KALE 



KALMIA 



1733 



eica. Kale is really a non-heading cabbage. It is hardy 

 and enjoys the cool portion of autumn and early spring 

 for its growth. It ranks low in quality, but because it 

 is hardy and will stand the winters of the Atlantic 

 seaboard states south of New 

 York, it supplies a cheap and pala- 

 table pot-herb during the winter 

 season. 



Commercially kale is extensively 

 grown in only two districts, 

 namely, in the vicinity of Norfolk, 

 Virginia, and on Long Island, New 

 York. This restricted commercial 

 area is undoubtedly due to eco- 

 nomic rather than soil or climatic 

 conditions. The fact that it is a 

 coarse, light, low-priced com- 

 modity in greatest demand from 

 December to April restricts its 

 profitable extensive culture to 

 regions possessing peculiar climatic 

 and transportation conditions, 

 that is, mild winters, a relatively 

 short haul, and reasonable trans- 

 portation rates. 



There are several forms of kale, 

 but only two are extensively grown 

 for market, Scotch kale and blue 

 kale. Scotch kale forms by far 

 the greater bulk of the plantings 

 in the Norfolk area, but because 

 the blue kale is considered hardier 



2028. Kale. Leaf of ^ is often used for late plantings 



Scotch Curled. and by those who have been 



delayed in seeding their crop. 



While kale can be started under cover and trans- 

 planted with as great ease and certainty as cabbage, 

 it is seldom handled in this way outside the kitchen- 

 garden. Under field conditions the land is prepared 

 the same as for cabbage, by liberal fertilizing and 

 thorough plowing and harrowing. The seed is usually 

 planted in drills 3 feet apart and later thinned, by 

 chopping out, to a stand of individual plants about 6 

 inches apart in the row. In the Norfolk area, the seed- 

 ing is done between August 15 and 20 and if the plants 

 grow vigorously they are often harvested to meet 

 early market demands in such a way as to accomplish 

 the work of further thinning. The main crop is har- 

 vested by cutting the thick whorl of leaves that forms 

 the crown of the plant. These are packed for market 

 either in barrel-high Delaware baskets or in veneer 

 barrels. The kale is pressed firmly as it is filled into 

 the receptacle. The barrels are then, covered by a clean 

 burlap drawn over the mass piled on top of the barrel 

 and held in place by driving down the loose top hoop. 

 Kale requires somewhat less fertilizer than cabbage, 

 is less expensive to produce, usually produces an 

 abundant crop which can be harvested at small cost 

 and with a fairly satisfactory net profit an acre. The 

 yields vary from 200 to 400 barrels to the acre with an 

 average of about 250 barrels. The price ranges all the 

 way from 50 cents to $2 a barrel. As usually handled, 

 kale is not at its best. It is not economically possible 

 to produce high-grade kale. Good kale is young tender 

 kale which yields only a small crop to the acre. For 

 the amateur, however, high-quality kale is possible, for 

 he can handle it so as to secure the quick growth of 

 young tender plants, which insures quality. The com- 

 mercial grower must fill barrels if he is to find profit. 



L. C. CORBETT. 



KALE, SEA: Crambe maritima, treated under Sea-Kale. 



KALMIA (after Peter Kalm, Swedish botanist, trav- 

 eled from 1748 to 1751 in North America). Ericacese. 

 AMERICAN LAUREL. Ornamental shrubs grown for 

 their handsome flowers and foliage. 



Evergreen, rarely deciduous: lys. alternate or oppo- 

 site, short-petioled, entire: fls. in terminal or lateral 

 corymbs or umbels, rarely solitary; calyx 5-parted; 

 corolla saucer-shaped or broadly campanulate, 5-lobed; 

 stamens 10, with slender filaments, the anthers held 

 back in little pouches of the corolla, springing up sud- 

 denly and discharging the pollen if touched; ovary 

 5-celled, superior: caps, globular, parting into 5 valves, 

 with numerous minute seeds. Seven species in E. 

 N. Amer. and Cuba. The Ivs. of the kalmias are said 

 to be poisonous to animals, especially those of K. 

 angustifolia. The fl. of Kalmia is one of those proposed 

 as a national floral emblem, especially on account of the 

 exquisite symmetrical beauty of the single blossom. 

 Kalmia is a purely American genus, but unfortunately 

 it is popularly known only in the eastern states. 



The kalmias are medium-sized or low shrubs, very 

 rarely small trees with purple, pink or nearly white, 

 cup-shaped flowers in showy terminal corymbs or in 

 axillary umbels, rarely solitary, followed by small 

 capsular fruits. Kalmia angustifolia and K. polifolia 

 are hardy North, and also the most ornamental mem- 

 ber of the genus, K. latifolia, which next to rhododen- 

 dron is the most beautiful flowering hardy evergreen. 

 Massed in groups or as single specimen on the lawn, it 

 is one of the most decorative plants when covered with 

 its abundant pink flowers. Even small plants produce 

 flowers. The foliage is very decorative, contrasting 

 well with the red and yellowish branches. The species 

 is easily forced and makes a very handsome pot-plant. 

 The other species are pretty border plants for ever- 

 green shrubberies. 



The kalmias thrive well in a sandy, peaty or loamy 

 soil, but dislike clay and limestone. They grow almost 

 as well in swamps as in drier locations and prefer partly 

 shaded situations, but thrive well also in sunny places, 

 provided there be sufficient moisture. They require 

 generally almost the same treatment as the hardy rho- 

 dodendron, but are less particular about soil and 



2029. Kalmia latifolia. 



