VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 



41U 



white appearance, and a honeyed smell. It has proba- 

 bly been cultivated in gardens one hundred and fifty 



present century, though the English peasantry from time 

 immemorial have been in the habit of gathering the 

 blanched shoots as they pushed through the sand, and 

 boiling them as greens. 

 Though a native of a cool 

 climate, it succeeds per- 

 fectly in Middle Georgia. 



The following represent 

 the varieties proven to be 

 suitable for the South: 

 Early Curled Siberian or 

 Dwarf German Greens, 

 Dwarf Green Curled Scotch 

 or Norfolk. 



Culture. — The native soil 

 of sea kale is a deep sand, 

 mingled with matter from 

 the sea. It likes a deep 

 mould, or sandy loam, and 

 if poor, well-putrilied dung 

 and half - decayed leaves 

 may be added. Upon the 

 richness and proper pre- 

 paration of the soil the luxuriance of the plant depends. 

 The situation must be free from all shade of trees. 

 Sea kale is propagated by seeds, or offsets, or cuttings 

 of the root; but the best plants are raised from 

 seed. Sow the seed in a well-prepared soil, rich, or made 

 so with well-decomposed manure, and shaded by a fence, 

 or building, from the midday sun. Draw the drills. one 

 foot apart, and scatter the seed thinly along the drills. 

 The beds should be about four feet wide, for convenience. 



Fig. 145 — Sea Kale. 



