SEA KALE SHALLOT 117 



in the way described for growing the crop, with the aid of leaves 

 only, but with certain differences. In the first place care must be 

 taken to let the plants feel the cold, but at the same time to pre- 

 vent the ground becoming frozen. A touch of frost will render them 

 more ready to grow when the cultivator brings his persuasions to 

 bear by heaping hot manure over the pots, and covering the bed with 

 a thick coat of the same. This is all that can be done, but it is 

 sufficient. In cases where leaves and other such materials are not 

 available, good Sea Kale may be grown by simply raising over each 

 crown a heap of sand or sifted coal ashes, provided some clean 

 material be interposed to keep the sand or ashes from actual con- 

 tact with the plant. When this heap begins to crack at the top it 

 will be worth while to examine it at the bottom, when there will be 

 found a fine head of blanched Sea Kale, and the mound will have 

 served its purpose. 



To grow Sea Kale from seed is a simple matter enough, but there 

 is a loss of a year as compared with growing it from roots. The 

 ground should be rich and well worked, and the seed should be 

 sown in March or April in drills one foot asunder, if for planting out, 

 or in patches two and a half feet apart, if to remain. It is believed 

 by many that Sea Kale should stand where sown, and we admit that 

 analogies are in favour of the proposal. But we see every year such 

 grand produce from transplanted roots that we have not the courage 

 to insist on a course of procedure that we believe to be theoretically 

 correct. The fact is, the root is tough and enduring, and surfers but 

 little by moderate exposure to the atmosphere if handled in a reason- 

 able manner. But to return to the seeds : they sprout quickly, and, 

 soon after, the plants make rapid progress. Let them have liberal 

 culture, keep them scrupulously clean, and thin them in good time 

 to at least two feet apart. If quite convenient, give them a light 

 sprinkling of salt occasionally in the summer : they will enjoy it, and 

 the leaves will not be injured in the least. 



SHALLOT 



(Allium ascalonicuni) 



THE old-fashioned mode of culture is to plant on the shortest, and 

 dig the crop on the longest, day ; but that is only applicable to the 

 milder parts of the country. As a rule, spring is the best time for 

 planting, and it should be done as early as the ground can be got into 



