362 The Principles of Vegetable- Gardening 



and tough. It is customary to blanch the interior leaves 

 ' of the crown or head by gathering all the leaves into a 

 bunch and tying them near the top. By thus excluding 

 the light, the inner leaves are whitened. This tying 

 is done two or three weeks before the plant is desired for 



Fig. 107. Endive seedlings. Two-thirds natural size. 



use. In very hot and wet weather the heads are some- 

 times blanched in ten days ; but under ordinary condi- 

 tions it requires nearly or quite twice that length of 

 time. If heavy rains and cloudy weather follow the 

 tying, the crowns must be examined occasionally to see 

 that they are not decaying. After the interior leaves 

 are well blanched, they must be used quickly or decay 

 will set in. The later plants, taken in the fall, are some- 

 times blanched by being set in cellars or pits; or if the 

 heads are packed securely in well- ventilated barrels, they 

 may blanch in transportation. 



Endive is little known to people of American parentage, al- 

 though it is much prized by foreigners and there is considerable 

 demand for it in the larger cities. It deserves to be better known. 



