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DESIGN FOB A RUSTIC GATE. 



ing it up in ihe shape of a flattened cone or 

 hill. From such hills I am able to cut nice 

 blanched stalks in abundance, at least 

 twelve or fourteen da)'s before the roots in 

 the open quarters afford me any stalks. 

 Those who like a fine early tart, will not 

 think this too much trouble to obtain it. 



I should also mention, perhaps, that as 

 soon as the season for cutting those plants 

 is past, I draw away all the covering of peat, 

 mix it with my compost heap, or apply it 

 to any part of the garden in need of it. 

 The beds are then dressed and dug as usual, 

 and the plants left to make their summer's 

 growth. I generally dig in a dressing of 

 manure in the autumn, before I cover the 

 beds with the peat. 



If your readers will make a trial of this 

 way of raising very fine early Kale and 

 Rhubarb, I am sure it will meet with their 

 approbation. R. W. T. 



Remarks. — We commend this article to 

 the attention of every one having a kitchen 

 garden. 



We will only add to the excellent direc- 

 tions for raising early Sea Kale, our surprise 

 that this really delicious and invaluable 

 vegetable is seen in so few gardens in the 

 United States. It is not in the least infe- 

 rior to Asparagus, to our taste, and it is 

 served to the table much in the same way. 

 Coming at the same time, among the very 

 first of spring vegetables, it is doubly wel- 

 come from the scarcity of almost all escu- 

 lents at that time. 



Nothing can be easier than the cultiva- 

 tion of Sea Kale. Any common garden 

 soil that will yield a cabbage, will produce 

 it ; once planted, it gives a regular supply 

 for the table every spring, and ought there- 

 fore to have a place even in every cottage 

 garden. 



The seeds of the Sea Kale may be sown 

 in October or April. Dig the ground tho- 

 roughly, and sow them about an inch deep, 

 and at such a distance as to leave two or 

 three roots in a place ; the drills about 16 

 or 18 inches apart. — Ed. 



DESIGN FOR A RUSTIC GATE. 



BY RUSTICUS. 



Dear Sir — I send you a little sketch of a 

 rustic gate which I have erected this sea- 

 son, and which, though very simple, has 

 been a good deal admired by those who 

 have seen it. 



The roof, or canopy over it, is, as I have 

 ascertained in a previous case, a most use- 

 ful addition, since by guarding the gate it- 

 self to a considerable degree from the 

 storms, it prevents it from getting out of re- 

 pair. 



This gate stands at an angle in the boun- 

 dary lines, at the entrance to a little wood. 

 Its rustic and sylvan character agrees well 

 with the situation in which it stands. 



Indeed, rustic work of all kinds is ex- 

 tremely pleasing in any situation where 

 there is any thing like a wild or natural cha- 

 racter ; or even where there is a simple and 

 rustic character. In the immediate proxi- 

 mity of a highly finished villa, it strikes me 

 that rustic work, such as arbors, fences, 

 flower baskets and the like, are rather out 

 of place. The sculptured vase of marble, 

 or terra cotta. would appear to be the most 

 in keeping with an elegant place of the 

 first class ; that is to say, for all situations 

 very near the house. In wooded walks, or 

 secluded spots, rustic work looks well always. 



It seems to me that the danger is, that 



