•SZi UAllDr:^ MANAGEMENT. 



radishes coming oiJ soon after the others are up. This may be a saving of time 

 or room ; but where there is plenty of space, it is not advisable to sow two 

 -crops together, but let every crop have the best chance of doing well. It is, 

 however, advisable, this month, to sow early crops of the above : although 

 they are best sown in frames, they do well on a warm border. 



583. Seakale.— About this time it is advisable to begm forcing seakale ; if 

 forced eailier, it is not so good or abundant, and if left till March, artificial 

 lieat is almost unnecessary. The best way of raising seakale is from seed, 

 -which should be sown in drills, about four or five feet aDart, and three inches 

 deep : this should be done about the beginning of April. When sufficiently 

 large to tell which plants are strongest, thin them to about three inches ; in 

 July transplant some, leaving them in the rows, a foot ov 18 inches apart. 



1^84. Some would recommend planting these thinnings on ridges raised a 

 foot high or so, placing the plants in threes or fours, the clusters being a 

 yard apart and the ridges five feet. It is affirmed, that when heat is appHed 

 to seakale planted in this way, the ground gets warmed, so that the plants get 

 bottom-heat as well as top. In theory this seems rational enough, but in 

 practice I have found no striking, or, indeed, visible advantage in it ; but it 

 is as well to plant them in clumps of three or four together, a yard apart : 

 in this way a bunch of crowns is formed, over which to place a kalepot, a 

 great advantage in that which is to be forced. During the summer and 

 autumn the ground should be kept clear of weeds, and often stirred ; and in 

 dry weather copiously watered, especially that which has been transplanted. 



585. Seakale is best managed in the open ground, where, if planted on 

 ridges in clusters of three, a yard apart, it may be forced any time in the 

 winter, by putting the pots on, and covering them with about three feet of 

 fermenting dung : with a moderate heat, it takes about three weeks, fi"om 

 the time of covering till ready to cut. Never break off the leaves, but leave 

 them to decay naturally, when they may be removed. 



586. Continue to wheel manure on to vacant ground, and get all digging, 

 -trenching, and in fact all ground- work, as forward as possible, bearing in mind 

 that much of the success of the season depends upon it ; and how important 

 it is to have the ground prepared a week or two before cropping, especially 

 •where it is heavy or retentive, for none but a practised workman can appreciate 

 the advantage of having the surface in that faiely-pulverized condition that 

 follows sharp frost and drying winds. 



587. Caulifloicers, under hand-glasses, should have all the air, sun, and light 

 possible, and gentle showers in mild weather, where they are protected from 

 frost, cold winds, or heavy rains. Dust them also occasionally with lime, to 

 •destroy slugs, and stir the earth about the roots. 



588. Peas which are advancing should be earthed up, both to protect and 

 strengthen them. A dusting now and then with lime will protect from birds 

 and mice ; or white worsted stretched along the rows will do so, if rightly 

 managed. One way is to have some half-circular pieces of board, a foot wide, 

 ^ith pegs nailed to them to thrust into the ground ; then have five or six 



