SEA-KALE 247 



Soil. Sea-kale will grow in many soils, but the 

 best is rich, cool, moist, deep, and in good tilth. If 

 heavily manured, so much the better. Fertilizers with 

 a good proportion of nitrogen may be worked in. 



Distances are according to the purpose. A good 

 scheme is: set the seedlings or sets twelve by eighteen 

 inches. At the end of the second year every other 

 plant and the alternate rows may be taken up for forc- 

 ing, leaving the rest as a permanent plantation at three 

 by two feet. In very good ground this distance may 

 be increased to four feet apart each way. In the seed- 

 bed sow in rows a foot apart and thin to six inches in 

 the rows ; or sow in rows closer together and when 

 the plants are two to three inches high, transplant to 

 twelve by six inches, to grow for the first year. Twelve 

 by twelve is better, if the space can be spared. 



Depth. Of seed, one and one-half to two inches. 

 Of seedlings, as they were before. Of thongs, cover 

 about an inch, setting them upright. 



Sow. The seed as bought is in a pod or capsule, 

 which it is the practice to sow without shelling, but if 

 shelled they sprout more quickly. Although Vilmorin- 

 Andrieux says that but one plant will come to each pod, 

 frequently two or three will be produced. Sow seed 

 under glass in March, in the coldframe as early as 

 possible, in the open when the ground is fit. Seed may 

 be sown in the hills, four to five to a hill, at the per- 

 manent distances. 



