216 



The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



LEEKS. 



Allium Porrum. 



LEEKS are not greatly in demand in the south of England, 

 but are much appreciated in the northern counties and in 

 Scotland and Wales. They are very hardy, being uninjured 

 when standing in the open in the severest winter. They can 

 be grown successfully on almost any kind of soil, but are worthy 

 of and pay well for generous treatment. To produce the best 

 and most profitable crops the ground should be deeply worked 

 and receive a good dressing of well decayed manure, and above 

 all it should be well drained, for although Leeks require plenty 



of moisture until 

 their growth is com- 

 pleted, the water in 

 the soil must never 

 be stagnant, or the 

 plants are liable to 

 be attacked by rot 

 at the heart. Given 

 suitable conditions, 

 Leeks are remark- 

 ably free from insect 

 or fungoid attacks. 



For general pur- 

 poses, sow about the 

 middle of March, 

 in drills 18in. apart. 

 As soon as the seed- 

 lings can be handled 

 easily the strongest 

 must be transplanted 

 to their permanent 

 position, then the next strongest when they have grown about 

 Gin. high, finally thinning the remainder so that they stand 

 about Sin. apart. These will mature where they stand, lettuces 

 or some similar crop being grown between the rows. After 

 the catch crop is gone the soil is gradually drawn up to the 

 rows until the stems are covered to a height of 6 or 7 inches. 



Copyright, V. A. & Co. 



London Broad Flag Leek. 



