GARDEN BEET BORECOLE 23 



should never be used. They should be served up in the same 

 manner as Asparagus. The remainder of the leaf is dressed as 

 Spinach. 



BORECOLE, or KALE 



(Brassica ohracea acephala) 



THE BORECOLES OR KALES are indispensable for the supply of 

 winter vegetables, and their importance is made especially manifest 

 when severe frost has made general havoc in the kitchen garden. 

 Then it is seen that the hardier kinds of Borecoles are proof against 

 any amount of frost that may be expected in these islands, and, while 

 it leaves the plants unharmed, it improves the tops and side sprouts 

 that are required for table purposes. 



As regards soil the Borecoles are the least particular of the whole 

 race of Brassicas. They appear to be capable of supplying the table 

 with winter greens even when grown on hard rocky soil, but good 

 loam suits them admirably, and a strong clay well .tilled will produce 

 a grand sample. Granting, then, that a good soil is better than a 

 bad one, we urge the sowing of the seed as early as possible for insur- 

 ing to the plant a long season of growth. But early sowing should be 

 followed by early planting, for it is bad practice to leave the plants 

 crowded in the seed-bed until the summer is far advanced. This, 

 however, is often unavoidable, and it is well to consider in time 

 where the plants are to go, and when, according to averages, the 

 ground will be vacant to receive them. The first sowing may be 

 made early in March, and another in the middle of April. These 

 two sowings will suffice for almost all the purposes that can be 

 imagined. A good seed-bed in an open spot is absolutely necessary. 

 It is usual to draw direct from the seed-bed for planting out as oppor- 

 tunities occur, and this method answers fairly well. But it is better 

 practice to prick out the plants as soon as large enough to prepare 

 them for the final planting, as a stouter and handsomer plant is there- 

 by secured. If it is intended to follow the rough and ready plan, the 

 seed drills should be nine inches apart ; but for pricking out six 

 inches will answer, and thus a very small bed will provide a lot of 

 plants. When pricked out, the little plants should be six inches 

 apart each way, and should go to their final quarters as soon as they 

 touch one another. When Borecoles are planted out on the flat in 

 large pieces, a fair distance is two feet apart each way, but some 



