Seakale. 303 



marketable. By observing these simple conditions creditable 

 samples of Seakale may be forced in all sorts of places frames, 

 pits, mushroom houses, glasshouses, cellars, boxes, barrels, 

 flower pots any of which may be pressed into service with 

 satisfactory results. Regular forcing begins about the middle 

 of November, and for the earliest batches the very best and 

 strongest crowns are selected. 



As soon as the leaves die down in the autumn the roots are 

 lifted and trimmed, leaving only about Sin. of the main stem, 

 with the crown on top. Those not immediately wanted are 

 packed away in moist sandy soil either in a shed or in a trench 

 in the open, with a layer of dry litter over the crowns to protect 

 them from frost. Light, fine, rich soil should be specially pre- 

 pared for forcing operations some time beforehand half of 

 sifted old hotbed manure, one-quarter sifted garden soil, and 

 one quarter sand, with a little air-slaked lime added, will be 

 found to be just the thing. This soil should be laid down to 

 the depth of Sin. or lOin. in the position or the receptacle in 

 which the crowns are to be forced. These are then placed in 

 the soil 3in. apart, and with the crowns level with the surface. 

 Moisten the bed with tepid water, taking care not to make it 

 too wet, then cover the crowns with Sin. of fine dry soil, 

 cocoanut fibre, or similar material. When the stalks begin 

 to grow through, give another light watering. If there is 

 certainty of no light getting to the stalks they need no 

 further covering, but where there is any doubt on the subject 

 a further 4in. layer of material should be added. If the 

 details are properly carried out, perfectly blanched heads 

 should be ready to cut in four or five weeks from the time 

 the roots were planted. The heads are cut when about Gin. 

 long, or as soon as the tips begin to push through the covering 

 material ; the cut is made below the crown so that a small 

 piece of root is attached. 



Forcing on Hot-beds and in Pits. Where manure is plentiful 

 forcing Seakale on hot-beds is an excellent method (full details 

 of construction will be found on pages 128 to 131). The width 

 and length of the beds is, of course, determined by the number 

 of crowns to be forced and the materials or appliances at hand. 

 Where there are a number of movable box frames available 



