308 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



and planted with summer crops. A bed of this description will 

 last about six years without renewal. 



Lifted roots are of no further use after forcing, and should 

 be put in a heap by themselves and not mixed with the manure 

 or they will grow again and cause a lot of trouble and annoy- 

 ance in the future. Or they may be taken to the pigsties, 

 where they will soon be destroyed. When roots are lifted 

 the greatest care should be taken to clear the ground of all 

 broken pieces, as they grow again and are troublesome to 

 get rid of. 



Manures : Seakale is a crop which needs plenty of rich food 

 and moisture-holding humus, and this is best supplied by heavy 

 dressings of well-decayed farmyard manure, particularly for 

 the sandy soils on which this crop is often grown. For soil in 

 good heart and not too light 15 tons per acre would be enough, 

 but on light land or that which is not in really good condition 

 30 tons would be none too much. In either case the manure 

 should be supplemented before ploughing with 3 cwt. kainit, 

 and in the spring 5 cwt. superphosphate should be harrowed 

 in before planting. After growth has begun 2 cwt. nitrate of 

 soda per acre may be given with great advantage. Common 

 salt, at the rate of 5 cwt. per acre, applied in the spring, is 

 often recommended for Seakale, but when kainit or nitrate of 

 soda are given salt is unnecessary. 



Varieties : There are very few varieties of Seakale in cul- 

 tivation. The Common or Ordinary is largely grown; the 

 Fulham, Lily White, and Ivory White are all improvements 

 upon the common 'stock. 



SHALLOTS. 



Allium ascalonicum. 



THE Shallot does not call for much comment. It is very 

 generally grown in cottage gardens, but has no consider- 

 able sale in the markets. There are some growers, however, 

 who do a good and profitable business in producing it for 

 direct disposal to manufacturers of pickles, for which purpose 

 it is much esteemed on account of its mild flavour. There is 



