THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



193 



CHICORY— CHINESE CABBAGE— COLLARDS 



Sown in Spring one-half inch deep in rows 18 in. apart and thinned to 

 6 in. apart, the Chicory (or Witloof) plant yields long, Parsnip-like roots 

 by Fall, when they are dug and shorn of leaves to within IJ^ in. of the 

 neck. The roots are then replanted 13^ to 2 in. apart in trenches and cov- 

 ered with 8 in. of fine soil. Here they produce an abundance of blanched 

 leaves which make .a splendid Winter salad; they can also be cooked as 

 greens. 



Handy device for marking off rows in the vegetable garden 



Chinese, or Celery Cabbage (Pe-Tsai) is a very desirable vegetable, a 

 native of China, is easily and rapidly grown in good garden soil. It requires 

 about the same treatment as Cabbage, but as it has a tendency to run to 

 seed in the hot Summer months, sowing should be deferred until July or 

 early August . Cover seed 3^ to 3^ in . in rows 24 to 30 in . apart , and thin the 

 young plants to 18 to 20 in . The heads , which are easily blanched , resemble 

 weU-grown Cos Lettuce. They make a very palatable dish when cooked 

 like Spinach or Cabbage, or they can be used raw as a salad. 



Collards are of tall growth and produce a loose cluster of leaves. The 

 variety known as Georgia, which endures extreme heat, is largely grown 

 in the Southern States and used as a substitute for Cabbage, the leaves 

 being tender and of fine flavor. Sow seed in rows 24 to 30 in. apart and 

 cover to depth of 3^ in., allowing the plants to stand 18 to 24 in. apart in 

 the row. 



CORN 



To get an extra early crop, a hundred or so plants may readily be started 

 in small paper pots in a coldframe, not to be planted until a week or two be- 

 fore it would be safe to plant outdoors. For this purpose, Golden Bantam, 

 which is extra hardy and also dwarf in growth, is particularly good. As 

 Corn remains at its best but a few days, succession should be provided for, 



(Continued on page 196) 



