ENDIVE. 



105 



?7se.— This is a plant of some repute in medicine. It is 

 said to strengthen the stomach and promote perspiration. 

 An infusion of the roots, sweetened with honey, is useful in 

 hooping cough. If liberally taken, they are diuretic, ' 

 and said to be of great service in removing visceral obstruc- 

 tions. A decoction of this plant has been employed by 

 farmers for the cure of scab in sheep ; and externally ap- 

 plied for removing disorders of the skin. The fresh roots 

 beaten in a mortar, with new butter, and applied externally, 

 are said to cure the itch, scald head, &c. 



ENDIVE. — Cichorium endivia, — The endive is a hardy 

 annual, a native of China and Japan, a,nd introduced into 

 Great Britain in 1548. The varieties are 



Green curled leaves, ( White curled leaves, | Broad-leaved Batavian. 



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 the most stocky, 

 full grow^th, and hardiest to stand severe weather. As to 

 the others, allot a smaller portion of the w^hite curled for 

 earl}^ summer and autumn use : of the broad-leaved kind, 

 provide a moderate crop for autumn, till November or De- 

 cember; being by some esteemed preferable for stews and 

 soups, though not much used in salads." 



Propagation. — All the varieties are raised from seed, of 

 which, for a seed-bed four feet by ten in length, half an 

 ounce is sufficient. 



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 successive crops, all autumn 

 and winter, till the following spring. 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 w^hite curled in 

 April or May, as the plants will soon run to seed. In the 

 middle, or tow ards the end of May, you may begin sowing 

 moderately of the different sorts ; but do not sov/ fully tiL 

 nearly the middle of June, that the plants may stand wdth 

 out running to seed the same year. About the tw elfth anu 

 twenty-fifth of that month, also at the beginning and middle 

 of July, sov/ the main and successive crops, for autumn and 

 winter ; and a finer, smaller sowing about the beginning of 

 August, for late supplies in the end of w inter and following 

 spring. 



Culture in the seed-hed. — " Sow each sort separately in 



