210 SEAKALE. 



voke a watering of the teeth in the anticipation of 

 a pulpy and reeking mouthful, when the winter sun 

 has set. The cultivation of this excellent herb dif- 

 fers in nothing material from that of curled kale, 

 save to promote a freer boll it requires a soil some- 

 what richer. To have large and solid bolls, which 

 are preferable only for cows, it is necessary to sow 

 the seed in autumn, aud plant early in spring, after 

 the manner of late cabbage. 



SeaJcale. A delicious vegetable, little inferior to 

 asparagus, and ten times more abundant, with less 

 of cost. For this, as for all crops that are deep- 

 rooted and stand long on the same ground, the soil 

 must be well trenched and made good to the depth 

 of two feet. It cannot be too light: an addition of 

 sand is necessary to a soil that has too much clay; 

 but few gardens that have been trenched and under 

 crop for some years will prove faulty for the pro- 

 duction of seakale. Seedling plants may be pro- 

 cured from the nurseries; if not, sow the seed 

 very thin, in drills two inches deep, and two feet 

 asunder. This sowing of a continuous drill is 

 merely to secure enough of plants, for ultimately 

 they are left eighteen inches apart in the row. In 

 winter, when the leaves have vanished, dig between 

 the drills, and spread over the plants a light cover- 

 ing of loose dry dung to shelter them from frost. 

 No crop is to be expected till the second winter 

 after sowing; but things of slight growth such 

 as spinach, early turnips, or lettuce may be raised 

 between the drills during the previous summers. 



