LEEKS. 181 



in nearly up to the head. Leave the holes open, 

 sending down only as much earth as may serve to 

 cover the roots. The open space encourages the 

 swelling of the stem, and answers perfectly for 

 blanching while the slight covering is of use 

 partly to prevent withering, and partly the strange 

 vexation of finding your plants lying full length on 

 the surface, being hauled up by worms. 



It is no bad plan, if you cannot have your plants 

 early, to avoid transplanting altogether. With this 

 intention, gather the ground into small ridges eigh- 

 teen inches apart, and sow the seed in the furrows 

 between each ridge. Thin out, and let the plants 

 grow where they have been sown; and the inter- 

 vening mounds will serve for earthing up and 

 blanching the leeks. A great part of the best grow- 

 ing season, which is lost by the sickness of trans- 

 planting, is thus saved to the still growing and 

 vigorous plant; and in this way very large and 

 excellent crops may be raised, though at somewhat 

 greater expence, the ground not yielding as by the 

 former method, two crops in the season. It is of 

 advantage to raise your own seed, as you can make 

 sure of having it a year old, from which the crop is 

 less liable to suffer by shooting. Let a few of the 

 largest leeks be set any time in October or Febru- 

 ary, within a foot of a south wall, to which, as they 

 grow up, they may be held by a string. They 

 will ripen their seed, in common years, at a moder- 

 ate elevation. Should the season be unfavourable, 

 a few of the heads may be drawn together, and 



