MARCH] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 209 



depth of several inches, and cut off the young and tender leaves and 

 stalks, as yet unexpanded and in a blanched state, close to the crown 

 of the root. It is then in its greatest perfection. When the leaves 

 are fully grown they become hard and bitter, and the plant is not 

 eatable. 



The more curious, desirous of having it at hand and in their im- 

 mediate possession, have now, in many parts of the maritime counties 

 of England, introduced it into their gardens; and in Devonshire par- 

 ticularly there is scarcely a good garden to be found without a plan- 

 tation of it for the use of the table. It is also cultivated for sale in 

 various parts of England, particularly Bath, Chichester, &c. 



It is to be observed that the sea kale is delicate eating only when 

 young, and that it is highly improved by being blanched. In the 

 cultivation of this plant it becomes necessary to blanch it before it 

 is fit for the table. To effect this it must be covered in some way or 

 other before the flowering stem, which constitutes the chief eatable 

 part, and its attendant leaves show the least sign of emerging from 

 the crown of the root. 



Cultivators have differed widely respecting the mode of treating 

 this plant; many, conceiving that stones or gravel and sea sand are 

 essential to its growth, have gone to the expense of providing it 

 with such, not aware that it will grow much more luxuriantly on a 

 rich sandy loam, where the roots can penetrate to a great depth 

 without reaching the water, in which, if they are immersed, they are 

 apt to rot. The plant will succeed almost in any soil, provided it 

 be dry. Its luxuriance will depend chiefly on the manure with which 

 the soil is enriched, but, of all others, a deep, rich, sandy loam is its 

 favorite soil. 



The most usual mode of raising the sea kale is from seed. It 

 may also be raised from cuttings of the root, and that with the 

 greatest certainty ; but seedlings make the finest plants. Some find 

 a difficulty in making the seeds vegetate ; this may be attributed to 

 their being old, buried too deep in the earth, or sown too late in the 

 spring. The most proper time for sowing the seed is in October, or 

 as early in the spring as the ground can be got in a fit condition to 

 receive them, and an inch is the proper depth to cover them. They 

 rarely vegetate in less than six weeks after being sown, even in the 

 most favorable season; and some will remain in the ground for 

 twelve months before they vegetate. Should the season prove dry, 

 it will be necessary to water the ground where the seeds are sown, 

 and the plants after they appear, frequently. 



It is the best practice to raise young plants immediately from seed 

 on the bed where they are intended to remain; by this means the 

 plants receive no check in their growth. When you have formed 

 your bed, which should be raised somewhat above the level of the 

 ground, being previously trenched very deep and enriched with the 

 best rotten manure, make each bed wide enough to hold two rows of 

 plants, the space between each plant in the row fourteen inches, and 

 between each row a foot and a half. Sow about six or eight seeds, 

 as before directed, on each spot where your plant is intended to re- 

 main. This number is directed in order to guard against accidents, 

 14 



