1871.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. " 21 



those that are more heavy and tenacious. Guano and weak solutions of 

 salt are excellent stimulating manures for it when growing. Thorough 

 drainage is of much importance, and in soils that are clayey and wet 

 should always he carefully attended to. Besides which, it is well 

 worth while to take means of counteracting the tenacity and natural 

 dampness of such soils, by mixing in liberal dressings of either fine old 

 mortar, gritty road-scrapings, or coal-ashes. A still more effectual 

 means is to burn the subsoil and mix it with the better portion of the 

 staple. By this latter process we have grown the very best of Seakale 

 on soils that have been naturally unfavourable to its gro^\i;h. 



Unless it be in gardens of very moderate extent, and where this 

 vegetable is not forced early, the roots are generally lifted and forced 

 along with Rhubarb in a Mushroom-house, or in dark heated houses 

 or sheds. When to be forced in this way, the most convenient 

 and best way of sowing the seed is in drills 2 feet ajDart and 2 to 

 3 inches deep, the first week in March being a good time to sow. To 

 produce first-rate crowns that will force well the first year from seed, 

 the young plants should not be left thicker in the rows than one every 

 10 inches. Erom the time the young plants appear, and till they 

 cover the whole ground, the Dutch hoe should be frequently plied 

 amongst them, to keep the surface loose, healthy, and free from 

 weeds. 



A very good and generally-practised way of producing Seakale for 

 forcing with one year's growth, is to save the young roots broken off 

 at the time of lifting, and preserve them under a sprinkling of damp 

 soil and some litter till they begin to sprout in spring, when it can 

 more easily be seen which is the top end, and the buds can be reduced 

 to the strongest at the top to form a single crown. These pieces, 

 about 6 inches long, are planted firmly with a dibble the same dis- 

 tance apart as recommended for the growth of seedlings, covering the 

 crown to the depth of an inch or so. During their season of growth 

 all attempts at producing flowers should be prevented by cutting them 

 off as soon as they appear. 



Forcing can be carried on in any dark place where the roots can be 

 laid in light rich soil with a temperature of 55° to 60°. Of course, 

 when fine blanched Seakale is required before Cliristmas, it is desir- 

 able and necessary to have a proper place in a Mushroom-house, or 

 along with Rhubarb in a place by themselves. Generally the leaves 

 are easily separated from the crowns by the middle of x^ovember, when 

 the necessary number of roots can be lifted and packed firmly in soil 

 over a bed of leaves, which afibrds a gentle bottom-heat, and causes an 

 earlier and better growth. It is not necessary to preserve the long 

 straggling roots. A foot or 10 inches of the strongest stems, when 



