SPINACH, OR SPINAGE. 



^83 



flowers, rising from two to three feet higli. The, male and 

 female llowers are produced on different plants : the former 

 come in long terminal spikes ; the latter in clusters, close 

 to the stalk at every joint. 



Varieties. — -Russell's Catalogue contains the follow- 

 ing :— 



Round-lfeaved, Of sximmer ; 

 Prickly, or fall 5 



Eng-lish patience dock, rumex patien- 

 tia, {for earhj greens ;) 



Holland or lamb's quarter 5 

 New Zealand; tetragana expansisj [a 

 valuable new sort.) 



Times of sowing.—'^ The round is sown in April — the 

 others from August to September. The prickly is sown in 

 August and September for early spring greens." — RusseWs 

 Catalogue. 



Soil and situation. — 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 supplying water in dry seasons. The space they occu- 

 py in the garden is not considerable, say a thirtieth part ; 

 more especially as some of them, the common spinage for 

 example, often come in as a temporary crop between rows 

 of peas or beans, or among cauliflowers, broccoli, &c. 



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, 

 ^ne ounce will sow the same space. In drills it is easier 

 to v/eed and gather : let the drills be from nine to twelve 

 inches apart. Beds four feet wide, with small alleys, are 

 convenient of access. Let the ground be thoroiighly dug. 

 Whether broad-cast or in drills, sow thinly, and rake or 

 earth in ubout an inch deep. 



Subsequent culture.—^' When the plants are up, showing 

 leaves about an inch broad, clear them from weeds, either 

 by hand or small hoeing, and thin the plants, where crowd- 

 ed, (especially the broad-cast crops,) to three inches apart ; 

 and, when advanced in growth, every other may be cut out 

 for use, increasing the distance to about six inches, that 

 the remainder may grow stocky, with large spreading 

 leaves. The plants of the early and succession crops at- 

 tain proper growth for gathering in April, May and June, 

 When the leaves are from two to five inches in breadth, 

 cut the plants clean out to the bottom, or sometimes cut 

 only the largest leaves. But as soon as there is any ap- 

 pearance of their running to seed, thev may be drawn out 

 clean as wanted," 



