30 On Sea Kale. 



earlier than the next spiing after sowing the seed ; nor 

 even then, unless during the first summer the plants shall 

 have grown so well, as to cover an extent of ground at 

 least two feet in diameter. The best plan, in general, 

 is to leave them near two years before the process of 

 bleaching is begun ; in which case, like asparagus, they 

 will reward your patience, by more vigour and produc- 

 tiveness afterwards. 



The seed does not appear till the second year. And 

 then, even if the plant be strong enough for bleaching 

 and cutting, after the first flowering stem is cut off*, it 

 will send up another, and flower, and ripen its seeds. 

 This ripeness is to be determined by the colour of the 

 capsules. When they turn yellow and begin to fall, the 

 stem ought to be cut off" and hung up to dry. This will 

 probably be toward the latter end of August, or the 

 beginning of September. 



This vegetable requires to be thoroughly boiled ; and 

 if boiled in milk, or milk and water, it is more tender 

 and delicious. A little melted butter is usually poured 

 over it when served up. In short, it ought to be 

 cooked and served up very much in the style of aspara- 

 gus, excepting that it requires rather more boiling. 



This vegetable, like most others, may ht forced. For 

 the sake of having a few plants earlier, as well as that 

 the whole crop might not come on at once, I have gene- 

 rally thrown a wheelbarrow full of hot stable manure 

 over each box, to the extent of about a quarter or a third 

 of the bed. The best covering, I believe, for those 

 which are intended to ht forced^ is an earthen pot; which 

 will keep the manure from coming in contact with the 

 plant, and, at the same time, be a better conductor of 

 heat than a wooden box. This liberal use of manure 

 will occasion no loss, as it will be on the ground, ready 

 to be used in neighbouring parts of the garden. 



