104 ^N '^^^ CULTIVATION OF SEA KALE. 



posed to either. If the beds are twenty«-six feet lon^, and 

 four wide, they will hold tweaty-four blanching pots, with 

 three pUnts uud<?r each, making seventy-two plants in a bed. 

 Examine them from time to time, cutting the young stems, 

 when about three inches above ground, carefully, sa as not 

 t<C). injure any of the remaining buds below, some of which 

 "will immediately begin to swell; in this method, a succession 

 of gatherings may be continued for the space of six weeks, 

 after which period the plants should be uncovered, and their 

 leaves suft^red to grow, that* they may acquire and return 

 nutriment to the root for the next year's buds. The flowers, 

 when seeds are not wanted, ought to be nipped off with the 

 finger and thumb, as lo!)g as they appear. If a gentleman 

 does not choose to be at the expense of the blanching pots, 

 the beds must be covered witii a larger portion of loose gra- 

 vel, and mats; but the tim^ and trouble of taking away the 

 gravel from about (he plants to cut the crop, and replacing 

 it, is so-great, that there is no real economy in' it. In this 

 way Sea Ka/eh-ds been put in Mr. Beale's garden, which 

 10 to 12 inches iTieasured ten, eleven, and even twelve inches in circumfe- 

 circumference, r^nce, and upon an average each blanching pot affords a dish 



twice in a season. 

 Forced with ^o vegetal>le can be so easily forced as this, or with §o 



little expense little expense and trouble; for the dung is in the linest posr 

 sible order for spring hot-beds, after the Sea Kale is gathered. 

 The only thing necessary, is to be very particular in guard- 

 ing against too much heat, keeping the temperature under 

 the blanching pots as near to iifty-five degrees of Fahren- 

 heit's thermometer as may be, but never higher than sixty. 

 For this purpose, in November and December, according as 

 you want your Sea Kale^ prepare a sufficient quantity of 

 fresh stable dung, to cover both the beds and alleys, from 

 two to three f(^et high ; for in the quantity to be laid on, a 

 great detil must always be left to the good senge of the gar- 

 dener, and the mildness or severity of the season. . It should 

 be closely pressed down between the blanching pots, placing 

 heat-stiok^ At proper intervals, which by being examined 

 occa!5iona]ly will indicate the heat below. After the dung 

 Worms, has remained four or five days, examine the pots. Worms 



often spring above the sur^ce, arid spoil the delicacy of the 



young 



