e-manure. About the beginning of February, remove the litter, and
place boards or planks on four sides, of a square or parallelogram, in
the manner of a common hot-bed, providing for a due inclination towards
the south. Over these put frames of glass, as usually provided for
hot-beds; adding extra protection by covering with straw or other
material in intensely cold weather. Thus treated, the plants will be
ready for cutting two or three weeks earlier than those in the open
ground.

When grown for its roots, the ground must be prepared in the manner
before directed; and the seeds should be sown in October, in drills
fourteen or fifteen inches asunder. In June following, thin out the
young plants to two or three inches apart; keep the ground loose, and
free from weeds, during the summer; and, in October, the roots will have
attained their full size, and be ready for harvesting, which is usually
performed with a common subsoil plough. After being drawn, they are
washed entirely clean, sliced, and dried in the shade; when they are
ready for the market.

_Use._--The Dandelion resembles Endive, and affords one of the earliest,
as well as one of the best and most healthful, of spring greens. "The
French use it bleached, as a salad; and if large, and well bleached, it
is better than Endive, much more tender, and of finer flavor." The
roots, after being dried as before directed, constitute an article of
considerable commercial importance; being extensively employed as a
substitute for, or mixed in various proportions with, coffee.

It may be grown for greens at trifling cost; and a bed twelve or
fourteen feet square will afford a family an abundant supply.

Under cultivation, and even in its natural state, the leaves of
different plants vary in a marked degree from each other, not only in
size, and manner of growth, but also in form. Judicious and careful
cultivation would give a degree of permanency to these distinctions; and
varieties might undoubtedly be produced, well adapted for the various
purposes for which the plant is grown, whether for the roots, for
blanching, or for greens.

* * * * *

ENDIVE.

Chicorium endivia.

Endive is a hardy annual, said to be a native of China and Japan. When
fully developed, it is from four to six feet in height. The leaves are
smooth, and lobed and cut upon the borders more or less deeply,
according to the variety; the flowers are usually of a blue