flower-pots, inverted over the plants, will be found a
safe and effectual means of rendering them white, crisp, and mild
flavored.

"Some practise setting two narrow boards along each side of the row;
bringing them together at the top in the form of a triangle, and
afterwards drawing earth over them to keep them steady. Some cover the
dwarfish sorts with half-decayed leaves, dry tanner's bark, sand,
coal-ashes, and even sawdust; but all of these methods are inferior to
the blanch-pot or the tying-up process."

_Time required for Blanching._--In summer weather, when vegetation is
active, the plants will blanch in ten days; but in cool weather, when
the plants have nearly attained their growth or are slowly developing,
three weeks will be required to perfect the operation.

_Harvesting, and Preservation during Winter._--"Before frost sets in,
they must be tied up in a conical form, as before directed; and all dead
or yellow leaves must be taken off. Then take them up with a ball of
soil to each, and put them into light earth in a cellar or some warm
building. Put only the roots into the earth. Do not suffer the plants to
touch each other; and pour a little water round the roots after they are
placed in the earth. If they are perfectly dry when tied up, they will
keep till spring."--_Corb._

_Seed._--Two or three vigorous plants, left unblanched, will yield
sufficient to supply a garden of ordinary size for years. Half an ounce
will sow a seed-bed of forty square feet.

_Use._--"The leaves are the parts used, and these only when blanched to
diminish their natural bitterness of taste. It is one of the best
autumn, winter, and spring salads."--_M'Int._

_Varieties._--The descriptions of many of the varieties have been
prepared from an interesting paper read before the London Horticultural
Society by Mr. Matthews, clerk of the society's garden.

The different sorts are divided into two classes,--the "Batavian" and
the "Curled-leaved."

BATAVIAN ENDIVES.

Under the Batavian Endives are included all the varieties with broad
leaves, generally rounded at the points, with the margin slightly ragged
or torn, but not curled. These are called, by the French, _Scarolles_.
As most of the sorts require more room than the Curled-leaved kinds, the
rows should be about fourteen inches apart, and the plants thinned out
from nine to twelve inches in the rows.

BROAD-LEAVED BATAVIAN ENDIVE.

Common Yellow Endive, of the Dut