Book I. 



ENDIVE. 



655 



above culture, the successive crops will advance freely to a stocky growth : the earliest will cabbage mo- 

 derately in May, but more fully in June, and in perfection in July and August. 



3973. Crop raised on heat. " For an accelerated crop, some may be sovra in the 

 beginning or middle of February on a gentle hot-bed. When the plants are one or two 

 inches high, in March or April, prick a portion either into a warm border, if a mild 

 season, and let them be shielded with mats, during nights and bad weather ; or into ii 

 frame or slender hot-bed, to bring them more forward. According to their progress, in 

 April or May, transplant them into the open garden, from six to twelve inches asundt-r, 

 to remain for heading." 



3974. Winter-standing crop. " To have lettuces for drawing in minor growth for use, during winter, 

 and to stand over in part for returns in a muture stage, early next spring and, the beginning of summer, 

 sow in the third week of August and in the first fortnight of September, the suitable hardy sorts. You 

 may, further, towards the close of September, sow a smaller portion on a warm border or sloping terrace ; 

 the plants to remain and take the chances of the weather : if these survive, they will be acceptable in the 

 spring ; some to thin out for use young, and the remainder to transplant for larger growth, early in sum- 

 mer, without running. The plants of the August and September sowing, will soon appear, and will be 

 ready to transplant the same season. Some may remain where sown, and a good portion may be trans- 

 planted to warm borders ; a quantity of the choice Cos may be planted in beds of light dry earth, under 

 frames or hand-lights, or under awnings, to have the protection of mats in cold nights, and partially on 

 inclement days. Accordingly, about the middle or end of September, and in October, when the plants 

 are two or three inches high, prick out a quantity (taking first those of the August sowing), from the 

 seed-beds into prepared warm-lying ground, in rows six inches by four apart. From such as remain in the 

 seed-beds, you may conveniently thin out some young plants, for occasional use in the winter, but so as 

 to leave a competency to remain for spring. As October advances, let some considerable quantity of 

 choice lettuces of the September sowing be pricked out from the seed-bed into dry sheltered south borders, 

 three or four inches asunder, wholly to continue for spring and early summer lettuces. Through October 

 to the beginning of November, it is advisable to prick a quantity of the Cos kinds thickly, in frames or 

 under hand-lights, to have protection during the night, and in all bad Winter weather ; or, if deficient 

 in frames and glasses, you may transplant a part hito a south border, to be arched over with hoops, and 

 covered occasionally with mats ; or, as the young plants are tender in winter, protection, afforded in 

 some of these ways, will preserve them more effectually in rigorous weather. During the winter, let 

 those in frames, and the others under occasional shelter, have the free air on all mild dry days j but let 

 them be defended always at night with the glasses, and with mats or other additional covering in intense 

 frost or very rigorous weather : in the day-time, protect them from heavy rain, snow, and frost, but so 

 as to admit the light ; also, in a severe season, you may cover the choicer plants in the open borders with 

 mats, light straw-litter, or fern ; or occasionally with reed panels, or wattled hurdles, placed slantingly 

 over to the wall. These coverings should be continued only in rigorous frosts, and removed when the weather 

 is open. Then in the spring, about March or April, the plants in open borders, which have survived the 

 winter, should be thinned, so as to stand from six to twelve inches apart ; and those thinned out may be 

 planted in another compartment at the same distance. At the same period, all the lettuces which have 

 wintered under frames, hand-glasses, or mats, should be transplanted into the open garden. In their 

 final stations, the whole will advance to useful sizes in the course of April, or will reach full growth with 

 stocky hearts about May : thus the table may be supplied till the early crops of spring succeed. The 

 plants first sown in the current year come to have good heads in June and July. Winter and early spring 

 lettuce may be further accelerated by transplanting some of the strongest autumn-raised plants, interme- 

 diately protected, as above, by frames or glasses, into hot-beds, or the borders of forcing-stoves : trans- 

 plant the lettuces to be thus forced, with balls of earth about the roots, in December, January, and 

 February. Those excited by heat in December, will have cabbaged hearts by the beginning of March." 



3975. To save seed. " Leave or transplant either some of the early winter-standing plants, in March 

 or April, or of the forwardest spring.sown crops, in May or beginning of June, fifteen inches asunder. 

 They will produce ripe seed in August and September." (Abercrombie.) 



SuBSECT. 2. Endive. — Cichorium Endivia, L. Si/7ig. Polyg. ^qu. L, and Cicho- 

 racecB, J. Chicoree des Jardins, Fr. ; Endivie, Ger. ; and E7idivia, Ital. 



3976. The endive is a hardy annual, a native of China and Japan, and introduce4 

 1548. The root-leaves are numerous, large, sinuate, toothed, and smooth ; the stem 

 rises about two feet high, is branched, and produces pale-blue flowers in July and 

 August. 



3977. 'Use. It is cultivated for the stocky head of leaves, which, after being blanched 

 to take away the bitter taste, are used in salads and stews in autumn, winter, and spring- 

 It is in great repute both in England and on the continent. 



3978. The varieties are — 



Green curled-leaved ; principal sort for the main crops ( Broad-leaved Batavia ; of largest upright growth. 

 Wliite curled-leaved I 



3979. Estimate of sorts. " All the sorts are eligible for culture; but allot, principally, 

 the green curled for the main crops of autumn and winter endive, this being of tlie most 

 stocky full growth, and hardiest to stand severe weather. As to the others, allot a smaller 

 portion of the white curled for early summer and autumn use : of the broad-leaved kind, 

 provide a moderate crop for autumn, till November or December ; being by some 

 esteemed preferable for stew^s and soups, though not much used in salads." 



3980. Propagation. All the varieties are raised from seed, of which, for a seed-bed 

 four feet wide by ten in length, half an ounce is sufficient. 



3981. Times of sowing. The proper seasons are. May for a smaller early crop ; and principally June and 

 July to the beginning of August ; for full and succession crops, all autumn and winter, till the following 

 wring. For, if sown earlier than the middle of May or beginning of June, they will mostly run to stalk 

 the same season, before attaining mature useful growth. If any are required for early young summer 

 endive, sow only a small portion of the white curled, in April or May, as the plants will soon run to seed. 

 In the middle or towards the end of May, you may begin sowing moderately of the different sorts ; but do 

 not sow fully till nearly the middle of June, that the plants may st^nd without running the same year. 

 About the twelfth and twcnty-fifth of that month, also at the beginning and middle of July, sow the maiu 



