Book I. 



SPINACEOUS PLANTS. 



635 



terwards occasionally, till the atmosphere is settled and temperate. Replace it constantly at night till there 

 is no danger of much ftost happening ; then wholly discontinue the covering." 



3763. Pods for pickling. " Radish seed-pods should be taken for pickling when of plump growth, in July 

 and August, while still young and green." 



3764. To save seed. " Transplant a sufficiency of the finest plants in April or May, 

 when the main crops are in full perfection. Draw them for transplanting in moist wea- 

 ther, selecting the straightest, best-colored roots, with the shortest tops, preserving the 

 leaves to each ; plant them, by dibble, in rows two feet and a half distant, inserting each 

 root wholly into the ground, down to the leaves. Keep the red and salmon-colored kinds 

 in- separate situations, to prevent a commixture of their farina, and to preserve the kinds 

 distinct. With proper watering, they will soon strike, and shoot up in branchy stalks, 

 producing plenty of seed ; which will be ripe in September or October. In transplanting 

 for seed the turnip-rooted kinds, select those with the neatest-shaped roundest roots, of 

 moderate growth, and with the smallest tops. They, as the others, will yield ripe seed in 

 autumn. To obtain seed of the winter sorts, sow in the spring to stand for seed ; or 

 leave or transplant, in that season, some of the winter-standing full roots. As the different 

 kinds ripen seed in autumn, cut the stems ; or gather the principal branches of pods ; 

 and place them in an open airy situation, towards the sun, that the pod, which is of a 

 tough texture, may dry, and become brittle, so as readily to break, and give out the seed 

 freely, whether it be threshed or rubbed out." 



3765. For forcing the radish, see Chap. VII. Sect. XIII. 



Sect. IV. Spinaceous Plants. 



3766. As the excellence of spinaceous plants consists in the succulency of the leaves, 

 almost every thing depends on giving them a rich soil, stirring it frequently, and sup- 

 plying water in dry seasons. The space they occupy in the garden is not considerable, 

 say a thirtieth part ; more especially as some of them, the common spinage for example, 

 often comes in as a temporary crop between rows of peas, or beans, or among cauliflowers 

 and broccolis, &c. The plant of this class the most deserving of culture in the cottage 

 garden, is the Swiss chard, which produces abundance of succulent, and most nutritious 

 foliage. It is to be found in every cottage garden in Switzerland and the north of 

 France. 



SuBSECT. 1. Sjnnage. — Spinacia oleracea, L. (Schk. Hand. iii. t. 324.) Dioec. Hex. L. - 

 and Chenopodece, B. P. Ujnnard, Fr. ; Spinat, Ger. ; and Sjnnaci, Ital. 



3767. The common spinage is an annual plant, cultivated in this country since 1568, 

 and probably long before ; but of what country it is a native is not certainly known ; 

 some refer it to Western Asia. The leaves are large, the stems hollow, branching, and, 

 when allowed to produce flowers, rising from two to three feet high. The male and fe- 

 male flowers, as the name of the class imports, are produced on different plants ; the 

 former come in long terminal spikes; the latter in clusters, close to the stalk at every joint. 

 It is almost the only dioecious plant cultivated for culinary purposes. 



3768. Use. The leaves are used in soups ; or boiled alone, and mashed and served 

 up with gravies, butter, and hard-boiled eggs. The leaves may be obtained from sowings 

 in the open ground at most seasons of tiie year, but chiefly in spring, when they ar^ 

 largest and most succulent. 



3769. Varieties. These are — 



The round-leaved, or smooth-seeded | The oblong triangular-leaved, or prickly seeded. 



3770. Estimate of sorts. " These varieties of spinage are adapted for culture, principally, at two differ- 

 ent seasons. The round-leaved sort, of which the leaves are larger, thicker, and more juicy, is mostly 

 sown in spring and summer, for young spinage in those seasons : the triangular-leaved is chiefly sown in 

 autumn, to stand for winter and the following spring ; for the leaves being less succulent, it is hardier to 

 stand the inclement weather : but a portion of this is acceptable, when the other sort is principally 

 raised." 



3771. Summer crop. " Begin in January, if open weather, with sowing a moderate crop of the round- 

 leaved. Sow a larger quantity in February ; and more fully in March. The plants presently fly to seed in 

 summer, especially if they stand crowded ; it is therefore proper to sow about once in three weeks, from the 

 beghining of March to the middle of April : then, every week till the middle of May : from which time, 

 till the end of July, sow once a fortnight. Small crops, thus repeated, will keep a succession during the 

 rest of summer and throughout autumn. A portion of the prickly seeded spinage may be sown as thought 

 proper, to come in among the successive summer crops; and if drilled between lines of other vegetables, 

 will encroach less than the smooth-seeded, a thing to be considered where the spare room is not of a liberal 

 width." 



S772. Soil and situation. " The soil which suits any of the general summer crops will do for spinage ; 

 that for the early crop should be lightest and driest. For a January sowing, allot a warm border, or the 

 best-sheltered compartment. Afterwards, for all the supplies during summer, sow in an open compartment. 

 "Where it is necessary to make the utmost of the ground, the spring sowings, in February, March, and 

 April, may be made in single drills between wide rows of young cabbages, beans, peas, or other infant 

 crops of slow growth ; or they may be made still better on spots intended to receive similar plants, including 

 cauliflowers and horse-radish ; and the spinage will be off before the slower-growing crops advance consi- 

 derably ; or spinage and a thin crop of radishes may be sown together; and the radishes will be drawn in 

 time, to give room for the spinage." 



3773. Seed and process in sowing. " When raised by itself, spinage is generally sown broad-cast, and 

 two ounces will sow a bed four feet and a half by thirty feet : but in drills one ounce will sow the same 

 space. In drills, it is easier to weed and gather : let the drills be from nine to twelve inches apart. Bcdi 



