518 THE GARDENER’S : ASSISTANT. 
leaved varieties from 15 to 18 inches between 
the rows may be allowed. The winter crops 
are also frequently sown broadcast, in 4- or 5- 
Fig. 1285.—Spinach—Lettuce-ieaved. 
foot beds, with 1-foot alleys between. Previous | 
to sowing, if the ground is dry, the drills should | 
be well-watered ; it is also advantageous to steep 
the seeds before sowing for five or six hours, 
when their speedy germination is desired; but 
in this case they must not afterwards be allowed 
to get dry, nor suffer from want of water. 
After sowing, the seed-bed should be fre- 
quently watered in dry weather. When the 
young plants have made three or four leaves, 
they should be thinned out to about 2 inches 
apart ; afterwards, when rather further advanced, 
they may be thinned out to 6 or 9 inches apart 
in the rows. Some, before thinning the summer 
crops a second time, make a first gathering, and 
then cut out every alternate plant. After thin- 
ning, the culture is confined to keeping the | 
ground clean, stirring occasionally, and watering 
frequently and copiously in dry weather. In 
gathering for use, the largest leaves should be 
taken off first, either by cutting or picking, the | 
others being left to produce in succession; but 
during the heat of summer the plants may be 
cut over. 
The varieties are few. 
Flanders.—Leaves large, hastate, from 6 to 8 inches in 
breadth. A hardy and good winter sort. 
Lettuce-leaved (fig. 1285).—Leaves very large, rounder 
than those of the preceding sort, of thick substance, and 
of a dark-green colour. It is not perhaps quite so hardy 
as Flanders, but on account of its superior quality at least 
half of the ground allotted for the winter crop should be 
occupied by it. 
Prickly-seeded (Winter).—Readily distinguished by its 
seeds being prickly. Leaves smaller and thinner than 
those of Flanders and Lettuce-leaved, to which varieties 
it is inferior in everything but hardiness. 
Summer (Round).—Leaves large, roundish, and thick. 
This sort is adapted for summer use; all the others for 
winter supply. In consequence of its soon running to 
seed it requires to be sown frequently. 
Tansy (TLanacetum vulgare).—A hardy per- 
renial, a native of Kurope. The young aromatic 
leaves are employed in colouring and flavouring 
puddings, &c. 
Tansy may be raised from seeds sown in 
spring, or by division of the roots in autumn. 
By topping the plants before they come into 
flower the production of young leaves will be 
encouraged. The plants will thrive for many 
years in the same place. 
Tarragon (Artemisia Dracunculus) (fig. 1286). 
—A perennial, native of Siberia. The aromatic 
leaves and tops are used in salads and soups, 
are pickled with Gherkins, and an infusion of 
them in vinegar forms the much-esteemed 
Tarragon vinegar. 
Tarragon requires a free, light, somewhat dry 
soil, and a warm situation. It is propagated by 
dividing the roots in March or April, planting 
them in deeply-dug ground, 8 inches apart, in 
rows from 12 to 15 inches asunder, covering the 
roots with soil to the depth of 2 or 3 inches. It 
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Fig. 1256.—'larragon (Artemisia Dracunculus). 
may also be propagated by cuttings of the shoots, 
taken off in July or August, planted under a 
hand-glass, and transplanted when they have 
made good roots, water being given at planting 
and until they are established. As the plants 
are liable to be injured by severe frost, it is a 
good plan to cut them down at the approach of 
winter, and to cover the crowns with a little 
mould and then with litter. In spring the 
ground should be slightly stirred, but not so 
—e 
