112 IMPROVED MODE OF FORCING SEAKALE. 



their torpidity ; and this once accomplished, the sooner they are 

 cooled down the better, or the kale will become "drawn" and 

 inferior. I commence, therefore, with a bottom heat of 80° 

 for a week, and as soon as I perceive the crowns growing, I imme- 

 diately reduce the bottom heat by water, bringing it down to about 

 65°. I seldom apply more than one watering, and I infuse a 

 handful of salt in every large water-pot, sprinkling with a little 

 clean water at last. This watering performs three distinct ser- 

 vices : it reduces the bottom heat, it settles the soil around the 

 roots, and by an infusion of salt invigorates tlie fibres, which by 

 this time are progressing rapidly. If the roots are strong, tliey 

 will throw up a second " cut " little inferior to tlie first ; indeed, 

 I have had a crop in cut this winter six weeks. It is necessary 

 to elevate a skirting board above tlie edge of the sunk pit, and a 

 lid must be provided to fit on this ; the wliole then takes the 

 appearance of a long box or bin, and the lid ensures the darkness 

 necessary, together with a confined damp atmosphere. I intro- 

 duced my first lot of roots in the last week of October, another 

 lot was introduced about the middle of December, and a third 

 in the second week of January, and the whole of these only 

 occupy eight feet in length, by two feet in width ; yet I liave 

 produced a dish of first-rate kale whenever required (and this, 

 as I have already said, has been on an average four or five times 

 a- week) constantly since the early part of December. I shall 

 place my fourth and last lot of roots in the bed in the first week 

 of February, after which the open ground beds will carry out 

 the succession until the middle of May. It may be well to ob- 

 serve that the mode of forcing here recommended is a decided 

 benefit to the mushrooms and rhubarb in the same house, for I 

 have supplied the two latter articles in as high perfection and as 

 constant as the kale. 



It will be readily seen that a bed or row must be sown annu- 

 allv, and the former year's seedlings annually transplanted ; 

 besides this, it is necessary to provide some surplus stock to 

 succeed that which is forced. The best way is to cover this with 

 mounds of tan or soil soon after the leaf has decayed. Those 

 forced, or rather blanched, in the open ground will frequently 

 require cutting back after the crop is taken ; when such is the 

 case, the wounded crown should he covered over until it has 

 budded. The transplanted seedling roots will frequently show 

 blossom in the end of May ; if that happens, the mere blossom 

 stalk should be pinched out, leaving every possible leaf to keep 

 the root in action. I have known persons cut the heads com- 

 pletely off" below all the leaves, but this so paralyzes the root 

 action, that they seldom grow with strength afterwards. 



