244 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



Culture. Preserve the mulch and keep down weeds. 

 Pick the leaves as wanted, when the plant is grow- 

 ing well; or pull whole plant. 



SCURVY GRASS (Cochlearia qffidnalis) is a peren- 

 nial plant grown as an annual, for its leaves, which are 

 used like those of water-cress, which the plant resembles, 

 though the taste is bitter and tarry. It is anti-scor- 

 butic. 



Soil cool and moist, if possible with partial shade. 



Rows one foot apart or more. 



Depth. About one inch. 



Sow when heavy frosts are past. 



Thin to four to six inches in the rows. 



Pick the leaves as wanted when once the plant is 

 growing well. 



SEA-KALE (Crambe maritimd) is a perennial plant, 

 which, like asparagus, thrives naturally near the sea- 

 shore, but which (also like asparagus), can be success- 

 fully grown inland under widely varying conditions. 

 It is chiefly an English delicacy, grown for its first 

 shoots in spring, which are blanched, and are served 

 like asparagus. The English prize it highly, as it 

 comes into use in the spring when green vegetables are 

 scarce. Besides this, however, it may be forced, the 

 roots being taken into the house and easily brought 

 into bearing, much as rhubarb is. Roots thus used 



