100 THE amateur’s KITCHEN GARDEN. 
to June, and if any then remain they will run up to seed 
and finish their career. The Hammersmith is useful for its 
hardiness alone ; it has no flavour, and it soon bolts ; but 
the Brown Cos stands well and should keep the supply going 
until lettuces from spring sowings are ready. 
It is usual to tie lettuces to blanch them. It should not 
be done until they are nearly full grown, and are to be used 
in about a week afterwards. We have for many years aban- 
doned the tieing as troublesome. But we always give the 
preference to varieties that fold in their leaves neatly, and 
may be said to tie themselves, for the very large loose-growing 
kinds are certainly all the better for tieing. 
Endive (Chicorium endivia) is hardier than lettuce, and 
often takes its place in winter and early spring. It requires 
nearly the same course of cultivation, and in its final stages 
rather more care. The soil for endive should be rich and 
light, and on a dry foundation. Generally speaking, very 
fairly good garden soil will produce good endive. The first 
sowings are made in April and May for a small early supply, 
and the main crop and the only important crop, generally 
speaking, is sown about the third week in June ; but it is 
advisable to make another sowing in the latter part of July. 
Sow in rows a foot apart and thin to four inches apart, and 
from these transplant, leaving the original sowing a foot apart 
every way, with the exception of the Batavian, which should 
be fifteen to eighteen inches. Those that stand where sown 
will make the finest plants. Endive does not require much 
water, but must have a little help when planted out and also 
during protracted drought. 
In the course of the autumn and through the winter the 
plants must be blanched, and only a few should be done at a 
time. We usually begin to blanch those of the June sowing 
where they stand, by simply laying tiles over them, and in 
about a fortnight they are ready. But in November a number 
of the July and August sowings should be transplanted to a 
dry border under a wall looking south, where, if needful, 
they can be protected with frames, litter, and mats during 
severe winter weather. They should, however, be kept as 
hardy as possible by giving them air whenever the weather 
will permit. To blanch in winter requires a little skill, and 
it will take fully three weeks ; there is a probability of the 
plants rotting if they are not well taken care of. The surest 
