l68 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



cool atmo'sphere are especially adapted to this 

 crop. 



There is not much better treatment of the 

 patient British soil, that has borne crops con- 

 tinuously for hundreds of years than the " Norfolk 

 rotation," by which turnips, barley, clover, and 

 wheat are the crops that follow each other in order. 

 The crop that most robs the soil, wheat, is pre- 

 ceded by clover, the crop that takes nitrogen from 

 the air, and gives it back to the soil. 



CHICORY 



A ragged, sprawling weed has caught the eyes 

 of every boy or girl who tramps along country 

 roads, for it opens its blue flowers early in the 

 morning, and closes them about noon. The result 

 is that the plant is lovely in the morning, and ugly 

 the rest of the day. 



This chicory, or succory, is called "wild bache- 

 lor's button. " It is scattered as a wild plant over 

 Europe and America, in many places escaped from 

 cultivation. It belongs to the Composite Family 

 with the dandelions and the lettuces and the sun- 

 flowers. Its bitter juice has medicinal properties. 

 In many communities it still is the standard home 

 remedy for jaundice and other liver complaints. 



We do not hear of chicory as a commercial croo 



