96 



MY GARDEN. 



All lettuces contain a principle allied to opium ; for this reason 

 lettuces should be blanched, when less of the soporific principle is 

 produced. Gardeners handling lettuces all day beconae sleepy. 



After the lettuce, and particularly for late autumn, winter, and early 

 spring use, the Endive {Cichorium Endivia) is valuable. There are 

 numerous varieties, but we generally restrict our cultivation to the 

 narrow, green, curled {C. E. crispd), and broad Batavian varieties (Cicho- 

 rium . Endivia latifolia), of which I have figured the narrow-leaved 

 variety (fig. 131). We sow the seed in July, and transplant the young 

 plants into rich ground. After they have grown they are taken up with 

 a ball and placed in one of our cold frames, where they are blanched 

 for use. If not quite white, the plant is very bitter. 



Fig. 131. — Curled Endive. 



Fic, 132. — Chicory. 



Allied to the endive we grow Chicory {Cichorium Intybus, fig. 132) 

 for salad. It is sown from March to June, as we desire large or small 

 roots. The roots are taken up in winter and planted in a warm cellar 

 or other dark place, when the young leaves which sprout are used*as 

 salading. It is indispensable that the leaves should be thoroughly 

 blanched, or they are so bitter as not to be fit for eating. The 

 number of leaves which a few roots- will produce is surprising, but 

 chicory should rather be us«d to mix with other salad plants than 

 employed by itself. The French use the leaves under the term of 

 Barbe du Capucin, and it is sold in moderate quantites in Covent 

 Garden market, but not nearly to the extent it deserves. Every 

 London householder should, throughout the winter, have some roots ; 

 if they are kept in a dark cellar, either in a pot of sand or placed 



