xii.] BLANCHING RHUBARB AND SEAKALE 125 



Probably the best plan would be to excavate three 

 spits deep, throw in a quantity of coarse gravelly stuff, 

 or lime rubbish, then a layer of stable litter, upon that 

 another deep layer of fresh sods from the field and rich 

 cow dung, crowning all with sandy loam, on which to sow 

 in April the best seed in drills, one foot apart (Cannovers 

 Colossal or Purple Argenteuil\ thinning out to twelve inches. 

 A bed thus treated, carefully weeded, and the surface 

 stirred each autumn and spring, will produce buds in the 

 fourth or fifth year, and last for a lifetime. 



Rhubarb. One corner of every garden ought to be 

 devoted to the growth of rhubarb. 



A few plants of Victoria or Monarch, or Myatfs 

 Linnceus and Mitchell's Royal Albert ', should be obtained 

 from a friend, or bought in the nursery, and planted 3 

 or 4 feet apart every way. If the ground has been well 

 prepared and manured, it will grow like a weed. In the 

 late autumn the crowns should be covered with an inverted 

 hamper or flower-pot, or by a few stakes driven round, 

 and stable litter thrown over, so as to keep out light 

 and blanch the stalks ; this will make the Rhubarb not 

 only of better flavour and come earlier to perfection, 

 but scarcely half the quantity of sugar will be needed in 

 the cooking. 



Seakale. One of the most welcome and seasonable 

 of all vegetables, coming in when the rest are very scarce, 

 is one of those most easily managed. Seakale is readily 

 grown on a north border, which is little used for other 

 crops. Small crowns may be bought in the seed-shops 



