Cultiire of the Sea-kale. 359 



place in a shed (c), branches into two divisions at the distance 

 of 4 ft from the furnace. Before reaching the further end, 



101 





the flues again unite, and pass out at the end ; the smoke 

 escaping by a hole, which is closed with a flat stone, as soon 

 as the flue is warm enough, and the fire put out. 



The divisions of the flue are parallel, and at the distance of 

 3 ft. from each other. Two rows of plants occupy the space 

 between the flues, 1 ft. apart from the flues and each other, 

 and at the distance of ] 8 in. plant from plant, alternating in 

 the rows. At similar distances are two rows on each outside 

 of the flues, being six rows in all. In the autumn the bed re- 

 ceives a dressing and covering, 1 ft. thick, of old tanner's bark, 

 through which the shoots easily rise, completely blanched. 

 When the crop is required, fires are put to about a fortnight 

 before; and, if so early as the first of December, the bed 

 continues to yield shoots till the month of May. The 

 branches of the flue nearest the fire-place have each a 

 damper fitted in, to allow throwing the heat to one side or 

 other, as may be necessary; and, if both removed, to the 

 whole at once. I am, Sir, yours, &c. 



W. Vaughan. 

 Brecon, March 27. 1828. 



Art. XXI. On the Culture of the Sea-hale [Crambe marz- 

 tima). By F. Forbes, Esq. R.N. In a Letter to Robert 

 Mangles, Esq., of Whitmore Lodge. Communicated by 

 Mr. Mangles. 



Sir, 

 In reply to your enquiries about the mode of cultivating 

 sea-kale here, I send you the following particulars : — In the 

 month of March, about seven years ago, I was disappointed 

 by finding the quality materially reduced by the alternate frost 

 and wet of the winter. I failed in obtaining a supply of plants 

 in the nursery I applied to, and disliking the patchy appear- 

 ance of the beds, I directed them to be dug over, and the 

 roots removed. On my seeing the quantity of roots, it occur- 

 red to me that something might be done with them ; I there- 

 fore decided upon trying an experiment. I had them cut into 



A A 4 



