216 GARDENING FOB PLEASURE. 



for the purpose, or large flower-pots, or even wooden 

 boxes, are inverted over the plants, the object in each 

 case being to exclude the light. If it is desired to force 

 Sea Kale, or forward it earlier, the materials used to 

 make hot-beds, leaves or stable manure are heaped over 

 the pots or cans in a sufficient quantity to generate the 

 proper heat to forward or force on the growth of the 

 plants. The young shoots are cut from the plant before 

 the leaves are developed, and when cooked, have a flavor 

 something between asparagus and cauliflower, but by 

 most persons much preferred to either. The engraving 

 shows a young shoot when ready for the table. 



SHALLOTS, (Allium Ascalonicum.) 



A plant of the onion genus, which is cultivated by set- 

 ting out the divided roots in September in rows a foot 

 apart, allowing six inches between them. It is entirely 

 hardy, and fit for use in early spring. 



SPINACH, (Spinaeia oleracea.) 



Spinach is a vegetable of easy culture. It may either 

 be sown in spring or fall. If in fall, the proper time is 

 from the 10th to the 25th of September, in rows one foot 

 apart ; sow rather thickly. Cover the plants with two 

 or three inches of hay or leaves on the approach of severe 

 frost in December. When sown in the fall, the crop of 

 course is ready for use much earlier than when sown in 

 spring, as half the growth is made in the fall months. 

 By the time the seed can be sown in spring, the crop that 

 has been wintered over will be coming into use. To fol- 

 low the crop thus wintered, seeds should be sown in the 

 same manner in spring, as early as the soil can be worked, 

 and another sowing may be made two weeks later. The 

 round-seeded variety is best for winter sowing, and the 

 prickly seeded for spring. About four ounces is enough 

 for ordinary wants for either season's sowing. 



