19 



SEA-KALE : ITS CULTUEE, WITH EEMAEKS ON 

 EOECINa IT. 



ET JOHN r. m'eLEOT. 



[HIS delicious vegetable is very tempting to the epi- 

 cure, as displayed in the windows of greengrocers' 

 shops, in the clean punnets wrapped in fine paper, at 

 this dreary season of the year. With the old school 

 of gardeners (such is the term used when alluding to 

 the senior members of our fraternity, which no doubt will be repeated 

 iu succeeding ages as in the past) tradition was everything in direct- 

 ing or controlling their operations. Certain days were assigned for 

 sowing or planting — as a fixed rule, such being often in connection 

 with certain club feasts, fairs, or similar festivals. However, thanks 

 to the advocates of education, traditional usages are fast declining, 

 and we are guided by reason and common sense. Yet withal some 

 of these customs still cling to us ; for instance, striving to grow so 

 as to cut a cucumber by Easter Sunday. That is where we have 

 no other convenience beyond the old-fashion hot manure beds. 

 Then again, that of being able to supply a dish of forced sea-kale 

 for the family dinner on Christmas- day. !N'ow there are various 

 ways of forcing this vegetable. Some gardeners, where they have a 

 good extent of ground at their command for growing vegetables, 

 dig up the roots, place them thickly in deep rows, and cover them 

 with just sufficient litter to ensure their being blanched as they 

 grow ; then put them in the forcing-house. Others plant them in 

 pits or other conveniences they may have, which affords them the 

 means of applying such warmth as they may need ; but the most 

 general practice among gardeners who are minus of all other means, 

 is to cover the crowns as they remain on the beds, with what are 

 termed " sea-kale pots ;" in fact, any kind of pot is suitable that 

 has sufficient depth or breadth ; but the former are the most con- 

 venient, because they are provided with lids, affording greater 

 facility for cutting and examining the sea-kale. There is also 

 another mode resorted to, and that is to have long boxes, or troughs, 

 constructed of three wide planks, one on each side, and the top 

 being cut in smaller lengths, and fixed with hinges, so as to form a 

 series of trap-doors. This kind of protection forms a continuous 

 line along the rows. Previous to covering, clear away all decayed 

 leaves or anything else that will harbour slugs or other destructive 

 vermin. Then get some fine ashes, and place in and among the 

 crowns. This will preserve them from decay to some extent, as well 

 as counteract the evil effects of slugs or snails. The next considera- 

 tion is, what is the best material for covering the pots, etc., etc., so 

 as to excite their growth. I prefer leaves previous to Christmas 

 rather than stable manure, not only as a matter of economy, but 

 because I have found them to maintain their warmth for a greater 

 length of time. Their temperature is not so easily checked by the 



