1879.] THE AMATEUR'S GARDEN. 131 



ing of straw or mats over the prepared manure will be beneficial, indeed neces- 

 sary to enable the dung to retain its heat. 



In putting up secondary beds, part of the old manure can be used with the 

 fresh ; and indeed, by the end of February, a fourth part of fresh material 

 used with the old will be enough, as little excitement will cause it to grow 

 late in the season, and less fermenting matter will keep up the temperature. 

 The mere pots or boxes in March will forward it considerably. 



Seakale. — This is about the most generally appreciated winter vegetable we 

 possess, and forcing improves its quality. The plant thrives well on many 

 parts of our sea-shores in pure sand, and this indicates that 'a light soil near 

 the sea is the best. And certainly it is the best, although it can be grown on 

 any good garden-ground, deeply dug and well manured. As in the case of 

 many other sea-shore plants — the Asparagus, for instance — a slight top-dressing 

 of salt occasionally in inland situations where the rains are free from salt, does 

 a great deal of good. Many apply salt to such crops, and finding no benefit 

 to accrue therefrom, come to the conclusion that the use of salt is unwarranted. 

 But in the case of really sea-shore plants, or plants furnishing an appreciable 

 quantity of chlorine and soda or other ash, salt does do good in inland situa- 

 tions; and if care be taken, it will be found that, where no benefit accrues from 

 its use, an appreciable quantity is found in the rains, which come from seaward. 



Seakale is raised from seed and from cuttings of the thick fleshy roots of 

 old plants. Having practised both methods, I prefer the first, but shall de- 

 scribe both. Seed can either be sown where the plants are to remain, in the 

 case of permanent plantations, or in beds, as recommended for Asparagus, and 

 afterwards transplanted. I prefer sowing where they are to remain, as a means of 

 saving time. Sow in rows 3 feet apart, and 3 feet between the plants, placing 

 the seeds in this manner ' ,' . * . ; and when they are up, leave one plant 

 as represented by the dots ; and between the rows I take a crop of small grow- 

 ing Cabbages, Turnips, Lettuce, &e., the first season. A winter's mulching of 

 manure, forked in March, prepares them for another year's growth, when they 

 get all the ground to themselves, and, if it be in good condition, they make 

 fine patches for forcing where they stand by means of boxes and manure, as 

 advised for Bhubarb. "When the plants have produced their crop, and the 

 boxes are removed to another lot, the stools are protected with a little litter, 

 and allowed to grow on in summer, to prepare for another year's forcing in the 

 same way, and so on until the plants get unprofitable, when another bed com- 

 ing on can take their place. The very last bitches can be blanched by merely 

 turning pots or boxes, with all air-holes stopped up, over the stools. Leaves 

 alone, if put thick enough, and firmly beat together, will do very well as a 

 heating material ; but care should be taken not to run up the heat too high, 

 or the produce will be drawn and watery — 50° to 60° is quite high enough. 

 Forcing commences in ordinary gardens in November, although in some cases 

 Seakale is eut by November. If the material be right, it will be fit to gather 

 in five or six weeks from the time of covering up ; but if it takes eight weeks, no 

 matter. But when time and labour can be spared to make new plantations, 

 the following is a very good way to produce this vegetable during the colder 

 months of the winter : Sow the seed in drills 2 feet apart, on deep, light, well- 

 enriched soil, about the beginning of April. "When the seeds are up, thin to 18 

 inches apart ; and if liberally watered with liquid-manure, they will grow 

 very strong, and be ready to force the first year : but as skill, good soil, good 

 climate, and plenty of manure are necessary for this, perhaps it may be con- 

 sidered rather smart work for an amateur. So, if the soil and climate and 



