Scorzonera Sea Kale 



shallow drills fifteen inches apart, and as the plants advance thin 

 them until they stand a foot apart in the drill. Keep the crop clean, 

 and it will be fit for use in September. Lift as wanted in the same 

 manner as Parsnips. 



To cook the roots they must be first scraped and thrown into 

 water in which there are a few drops of lemon juice. Let them 

 remain half an hour, then boil in salted water in the same way as 

 Carrots until quite tender, and serve with white sauce. If left to get 

 cold, and then sliced and fried in butter, they make a good side 

 dish. 



SEA KALE 



Crambe maritima 



MANY persons prefer Sea Kale to Asparagus, but the two differ so 

 widely in flavour and general character that no comparison between 

 them is possible. On two points, however, the advantage certainly 

 rests with Sea Kale. It can be more easily grown, and, regarded 

 solely as an article of food, it is the more profitable crop. This 

 comparison has therefore a practical bearing. In forming a new 

 garden, and in cases where it may not be possible to grow both 

 these esculents advantageously, Sea Kale should have attention first, 

 as a thing that will require but a small investment, and that will 

 surely pay its way, with quick returns, to the general advantage of 

 the household. 



Sea Kale requires strong ground, fully exposed to the sun, and 

 enriched with any good manure that may be handy, our old friend 

 from the well-provendered stable being undoubtedly the best of all. 

 The most satisfactory way to begin is with well-grown roots, as 

 they make a return at once with the least imaginable trouble. Let 

 the ground be well dug two spits deep, and put a coat of manure 

 between ; or if it is a good substantial loam, plant without manure, 

 and the results will be excellent. As the thriving plant covers a 

 considerable space, and there must be a certain amount of traffic on 

 the ground to manage it, there should be one row in the centre of a. 

 four-feet bed, with a broad alley on one side ; or, better still, mark out 

 a ten-feet space, with a three-feet alley on each side, and in this 

 space plant three rows two and a half feet apart, and the roots two 

 feet apart. The planting may be done at any time after the leaves 

 have fallen, late in autumn, and during winter and early spring. On 



119 



