The Culture of Vegetables 



make good any failures. But for most gardens one sowing about the 

 middle of March will be sufficient. From this sowing it will be an 

 easy matter to secure an early supply, a main crop, and a late crop, 

 for they may be transplanted from the seed-bed at a very early stage, 

 and successive thinnings will make several plantations ; and finally, as 

 many can be left in the seed-bed to mature as will form a proper 

 plantation. 



The Leek will grow in any soil, and when no thicker than the 

 finger is useful ; indeed, in many places where the soil is poor and 

 the climate cold it rarely grows larger, but is, nevertheless, greatly 

 valued. A rich dry soil suits the plant well, and when liberally 

 grown it attains to a great size, and is very attractive, with its silvery 

 root and brilliant green top. The economical course of management 

 consists in thinning and planting as opportunities occur, beginning 

 as soon as the plants are six inches high, and putting them in well- 

 prepared ground, which should be thoroughly watered previously, 

 unless already softened by rain. The distance must depend on the 

 nature of the ground and the wants of the cultivator. To grow large 

 Leeks in strong ground they must be quite a foot apart, but for a 

 crop of small useful roots six inches will suffice. In planting, first 

 shorten the leaves a little (and very little), then drive down the 

 dibber, and put the plant in as deep as the base of the leaves, and 

 close in carefully without pressure. Water liberally, occasionally stir 

 the ground between plants, and again cut off the tops of the leaves, 

 when the roots will grow to a large size. If the ground is danger- 

 ously damp or pasty, make a bed for the crop with light rich soil, 

 plant on the level and mould up as the growth advances. On light 

 land, however, it is advisable to grow them in trenches, prepared as 

 for Celery, but the Leeks need not be earthed up. The largest and 

 whitest should not be left to battle with storms, but those left in the 

 seed-bed will take no harm from winter weather, and will be useful 

 when the grandees are eaten. The finest roots that remain when 

 winter sets in may be taken up in good time and stored in dry sand, 

 and will keep for at least a month. Any that remain over in spring 

 can be turned to account to supply a delicate and comparatively 

 unknown vegetable. As the flower-stems rise nip them out ; not one 

 should be left. The result of this practice will be the formation on 

 the roots of small roundish white bulbs, which make an excellent 

 dish when stewed in gravy, and may be used for any purpose 

 in cookery for which Onions or Shallots are employed. They are 

 called ' Leek Bulbs,' and are obtainable only in early summer. 



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