I'ART VI VILLA GARDENING 515 



and sweet. The second way — and perhaiDS I might call it the 

 modern way of forcing Seakale — is to take up the roots in autumn, 

 and force them in succession, as required, in some heated structure 

 adapted for the work, where a temperature of 60° can be maintained. 

 A Mushroom-house does very well, or a darkened pit ; or it may 

 be forced in small quantities by planting the roots in boxes such 

 as wine-merchants use to pack wine in. In planting the roots 

 space must be left between the crowns and the lid of the box for 

 the Kale to grow — from 8 to 10 inches will in most instances 

 suffice, and space enough should be left between the crowns for 

 the full development of the blanched growth. If the crowns are 

 strong, 3 inches will not be too much. It is as well to take up all 

 the stock of roots we intend forcing and lay them in thickly on 

 the north side of a hedge or wall ; this has a resting ripening 

 tendency, and they will force all the better for it. All small roots 

 and pieces of roots removed from the large ones, intended for 

 forcing, should be laid in and covered with a little loose litter till 

 the spring, and then cut up into pieces 4 inches long and planted 

 in rows, with a dibble, 18 inches apart, and 12 inches apart in 

 the rows, just covering the thick ends of the roots, which in the 

 coiu-se of time will develop strong crowns. 



To Keep up a Succession, fresh relays of roots should be 

 introduced every three weeks or so. After the cutting of the first 

 crowns, if they are not cut too deeply into the roots, a fresh lot of 

 shoots will start, smaller considerably than the first, but in other 

 respects quite as good ; indeed, some people like these second 

 growths best, saying that they are more delicate both in appear- 

 ance and flavour. When the old roots are encouraged to produce 

 all they can, they are not so useful to plant out again, nor is it 

 necessary, as the small pieces jilanted in March will i^roduce strong 

 crowns in one year. 



By Seeds. — It may sometimes be necessary to raise plants 

 from seeds. I have often sown seeds of Seakale about the third 

 week in March, thinned the young plants out, guarded them from 

 slugs and snails in spring, and had them strong enough to force 

 the following winter. I do not think I should trouble to sow 

 seeds when I had plenty of root-cuttings, but plants from seeds 

 are just as good to force as the others if both are equally strong. 



Celery. — Though not often forced beyond its first period of 

 life, yet, if done very gently on a bed of leaves in a deep pit or 

 frame, it may be obtained very early for any special purpose. The 

 plants are pricked into jxits, shifted on till the bed is ready, then 

 planted out all over the bed at ocjual distances apart ; 9 inches 

 will give nice little heads, but if large produce is required more 



