668 ASPAHAGACEOUS ESCULENTS. 



plants are weak, they may be strengthened by two or three waterings with 

 liquid manure. 



1485. The duration of an asparagus plantation is never less than ten or 

 twelve years; but in deep sandy soils, well enriched with manure, it will last 

 twenty or thirty years. The plants are seldom attacked by insects, though 

 the asparagus beetle (Cridceris asparagi, Z.) sometimes makes its appearance 

 in spring, and ought to be deterred from laying its eggs by watering with 

 some fetid liquid in April, or gathering the insects, which are easily known 

 from their bright lively colours, by hand. (G. M. 1837, p. 337). 



1486. To save seed, allow the blossoms of some of the strongest stems to 

 remain on ; the fruit will ripen in October, and may either be thrashed out 

 and kept in bags, in which state it w r ill retain its vitality for four or fivo 

 years; or it may be retained on the stems, and these being hung up in a dry 

 place, the seed will grow at the end of fifteen or twenty years. 



Forcing the asparagus in the open garden and under glass has been already 

 treated of (1096). 



SUBSECT. II The Sea-Kale. 



1487. The sea-kale, Crambe maritima, L. (Chou xnarin, Fr.), is a cruci- 

 ferous perennial, with long strong deeply penetrating roots, a native of 

 Britain, on the sea-coast in many places, and always most vigorous in a 

 sandy soil, or a loamy subsoil, overflown by spring tides. The young 

 shoots and leaf-stalks, just as they come through the sand, and are blanched 

 and tender, have been boiled and eaten by the inhabitants of the western 

 shores of England from time immemorial ; but the plant was not cultivated 

 as a garden esculent till after the middle of the last century. It is now 

 reckoned second in excellence to the asparagus, and to be found in every good 

 garden, sometimes even in that of the cottager. It comes into use in the 

 open garden in the beginning of March, and continues good till May; and by 

 forcing it can be obtained from November throughout the whole of the winter 

 and spring. No plant requires less care in its cultivation, or less heat 

 to force. 



1488. Propagation and culture. By seed is the common mode, but it 

 will also grow freely by cuttings of the roots. If sown to transplant, a seed- 

 bed four feet by ten feet will require two ounces ; if sown in drills to remain, 

 the same quantity will sow one hundred and fifty feet of drill. The seed 

 will come up in a month. It is generally grown in rows two feet apart, and 

 the plants about the same distance in the row. Seeds, plants which have 

 been one year in the seed-bed, or cuttings of the roots of old plants, may be 

 used ; in the latter case leaving two eyes to each cutting ; or cuttings 

 without eyes may be used, provided the upper part of the cutting be 

 planted upppermost ; or the cutting be laid on its side in a shallow 

 drill. (G. M., vol. ii. p. 365.) Sowing and planting may take place 

 about the beginning of March. The best soil is a deep sandy loam, 

 thoroughly enriched with manure, including sea-weed, if it can be got, or if 

 not, a sprinkling of salt once a year. The most efficient mode of culture 

 would be to follow that recommended for asparagus. The strongest plants 

 are produced from seeds sown where the plants are to remain. Three rows 

 may be marked out two feet apart, leaving an interval of three feet after 

 every third row, the centre of which, to the width of eighteen inches, is to 

 be treated as an alley for the convenience of gathering the crop. The seeds 



