350 



GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



when " blanched ;" and to effect this, on the approach 

 of spring the " crowns " should be covered with some 

 light material, such as sand or leaf mold, to the depth of 

 twelve or fifteen inches, so that the young shoots, being 

 thus excluded from the light, will become blanched in 

 growing through this covering. 

 Sometimes cans made 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 gener- 

 ate 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 

 (6gure 133) shows young shoots when ready for the table. 



SHALLOTS (Allium Ascalonicum). 



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

 ting out the divided bulbs in September in rows a foot 

 apart, allowing six inches between them. It is entirely 

 hardy, and fit for use in early spring. 



SPINACH (Spinacia olei-acea). 



Spinach is a vegetable of easy culture. The seed may be 

 sown either in spring or fall. If in the fall, the proper time 

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



Fig. 133. SEA KALE. 



