Vegetable Growing for Market i6r 



than two or three medium or small ones, the crop should be gone over 

 in the early days of July and "suckered" to single crowns. 



Seakale prefers light sandy land. Though fond of moisture, it will 

 not do where the drainage is not good. Being a Crucifer, it is terribly 

 subject to clubroot attack. The appearance of this disease is often the 

 indication that water is held in the land and has soured it. 



Salt, potash, and phosphates are the most valuable manures for Sea- 

 kale. Lime must be freely used to counteract the conditions that favour 

 clubroot. 



Forced Seakale. Seakale is grown for forcing and as natural. For 

 the former, the sets planted as above described are fit for lifting as soon as 

 the foliage has died back in the autumn. The crowns are then taken up, 

 the larger roots broken off to make sets for next year, and the crowns thus 

 trimmed are laid either in sheds such as Rhubarb is forced in, or in beds 

 under which hot-water pipes are laid, or around which manure is stacked. 

 The heat given should be gentle and not too fierce. To get good results 

 the process of forcing should take four weeks. Covering of mats and litter, 

 supported by wooden framework and flaps, must be provided to ensure 

 darkness and exclusion of air. When the growth is 8 to 9 in. long it 

 is fit to cut. It is then sorted into best and seconds, and the most 

 approved way of preparing for market is to tie it up in chip punnets 

 each containing about 3 Ib. weight, wrapping in blue paper for the best 

 and white for the seconds. When it is plentiful it is sometimes sent up 

 in half-sieves containing 12 Ib. each. 



Seakale is very tender and easily spoiled by frost, so that great care 

 must be taken in handling and packing it during severe weather. The 

 packing shed must be warmed, and plenty of newspaper and rough hay 

 or straw used in the packing. 



The price of seakale has come down very much of recent years. 

 The average, which used to be 18s. per dozen punnets of best, is now 

 under 12s. This means that all the processes in the production must be 

 carefully scrutinized to save expenses if the result is not to be a loss 

 to the grower. The expenses of cultivation may be set down as 



Sets, to cut and lay in, Qd. to Id. per bushel; number of bushels- 



required for an acre, 24. 

 Planting, per acre, 27s. to 80s. 

 Hoeing for the summer, 4 per acre. 

 Suckering, 10s. per acre. 

 Digging or ploughing out, 4d. per pole the first and 42s. per acre the 



second. 



Picking up and carting in, 20s. to 25s. per acre. 

 Breaking off sets and laying in the crowns, about 60s. per acre. 



This in addition to the preparations for planting, which will be on the 

 ordinary scale and should include subsoiling. The cutting and packing 

 will cost about Is. per dozen for labour and 4d per dozen for punnets > 



VOL. IV. 56 



