SPINACH. 
103 
SPINACH, or SPINAGE. 
Spinacia oleracea. — Epinard , Fr .—Spina t , Ger. 
The common spinage is an annual plant, but it is not known of what 
country it is a native. The leaves are large, the stems hollow branching, 
and, when allowed to produce flowers, rising from two to three feet high. 
The male and female flowers are produced on different plants : the former 
come in long terminal spikes; the latter in clusters, close to the stalk at 
every joint. 
Varieties. —Russell’s Catalogue contains the following:— 
Hound-leaved, or summer; 
Piickly, or fall; 
English patience dock, rumex patientia, 
(for early greens ;) 
Times of sowing. —“The round is sown in April—the others from August 
to September. The prickly is sown in August and September for early 
spring greens.’’— RusseWs Catalogue. 
Soil and situation. —As the excellence of spinaceous plants consists in the 
succulency of the leaves, almost every thing depends on giving them a rich 
soil, stirring it frequently, and supplying water in dry seasons The space 
they occupy in the garden is not considerable, say a thirtieth part; more 
especially as some of them, the common spinage for example, often come in 
as a temporary crop between rows of peas or beans, or among cauliflowers, 
broccoli, &c. 
Seed and process in sowing. —“When raised by itself, spinage is generally 
sown broad-cast, and two ounces will sow a bed four feet and a half by thirty 
feet; but in drills, one ounce will sow the same space. In drills it is easier 
to weed and gather: let the drills be from nine to twelve inches apart. 
Beds four feet wide, with small alleys, are convenient of access. Let the 
ground be thoroughly dug. Whether broad-cast or in drills, sow thinly, and 
rake or earth in about an inch deep. 
Subsequent culture.— “ When the plants are up, showing leaves about an 
inch broad, clear them from weeds, either by hand or small hoeing, and thin 
the plants, where crowded (especially the broad-cast crops), to three inches 
apart; and, when advanced in growth, every other may be cut out for use, 
increasing the distance to about six inches, that the remainder may grow 
stocky, with large spreading leaves. The plants of the early and succession 
crops attain proper growth for gathering in April, May and June. When 
the leaves are from two to live inches in breadth, cut the plants clean out to 
the bottom, or sometimes ci t only the largest leaves. But as soon as there 
Holland or lamb’s quarter; 
New Zealand, tetragonaexpansis, (a valua¬ 
ble new soi't.) 
