SPINACH, SUBSTITUTES FOR. 



217 



SPINACH, SUBSTITUTES FOR. 



In the southern states, or even in our northern sum- 

 mers, Spinach runs rapidly 

 to seed, if sown in hot 

 weather, and several plants 

 may be used as substitutes. 

 Among these are Swiss 

 Chard, a species of beet, 

 sometimes called Spinach 

 Beet, or Perpetual Spinach. 

 Young plants of the ordi- 

 nary beet are by some pre- 

 ferred to spinach ; ordinarily beets need thinning, and 

 the seed is sometimes sown very thickly, in order that 

 there may be an abundance of thinnings to use as spinach, 

 or beet greens ; they are used with the young beet attach- 

 ed, which should not be thicker than an ordinary lead- 

 pencil ; if larger, the leaves will be too strong. Another 

 substitute is 



NEW ZEALAND SPINACH, (Tetragonia expansa.) 



This is a remarkable plant, of low branching habit, 



jfig. 97. —NEW ZEALAND SPINACH. 



and grows with surprising luxuriance during hot 

 10 



Fig. 96.— SWISS CHARD. 



