END 



209 



END 



Time and mode of sowing. — For a 

 first crop about the middle of April, to 

 be repeated in May, but only in small 

 portions, as those which are raised be- 

 fore June, soon advance to seed. To- 

 wards the middle of this month the first 

 main crop may be inserted ; to be con- 

 tinued in the course of July, and lastly 

 early in August ; and in tiiis month the 

 main plantation is made. The seed 

 is sown then in drills twelve inches 



frames, mats, or thick coverings of lit- 

 ter, during severe and very wet wea- 

 ther ; but to be carefully uncovered 

 during mild dry days. The plants, in 

 this instance, are not required to be 

 further apart than six or eight inches. 

 This plan may be followed in open days 

 during December and January, by which 

 means a constant supply may be ob- 

 tained. Instead of being planted in the 

 above manner on a terrace, it is some- 



apart, and about half an inch below the , times practised to take the plants on a 

 surface. The plants speedily make dry day, and, the leaves being tied to- 

 their appearance. When an inch in 1 gether, to lay them horizontally in the 

 height ihey should be thinned to three | earth down to the tip of the leaves; 



or four inches apart : those taken away 

 are too small to be of any service if 

 pricked out. The bed must be kept 

 clear of weeds from the first appearance 

 of the plants until they are removed. 

 To promote their arrival at a fit size for 

 performing this operation, water should 

 be given occasionally in dry weather. 



When the larger seedlings have been 

 transplanted, the smaller ones which 

 remain may be cleared of weeds and 

 have a gentle watering ; by which treat- 

 ment, in twelve or fourteen days, they 

 will have attained a sufficient size to 

 afford a second successional crop; and, 

 by a repetition of this management, in 

 general a third. The plants are gene- 

 rally fit for transplanting when of a 

 month's growth in the seed-bed ; but 

 a more certain criterion is, that when 

 of five or six inches' height they are of 

 the most favourable size. 



Plantinjr. — They must be set in rows 

 twelve or fifteen inches apart each way : 

 the Batavian requires the greatest space. 

 Some gardeners recommend them to be 

 set in trenches or drills three or four 

 inches deep. This mode is not detri- 

 mental in summer and dry weather; 

 but in winter, when every precaution 

 is to be adopted for the prevention of 

 decay, it is always injurious. 



Water must be given moderately 



this accelerates the blanching, but 

 otherwise is far more subject to failure. 



As the number necessary for a family 

 is but small, but few should be planted 

 at a time. 



Blanching. — About three months 

 elapse between the time of sowing and 

 the fitness of the plants for blanching. 

 This operation, if conducted properly, 

 will be completed in from ten to four- 

 teen days in summer, or in three or 

 four weeks in winter. To blanch the 

 plants it is the most common practice 

 to tie their leaves together, to place 

 tiles or pieces of board upon them, or 

 to cover them with garden-pots; whilst 

 some recommend their leaves to be tied 

 together, and then to be covered up to 

 their tips with mould, making it rise to 

 an apex, so as to throw off excessive 

 rains. All these methods succeed iu 

 dry seasons ; but in wet ones the plants, 

 treated according to any of them, are 

 liable to decay. 



The one which succeeds best in all 

 seasons is to fold the leaves round the 

 heart as much as possible in their natu- 

 ral position; and being tied together 

 with a shred of bass-mat, covered up 

 entirely with coal-ashes in the form of 

 a cone, the surface being rendered firm 

 and smooth with the trowel. Sand will 

 do, but ashes are equally unretentive 



.. „„ ^ — ^ ^^.j I"-) "■•- "-••--- — -^1 J ^-^ — •■ 



every evening uutil the plants are esta- j of moisture, whilst they are much supe 



blished, after which it is not at all re- 

 quisite, except in excessive and pro- 

 tracted drought. Those which arc left 

 in the seed-bed, if the soil is at all fa- 

 vourable, in general attain a finer 

 growth than those that have been 



rior in absorbing heat, which is so be- 

 neficial in the hastening of the process. 

 If the simple mode of drawing the 

 leaves together is adopted to effect this 

 etiolation, they must be tied very close, 

 and, in a week after the first tying, a 



moved. In November some plants that second ligature must be passed round 

 have attained nearly their full size may the middle of the plant to prevent the 

 be removed to the south side of a slop- heart-leaves bursting out. A dry after- 

 ing bank of dry light earth, raised one noon, when the plants are entirely free 

 or two feet behind : to be protected by i from moisture, should be selected, 

 14 



