106 



ENDIVE. 



beds of ricli, mellow earth, in an open situation, scattering 

 tiie seeds thinly, and rake in the seed. When the plants 

 are up an inch or two in growth, thin them moderately, 

 where in clusters, that they may have room to grow 

 stronger and stocky, for transplanting. But if a portion are 

 sown in soil of suificient depth, and thinned to the distances 

 mentioned under transplanting^ instead of being moved, 

 ' tliey may be expected to produce heads of the finest kind, 

 under the same culture as is given to the others. 



Transplanting. — " As the plants attain a sufficient growth, 

 being from four to six inches high, or in a month or five 

 weeks from the time of sowing, proceed to transplant the 

 successive crops. The ground should be light and rich, on 

 a dry sub-soil. Dig it a fisll spit deep ; set in shallov/ 

 trenches or drills the depth of a hoe, endive blanches vrith 

 less trouble than if inserted on a level surface. The lines 

 may be fifteen inches asunder ; the plants ten or twelve 

 inches distant in the lines. Drawing the strongest first, 

 plant out portions from June to October; but the principal 

 removals will fall in ilugust, in which month three different 

 plantings may be made for succession ; also for a general 

 winter crop, at the beginning of September. While the 

 plants are in hand, trim the extremities of the leaves, and 

 shorten the tap roots a little ; w^ater at planting-, and mode- 

 rately afterwards, once in two days, if the weather be dry, 

 till the plants take root. At the end of September, and 

 in October, likewise, plant some in a warm, dry border, to 

 stand the vvinter more effectually. Also, in the last fort- 

 nio'ht of October or beoinnins: of November, it would be 

 proper to insert some stout plants, thickly, on a bank of 

 dry, light soil, raised a foot or two behind, sloping to the 

 south. Thus they will remain drier in winter, and will be 

 preserved more securely from rotting in that season. The 

 bed might also be defended, in very severe weather, with 

 frames and glasses, or with an occasional awning of mats 

 or sail cloth. • 



Blanching. — " As the transplanted crops advance to full 

 growth, stocky and full in the heart, some should have the 

 leaves tied up every week or fortnight, to blanch or whiten, 

 and to render them tender, crisp, and mild-tasted. Perform 

 this in dry days, and in winter, when the weather is dry 

 without frost. Using strings of fresh bass, or small osier 

 twigs, tie the leaves regularly together, a little above the 

 middle, moderately close. If the soil be light and dry, 

 earth them up half way ; but if moist, merely tie them> 



