The Culture of Vegetables 



after it has left their hands. With the gardener in a domestic esta- 

 blishment the case is different ; and we venture to advise the young 

 men to whom book advice is often valuable as entailing no obliga- 

 tions that Sea Kale slowly forced may be nearly as good as that 

 grown under pots in the open without any heat at all ; better than 

 such it cannot be. Any pits or odd places may be made use of for 

 this crop, no matter what the general business in such places may be, 

 provided only that the heat is not too great. Pack the roots in mould 

 or leaves, or even half-rotten manure, and shut them up to exclude 

 light, and the crop will be ready in five or six weeks, unless forcing 

 is commenced very early, in which case seven weeks at least must be 

 allowed from the time of planting to that of the first cutting. Roots 

 that have been lifted for forcing should be thrown away when the crop 

 has been secured, but roots forced in the open ground suffer so little 

 by the process that they may be forced every year through half a 

 lifetime ere it becomes necessary to renew the plantation, provided, of 

 course, that the work is well done. The outdoor forcing is accom- 

 plished in the way described for growing the crop, with the aid of 

 leaves only, but with certain differences. In the first place, care 

 must be taken to let the plants feel the cold, but at the same time 

 to prevent the ground becoming frozen. A touch of frost will 

 render them more ready to grow when the cultivator brings his 

 persuasions to bear by heaping hot manure over the pots, and cover- 

 ing the bed with a thick coat of the same. This is all that can be 

 done, but it is sufficient. In cases where leaves and other suitable 

 materials are not available, good Sea Kale may be grown by simply 

 raising over each crown a heap of sand or sifted coal ashes, provided 

 some clean material be interposed to keep the sand or ashes from 

 actual contact with the plant. When this heap begins to crack at 

 the top it will be worth while to examine it at the bottom, when there 

 will be found a fine head of blanched Sea Kale, and the mound will 

 have served its purpose. 



To grow Sea Kale from seed is a simple matter enough, but there 

 is a loss of a year as compared with growing it from roots. The 

 ground should be rich and well worked, and the seed should be 

 sown in March or April in drills one foot asunder if for planting out, 

 or in patches two and a half feet apart if to remain. It is believed 

 by many that Sea Kale should stand where sown, and we admit that 

 analogies are in favour of the proposal. But every year such grand 

 produce is obtained from transplanted roots that we have not the 

 courage to condemn a course of procedure which may not be 



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