442 071 the Culture of Sea'Calc. 



Account of the Culture of Sea-Cale, or Sea- Kale. 



The mode which I consider the best for the culture of 

 sea-cale, is to draw lines in a very dry soil and dry situation, 

 on ground with a southern aspect, about two feet one way 

 by about eighteen inches the other, and where the lines 

 cross to put m three or four good perfect seeds in a square 

 or triangle, about three inches apart; this may be done any 

 time in November or December in open weather, and it will 

 require no other care afterwards but keeping the ground 

 clear from weeds till the autumn of the following year, 

 when all the plants but one of the finest in each square may 

 be taken up, which if wanted will serve to form other beds 

 set the same distance apart. The ground in the intervals of 

 the plants should be dug in the spring and fall of the year, 

 taking care not to injure the plants. The leaves should be 

 left on the plants till they fall off naturally, which will not 

 in general be sooner than the latter end of November, fn 

 the autumn of the second year the same attention should 

 be paid to the plants, and to remove the dead leaves. 



In the third year, about the middle or latter end of No- 

 vember, when the leaves have been cleared away, and the 

 ground dug, each plant should be covered overdose with a 

 tub, pan, a heap of small stones, coarse cinders, or coarse 

 bark, raised about ten or twelve inches over the crown of 

 each plant, and from about the latter end of PVbruary to the 

 latter end of March the plants will be very fine and fit for 

 use. I prefer that which has been bleached with our round 

 sea-gravel, about the size of large peas or beans, to any 

 other mode whatever. The plants should be cut but once 

 in a year, as cutting it oftener weakens and lessens the size 

 of the plants. Tf it is not desired to have the plants large, 

 they may He bleached and cut a year sooner. 



I have sent a specimen of the sandy soil in which it 

 grows naturally here, as I think the generality of gardeners 

 are too careful, and manure the ground too highly for it. 

 In the month of April last, after cuttiiirr my plants, I co- 

 vered the ground all over, at least six inches above the 

 crf»wn of the plants, with this earth : they soon shot up 

 through it, and never looked finer or produced a larger 

 quantity of good seed than that year. 



I am thus particular in order to show that this vegetable 

 will succeed as veil, if not better in poor ground than in 

 rich, provided the soil be dry, and care taken in the ma- 

 nagement; I speak from long experience, having been well 

 acquainted with the management of this valuable plant from 



my 



