[27] 



On Sea Kale. By Samuel Miller, D. D. 



Princeton ( N.J.J Oct. 13, 1817. 



Sir, 



My brother-in-law, Mr. Sergeant, informs me that you 

 have expressed a wish to be furnished with some of the 

 seed of the sea-kale, for the purpose of cultivating that 

 delightful vegetable. I do myself the honour to send a 

 parcel herewith, and shall be very glad if the product 

 should answer your expectations. 



The sea kale, or crambe maritima, has been long 

 known in those parts of Great Britain which border on 

 the sea coast, where it grows wild, in a light, sandy soil. 

 Its introduction into gardens is a recent event. At pre- 

 sent, I am informed, it is one of the most favourite arti- 

 cles of cultivation in that country. It is one of the most 

 tender and delicious of all the numerous species of the 

 brassica, or cabbage tribe, not excepting even the cauli- 

 flower. It does not, like most cabbages, form a head ; 

 and it would be both coarse and tough if it were not 

 bleached. It is a very early plant, being ready for the 

 table ten days or a fortnight before the usual time of be-- 

 ginning to cut asparagus. Like asparagus, it is peren- 

 nial. When you have once formed a bed of the sea kale, 

 it will continue to produce abundantly, when managed 

 with tolerable care, for a number of years. 



I received the first seed which I planted from John 

 Lowell, esquire, of Massachusetts. From his letter, and 

 from my own experience, I am enabled to offer the fol- 

 lowing directions for cultivating this vegetable. 



