ON VEGETABLE CULTURE. 



1063 



of blanching Endive are adopted. One of the most primitive 

 is to place an inverted flower-pot over the plant, plugging up 

 the drainage hole to exclude 

 light. Another is to place two 

 boards together like an inverted 

 V over the rows of plants. 

 But where there is a Mush- 

 room-house that can be utilised, 

 it is far the best plan to take 

 up the plants with a good ball 

 of soil attached and place 

 them close together, taking 

 care not to give too much Fig- 682.— Broad-leaved Endive. 

 water, or the foliage will rot. 



In this way white and tender Endive is obtained. Successional 

 batches may be placed in the Mushroom-house as often and in 

 such quantities as may be necessary for requirements. The 

 difference between the Curled- and Broad-leaved varieties is 

 shown in Figs. 681 and 682. Extra Green Curled and Improved 

 Round-leaved Batavian are the best varieties. 



Herbs. 



No vegetable garden is complete without its herb-bed, and 

 as nearly all kinds may be easily raised from seed there is no 

 difficulty in getting together a collection. The situation should 

 be open, well-drained, and easy of access, so that the herbs 

 may be got at without trampling over the beds. Early in 

 April is a good time to sow, taking care to have the soil fine 

 and in good working order. The distances between the drills for 

 each kind will be determined by the height of the plants ; for 

 instance, Angelica should be in rows 6ft. apart, Fennel 3ft., and 

 Marjoram i8in. As the seedlings appear, overcrowding should be 

 guarded against by freely thinning. Nothing is gained — indeed, 

 very- much is lost — by congestion, not only in the case of herbs, 

 but also with other plants in the garden. 



Horse = Radish. 



To grow this well the ground should be trenched 2ft. deep, 

 and a good dressing of farmyard manure placed at the bottom 

 of the trench ; this will draw the roots straight down without 

 forking. Pieces of root with a crown, or bud, at the top may 

 be inserted a few inches from the surface and about ift. apart; 

 in a year very fine, thick, straight stems will be ready for use. 



Kale. — See " Borecole." 



Leeks. 



The Leek is so hardy and useful as a winter vegetable that 

 we are surprised it is not more frequently grown. At present 



