Agency of Manure from Sea Weed. 43 



being removed for culinary purposes, the method was to let the 

 stump remain, which had already thrown out sprouts* below; 

 and these, on being left to grow, showed no indication to form heads 

 for that season. In the month of June, the sprouts were suffi- 

 ciently advanced to be slipped off; and, after being exposed a day 

 or two in the sun to cauterise the wound, they were planted out 

 in the usual manner. In two or three weeks they had taken 

 root, and in the course of the autumn made fine stocky plants. 

 I have seen many, instances of the broccoli thus grown having 

 heads three feet in circumference, and as close and compact as 

 possible; but this extraordinary luxuriance was, I believe, prin- 

 cipally owing to the nature of the manure used. 



This manure consisted principally of sea weed, of the genus 

 t/'lva, several varieties of which are drifted on the sands in im- 

 mense quantities in stormy weather. The weed forms a principal 

 article of manure to the farmers, as well as to the market-gar- 

 deners in the neighbourhood of Penzance and other parts in the 

 west of England, and is sought with avidity by both classes after 

 a heavy gale, it being found, from experience, to be an excellent 

 manure for a single crop. The farmers in that neighbourhood 

 mix it up with earth collected from furrows ploughed at certain 

 distances in the field, and with sea sand, and, thus mixed, it ra- 

 pidly decomposes, and soon becomes fit for use. The market- 

 gardeners and cottagers frequently make use of it as a manure, in 

 its raw state, for onions, potatoes, &c. For onions, the ground 

 is so prepared, that, after a layer of it is spread over the surface, 

 there may be a sufficient quantity of earth to cover it about two 

 or three inches thick; after this has been levelled, the seeds 

 are sown and raked in, and the produce, in many instances, is but 

 little, if any thing, inferior in size to the onions imported from 

 Lisbon. For potatoes, it is used either by putting a layer of it 

 over the sets, whether in furrows or beds, and afterwards covering 

 it with earth ; or putting a layer of it first, placing the sets upon it, 

 and then a covering of earth. In reference to the kidney potato, 

 I think I may safely aver, that in no part of England are po- 

 tatoes of this description to be found equal in quality to those 

 grown in the neighbourhood of Penzance; where, by extraordi- 

 nary labour and care, they are frequently brought to market from 

 the open ground by the middle of May. The sort principally 

 grown for an early crop is known there by the name of " the 

 Yorkshire kidney." I am not certain if this be its proper ap- 



* The following fact evinces the capacity of broccoli for forming sprouts : — 

 " Two dozen of broccoli, a dozen of which were very fine and fit for table, 

 were, within the last few days, cut from one stem, grown in the garden of 

 Mr. Lewis, nurseryman, of Chelmsford." {Bury and Nomuich Post, May 29. 

 1833.) See also a notice of a broccoli plant which had stood six years, and 

 produced good heads from sprouts every year, VI. 492. — J. D. 



