SEA KALE 115 



Sea Kale advances we take care to remove whatever would interfere 

 with their expansion, for the stolen crop should not stand in the way 

 of that intended for permanent occupation. A crop of early Cauli- 

 flower, small Cabbage, or even Potatoes, may be taken, in which case 

 thereVill be room for only one row alternately with each row of Kale, 

 and perhaps one row also in the alleys. 



The growth of the Kale should be promoted by all legitimate 

 means, and in high summer it will take water, liquid manure, and 

 mulchings of rich stuff, to almost any 'extent, with advantage. The 

 irrigation that suits the Kale will probably also suit the stolen 

 crop, but irrigation is not good for Onions or Potatoes ; where these 

 crops are grown care must be given to bestow the fluid on the Sea 

 Kale only. 



As the leaves decay in the autumn, they should be removed, and 

 the ground kept thoroughly clean. When finally cleaned up, let it 

 be forked over, but with care not to put the tool too near the plants, 

 and if manure is plentiful lay down a coat for a finish, or fork it in 

 at the general clear up. There should now commence a systematic 

 saving of clean leaves. Mere vegetable rubbish is not to be thought 

 of. Proceed to cover the ground with leaves in heaps or ridges 

 sufficient to make a coat finally of about one foot deep, or say nine 

 inches at the very least. If there is any store of rough planking on 

 the premises, let the planks be laid on the ridges of leaves on which- 

 ever side the prevailing wind may be. This will prevent the leaves 

 being blown away, and the planks will be handy for the next stage 

 in the business. 



At the turn of the year put the planks on edge by driving posts 

 down in any rough way that will hold them firmly for a brief season, 

 and then spread the leaves equally. If there are not sufficient to 

 cover the bed the requisite thickness, put up a good heap over each 

 crown, and sprinkle a little earth to keep the heap together. But a 

 better mode of procedure is to have a sufficiency of Sea Kale pots 

 with movable covers, or in place of these large flower pots, or old 

 boxes. Put these over the crowns, and then heap the leaves over 

 and around, and the preliminaries are completed. A very early 

 growth will be the result, and the quality will be finer than that of 

 forced Sea Kale. You have but to uncover occasionally to see how 

 the crop goes on, remembering that perfect darkness is needed to 

 blanch it completely, and to produce a plump and delicate sample. 

 Cut close over, taking a small portion of the woody part of the 

 crown, and when all the growth of a crown is taken, remove the pot 



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