404 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



The crowns suitable for forcing will be similar to that shown in 

 Figure 1 of Diagram 75. They must be thick and sturdy, and 

 not thin as in Figure 2, which will be serviceable only for planting 

 hi the ordinary way. 



Seakale may be forced either in a frame placed on a gentle hot- 

 bed made of moderately fresh manure, or in any other warm place, 

 such as beneath the staging of a greenhouse. The simplest, and, 

 when a large quantity is not required, the most convenient 

 method is to place a few crowns three inches apart hi a large 

 flower-pot, the soil hi which has been made fairly rich. Since four 

 heads will be needed to provide a satisfactory dish it is a good plan 

 to use four crowns to a pot. The top of the crown should be left 

 just showing above the soil. 



Seakale must be forced hi total darkness. Therefore, above 

 the pot in which the crowns have been planted it will now be 

 necessary to place an inverted flower-pot of the same size, and 

 carefully to exclude the light by stopping up the drainage hole with 

 a cork. After watering, the pots can be packed away in a warm 

 corner of the greenhouse, or be placed in a hotbed, the latter 

 having holes scooped out of the top to receive the pots. 



Figure 4 in the diagram shows the kind of seakale pot usually 

 employed by market gardeners, and the approved method of 

 planting. The thinner crowns or roots are planted out, four or 

 five to the pot, and then covered over thickly with littery manure. 

 In this way the plants are grown on until they are ready for use at 

 the proper season. 



VEGETABLE MARROW. Diagram 77 affords hints on the cultiva- 

 tion of the vegetable marrow, the seed of which should be sown 

 early in April in pots in a gentle heat in the greenhouse. The 

 object to be aimed at is to have young healthy plants ready for 

 planting out in prepared beds by the end of May. The seed should 

 be sown edge upwards, low down in five-inch pots. The purpose 

 of this is to allow of top-dressing as the plants form vigorous 

 roots. 



The method of preparing outdoor marrow beds consists in con- 

 structing low mounds of rough soil, hollowed out in the middle. 



