CULTURE OF SEA KALE. 



ON THE CULTURE OF SEA KALE. 



BY AAIERICUS, NEW-YORK. 



ALTnotiGii we have such a variet}' of vegetables, that it may seem sui)erfluous to press 

 upon the public the good qualities of one at present but little in use; yet seeing that it is 

 onlj'' from want of its being better known, that sea kale fails to be fully appreciated, I 

 think all who try its cultivation will feel obliged to the Horticulturist for bringing this 

 excellent vegetable into notice. 



In quality it takes its stand with asparagus, but has the advantage, with but little 

 trouble, of being available for the table some M'eeks earlier; and the beds of sea kale, like 

 those of asparagus, when once made, last for years. 



If plants can be purchased, a year is saved, but if they cannot, the seed may be sown 

 either in October, or in April, as early as the ground can be worked. The seed should 

 be sown in drills, and when up, as soon as the plants are two inches high, tliey should be 

 thinned out to about four inches apart; so let them stand, if sown in the fall, until spring, 

 covering them during the winter with straw or other litter loosely, or what is bettei-, with 

 a frame and glass lights. In April put out the young plants in a fresh, dry, piece of rich 

 ground, about a foot apart, and let them stand, keeping them hoed occasionally until Oc- 

 tober, when, of course, they will be a year old, and tliese are the best plants with which 

 to make up the permanent bed; but plants sown in April, transplanted when three inches 

 high, as directed for the fall sown, and hoed till October, will do. The beginning of Oc- 

 tober, or any time between that and the setting in of haid weather, the permanent beds 

 may be planted, and this must be done with some care. 



First, trench a piece of ground the size that it is intended to make the beds, laying some 

 good rotten manure at bottom, (though it may be coarse, rough stuff,) and if there be 

 some ashes made fioin burnt weeds, or refuse wood and bones, thrown in with it, all the 

 better. If the situation be at all wet duiing the winter months, trenches must be dug or 

 the beds thrown up, so as to drain off. Take the plants fiom the nur.sery bed and sort 

 them, so that those of a size may be planted together, which operation must be performed 

 as follows: The bed to be planted should be marked off into squares three feet each vva}-, 

 and at the intersections of the lines forming the squares, three plants should be put in 

 triangularl}"-, at the distance of eight inches apart, so as to form a hill. Thus, when 

 planted, the bed will consist of hills three feet distant from each other every way, and 

 three plants in each hill. The object of sorting the plants in sizes, is to have plants of 

 equal strength growing together in each hill, so that they may all be re:id3' to cut at the 

 same tin'ie. The bed being planted, nothing more requires to be done until signs appear 

 of the setting in of frost. About the time when the cold weather commences, the leaves 

 of the kale will die awaj', and then the}^ should be cleared off the bed, and a thick cover- 

 ing of some material must be put over the beds. Some rough manure should always be 

 put on to the thickness of three or four inches, at least, and if this material is in plenty, 

 nothing is better for the whole covering; but if otherwise, leaves, "ica weed, tan baik, or 

 black bog earth will do. AVhatevcr it may be, should be laid on a foot thick, or moie, 

 and tlius remain through the winter. 



When the plants have reniaincd in this state for some four or five weeks, remove the 

 covering carefully from one or two of the hills to see whether they have commenced 

 iug; if so the shoots will be found an inch or more long, looking much like bhi 



