54 
HINTS ON THE 
CULTIVATION OF LEEK AND 
ENDIVE. 
LEEK. 
French — Poirf.au. German — Lauch. Dutch — Prei. Italian — Porro. 
Spanish — Puerro. 
Description. A vegetable related to the Onion, the 
blanched stems of which are cooked and eaten. 
Varieties. — Some have long stems, others short and thick. 
The long-stemmed variety is preferred in some districts, and the 
short-stemmed is generally considered best on shallow soils. 
Soil. This cannot be too rich or too deeply dug. 
How and when to Sow. — When required for exhibition 
purposes, the seed is sown very early in the year (January), in 
boxes, and the seedlings potted off singly, so that by the time 
they are put out in the trench in spring they are quite large 
plants ; otherwise they are sown in March, in a frame or bed out 
of doors. 
I.EEK IN TRENCH EARTHED UP KOR 
BLANCHING PURPOSES. 
1 ransplanting. — I his takes place during early summer, when the young plants may be 
set into a trench similar to that prepared for celery, about g inches apart, or they may be 
dibbled into holes in a rich piece of soil about 6 inches apart in zigzag rows. They are just 
tightened into these holes up to the leaves and well watered, and will soon come along and 
make quite useful stuff by winter. 
Enemies. — Very few vermin seem to interfere with this crop. 
ENDIVE. 
French — Ciiicovf.e. German — Endivie. Dutch — Andijvie. Italian — Indivia. 
Spanish — Endivia. 
Description. — A fine vegetable mostly grown for salads, for which the blanched 
hearts are greatly esteemed. 
Varieties. — There are two types — the plain leaved, or Batavian, and the curled, the latter 
being the one usually cultivated in England. 
1 i me of Sowing. — Seed may be sown in spring for producing an early crop, and again 
in summer for the main and late crops. 
How to Sow. — Sow in drills in good rich soil, about 12 inches apart, and thin out to 
about the same distance in the rows. When the plants have reached a fair size they require to 
be blanched, which may be done by tying them up closely with bass, or else by placing a 
flower pot over each plant, choosing a dry fine afternoon for the operation, for if covered when 
wet it is likely to damage the growth. Some lay a large slate over each plant, which soon 
causes the growth to turn white. 
237, 238, & 97, High Hoi.horn, London. — 1904. 
