300 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



development, some of the crowns would be found large enough 

 to force at the end of the first season. In the following March 

 the plants may be set in their permanent quarters, first cutting 

 off the top just below the crown, as then fewer shoots will grow 

 and there will be less liability to flower. 



Propagation from "Thongs." New plantations of Seakale 

 are usually made from "thongs." These are clean straight 

 pieces selected from the side roots, which are cut away from 

 the main root when that is trimmed up for forcing. These 

 trimmings are thrown in a heap in a shed whilst the work is 

 proceeding, where they lie until time can be spared to attend 

 to them. The best are then selected, from the thickness 

 of a lead pencil upwards, and cut up into pieces Sin. or Gin. 

 long. The top, or thickest end of the thong, is cut across level, 

 and the bottom, or thin end, is cut slanting. They are then tied 

 in bundles and stood in layers in damp sand or fine soil, with 

 about 3m. space between each layer, and there they remain 

 until planting time. Some growers prefer to make up a bed in 

 the open, about 4ft. wide and raised about Sin. above the 

 general level to keep the thongs free from excessive wet, and 

 after laying them thickly all over the surface, cover with about 

 Sin. of soil. In either case, when the thongs are uncovered for 

 planting, each will be found to have made several " eyes," all of 

 which must be rubbed off except the strongest one at the top. 



About the third week in March the thongs are dibbled in at 

 equal distances apart in each direction, the crowns being put 

 about lin. below the surface and the soil closed quite firmly 

 around them.' The culture through the summer consists of 

 hoeing frequently and thoroughly, and cutting out all flower 

 stems as soon as they are seen, as if allowed to bloom and 

 form seed much of the strength of the crown will be lost. 



Forming a Plantation. The methods of obtaining blanched 

 heads of Seakale may be classed under two divisions, (1) Lifting 

 the roots for forcing in heat, and (2) Leaving the roots in the 

 ground and either forcing growth with hot manure or letting 

 them grow naturally, blanching the heads by coverings of 

 soil or other materials. Both methods are necessary to 

 obtain a succession over the longest period, and this must 

 be kept in view in arranging a plantation. Seakale is often 



