CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
345 
Blanching 1 requires io to 20 days or longer in cool 
weather. Any means which will exclude the light from 
the central leaves and keep the hearts dry to prevent 
rotting will be effective; the leaves should always be dry 
when blanching is started. The plants should not be 
blanched faster than used, because of the danger of the 
white tender leaves decaying when fully blanched. 
The most common method employed is to tie the tops 
together with raffia or coarse twine. Covering with 
boards, tile, flower pots (with the drainage holes closed) 
or other devices will serve the purpose. Soil is also used 
sometimes, banking as for celery. Leaves or straw may 
be thrown over the plants late in the fall when it is 
desired to leave them in the field until the weather is 
more severe. Many growers lift the plants with some 
earth clinging to the roots and reset close together in 
cool cellars, pits or cold frames, shading them when 
blanching is desired. Endive may be preserved in this 
manner until midwinter. 
GARLIC (Allium sativum) 
466. Importance. — This perennial, which is native to 
southern Europe, is a member of the onion family, but 
is much stronger than the onion in flavor. It is used 
mainly for flavoring, especially by the foreign popula- 
tion. The sales, however, are very limited in American 
cities. 
467. Culture. — The bulbs are compound, inclosing 
with a thin, white, membranous covering about 10 bulb- 
lets, called cloves. Propagation is effected by planting 
the cloves early in spring or in the fall in mild climates. 
The soil should be fertile and well drained. Sandy loams 
are preferred. The cloves are covered with 1 or 2 inches 
of soil, 4 to 6 inches apart with about 1 foot between 
rows. The plants die down in the early fall, when the 
