O'S liLAlli:^G KITCHEN YLGETALLLS. 



though, spinach will grow even in the poorest soil, if well 

 manured. The time of sowing for a winter crop, to come 

 in from Xovember till May, is from the middle of August 

 to the 8th of September ; .but if frost occurs soon after the 

 latter sowing, it will seldom survive the v»'inter. For a 

 summer crop, to come in after the winter crop has run to 

 seed, the end of April is the proper time; though, if an 

 August sowing have been neglected, seed may be sown in 

 the end of February or even in January, ^^'hen sown in 

 June and July, it will run rapidly to seed. But a succes- 

 sion of small sowings from the beginning of April to the 

 end of June (using the round-seeded sort) will keep up a 

 constant supply. It makes a delicate and pleasant dish. 



The sorts are the prickly-seeded, or, what is better, the 

 Flanders, for the August sowing, and the round-seeded for 

 spring. 



For a bed five feet wide and twelve feet long, an ounce 

 of seed will be enough ; or half an ounce for the same 

 space drilled. 



Sow thinly broadcast in a finely dug bed, or rather in 

 very shallow drills six or eight inches apart ; or, as some 

 prefer, double that distance, with rows of radishes or 

 lettuce between, treading it vrell before raking. The earth 

 over the seed should not exceed the third of an inch, for 

 if much thicker, the seed will be lost. 



Sparrows and other birds, if not prevented, will endea- 

 vour to purloin the whole sowing, as has frequently oc- 

 curred within our knowledge ; and when the young 

 plants come up, pigeons, if they get at them, "^"ill devour 

 the whole. Careful weeding, and hoemg up the earth, so 

 as not to choke the hearts of the j)lants, are indispensable. 

 Thinning also must be duly attended to, and the plants 

 should be left three or four inches apart. If a few plants 

 of the winter or spring crops are allowed to remain, they 

 will produce an abundance of seed, which should be pro- 

 tected from birds. For summer crops, it is a good plan 

 to sow the seed in drills, between the rows of peas, as 

 the latter will afford it shelter and shade, and assist much 

 in preventing it from running to seed ; besides which the 

 ground will thus be better and more perfectly occupied. 



White Beet of the curled sort, and several wild plants 



