188 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



its blue flowers sometimes introduce it into tlie flower- 

 garden. 



Culture. — Endives delight in a light rich soil, dug 

 deeply to admit its tap roots, and to serve as a drain for 

 any superfluous moisture in the winter standing crop. The 

 situation should be open and free from shade of trees. 



Sow the seed in August and September. Sow at this 

 season if possible everything just before a shower — draw 

 a furrow the depth of your hoe, in the bottom of which 

 scatter your seed thinly, and cover slightly with earth, 

 pressing it upon the seed. Plant in the evening, and 

 water copiously with the fine rose of a water-pot in the drill ; 

 shade during the day, and continue watering in the even- 

 ing until the plants get rooted. The drills should be 

 twelve or fifteen inches apart. The Batavian likes most 

 space ; hoe freely and keep the ground free from weeds; thin 

 the plants when two inches high ; those removed may be 

 transplanted to another location ; choose moist weather for 

 this purpose, trim the leaves a little and water moderately 

 every evening, until the plants get established and during 

 very long droughts. Those left in the seed bed make the 

 best plants. 



In about three months after sowing, as they grow stocky 

 and full in the heart, the leaves being about eight inches 

 long, some should have their leaves tied up every week or 

 fortnight to blanch, and render them tender and remove 

 their bitter taste. Perform this in dry days. The curled 

 sort will sometimes blanch pretty well if neatly earthed 

 up without being tied, but it is better to tie it. The broad 

 leaved from its loftier and looser growth needs a bandage. 

 Fold the leaves round the heart as much as possible in 

 their natural position, and tie them up with a string or shred 

 of bass, then covering them entirely with sand in the form 

 of a cone, rendering the surface smooth and firm. Thit) 



