86 PRACTICAL RABBIT KEEPING 



common wild chicory, and is extensively 

 forced for winter use across the water. In 

 times past great quantities of this forced Wit- 

 loof, or as it is called in the restaurants, 

 French endive, were sent to this country from 

 Belgium, but of course that trade was entirely 

 upset by the war. Owing to the lack of im- 

 portations, a number of American gardeners 

 began to grow it in a commercial way, and 

 roots can be obtained in the fall. There is no 

 reason, though, why any amateur shoudn't 

 grow this salad vegetable in his own garden, 

 and it is only necessary to plant seed in thg 

 spring, to thin the young plants sa that they 

 will stand a foot apart, and to dig up roots 

 when fall comes, keeping them in a cool place 

 until they are wanted. 



If the roots are buried in boxes of earth, 

 v\rith the crowns just at the surface, and the 

 boxes kept in a warrn place and the earth oc- 

 casionally moistened, white, crisp shpots will 

 soon start, and when a few inches high can be 

 cut for the table. The heads will grow more 

 compact and straight if three or fdur inches 

 of sand be placed over the crowns in the box. 

 The shoots will come right up through this 



