SEAKALE 197 



Market-gardeners in England commence forcing Sea- 

 kale from the end of October till the end of February. 

 The best and earliest crowns are first selected and 

 planted side by side in beds 4 to 5 ft. across, and 

 heated underneath by hot -water pipes. The roots are 

 embedded in the soil to the tops, and after planting 

 receive a good drenching with water to settle the 

 soil round them. They are afterwards covered with 

 clean strawy litter to a depth of 12 or 18 in., and 

 in severe weather mats are placed overhead on cross- 

 bars. From fourteen to twenty-one days according 

 to the time of year are required to produce the 

 leaf-stalks. The litter is then taken off, and all the 

 crowns that are ready are taken from the bed, and 

 prepared for market. As soon as one set of crowns 

 is finished, others are ready to take their place, and 

 thus a constant supply is kept up till the plants forced 

 in the open air begin to yield. 



French growers plant the Seakale roots in beds 

 the same width as the frames generally in use for 

 forcing Carrots, Radishes, Lettuces, etc. The beds 

 are thus 4 ft. 5 in. wide, and have an alley or path- 

 way between them. Five furrows about 4 in. deep 

 are drawn, and the plants are placed in them at the 

 end of March or early in April, the two outer rows 

 being about 7 or 8 in. from the margin. This allows 

 about twenty-five " crowns " to each light. After 

 planting, the crowns are freely watered when necessary, 

 and the soil which had been drawn up in little 

 rdges when making the furrows or drills is gradually 

 washed down, and eventually covers the crowns. 

 Towards the end of June or early in July the 

 waterings cease, as the plants will be then established 



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