Gardening for Amateurs 



1087 



consumption or for the sale of roots for 

 forcing purposes. As a forced vegetable 

 throughout the winter and spring, Seakale 

 is highly valued, and as an out-of-door crop 

 in April it is most useful when good vege- 

 tables are scarce. 



It is propagated chiefly by root cuttings. 

 In preparing these the lower branching 

 roots are cut off close to the bottom of the 

 main root when the crop is taken up in 

 autumn. Select the strongest of roots to 

 form the cuttings. Cut them into lengths 

 of 5 inches ; the top of the cutting should 

 be cut straight across, and the bottom 

 slanting, to distinguish between them at 

 planting time. Tie the cuttings together in 

 bundles of twenty-five and bury them in 

 light soil in a position facing north, there to 

 remain until wanted for planting in March. 



The Seakale* is a deep -rooting plant, and 

 if roots of the largest size (and the largest 

 are the best) are to be obtained the land 

 must be trenched and manured in autumn 

 or winter. On deep, heavy loam good roots 

 can be grown on land which has been trenched 

 and manured for a crop the previous year, 

 but digging is necessary all the same. The 

 plant gives little or no trouble in summer. 

 Hoe frequently to promote growth and to 

 keep down weeds until the leaves meet in 

 the rows ; no weeds of any account will grow 

 after this. 



The last week in March is the best time 

 to plant. If the roots are grown for the 

 purpose of forcing, plant them in rows which 

 are 18 inches apart, allowing 15 inches be- 

 tween each root in the row. Plant with a 

 dibber, making holes 7 inches deep, 2 inches 

 deeper than the cutting is long, thus cover- 

 ing the top of the cutting with 2 inches of 

 soil. On the other hand, if it is intended to 

 force the roots where they are planted, or 

 to let the crop mature for cutting in spring 

 out of doors, then they must be grown in 

 beds, with an alley or path of 3 feet between 

 each. The roots are planted the same dis- 

 tance apart in the beds as advised in the 

 former course. 



As soon as it is seen which little group of 

 leaves is the strongest, rub off all others ; 

 this will soon develop into a strong " head." 

 As soon as the leaves have fallen in autumn 

 the roots wanted for forcing and for sale 



should be taken up (cutting off the branch- 

 ing roots close to the base of the main 

 root), and stored in soil in a cool room or 

 outside. They are perfectly hardy. The 

 decayed foliage and weeds should be cleared 

 away from those in beds, and the ground 

 left clean. 



Forcing the Roots. Forcing may com- 

 mence immediately the roots are taken up. 

 Plant as many roots as you can get into a 

 large flower-pot, box, or tub at 3 inches 

 apart, place in a perfectly darkened room 

 or cellar or under the stage of a greenhouse 

 in fact, any dark place where there is a 

 temperature of from 50 to 55 Fahr. It 

 depends on how much heat there is avail- 

 able as to how soon Seakale can be cut ; 

 but generally in six weeks after planting. 

 Introduce successional batches of roots into 

 warmth fortnightly to keep up a regular 

 supply until April, when the out-of-door 

 crop comes in. 



The roots cannot be forced in the beds 

 under the system described above ; in fact, 

 it is better not to attempt forcing roots in 

 the beds until the new year. The way to 

 do this is to place a Seakale pot (having a 

 lid) or a box or tub will do over each 

 root, and then place fermenting material 

 between and over the pots to the depth 

 of 6 inches, as well as in the alleys. 



Readers will understand that it is the leaf 

 growth the result of forcing the root 

 which is the product known as Seakale. We 

 have first to grow the root and then to force 

 it or let it come naturally into leaf. Sea- 

 kale must be blanched, or the flavour will 

 be strong. The best way of blanching is 

 to dig up the soil of the alley between the 

 beds (breaking it up fine), and with it cover 

 the roots to the depth of 10 or 12 inches. 

 The heads (or leaves) of the Seakale will 

 force their way through the soil, and thus 

 the stalks will be perfectly blanched. It is 

 time to cut as soon as it is noticed that the 

 growth is pushing through the soil. Always 

 cut a little piece of the crown or top of the 

 root with the Seakale. The roots will then 

 form other crowns during the summer. 



Roots forced in beds or blanched with 

 soil as above described will continue to give 

 crops for several years, but after the third 

 year they are not so strong, and ought to 



