pe-tsai, and 
the various cabbages may be grown, but the main crops of 
these mature in autumn. In many sections of the north- 
