498 THE PAEKS AND GARDENS OP PABIS. [Chap. XXIX. 



appear, when plenty of air is admitted, to prevent them drawing 

 up weakly. In a fortnight after the plants are up, they will he 

 strong enough to plant out in this order — one row up the centre 

 of each trench, 18 inches apart, and a row two feet from it in 

 quincunx fashion on each side. Planting two plants together is 

 to guard against losses hy insects, and when all danger from -this 

 is over, the weakest can he destroyed. Eaising them in pots, 

 instead of sowing them in the ground, is to prevent gaps in the 

 rows, and to give the opportunity of having all the plants in the 

 ridge of equal size, so that when earthed-up, the plants being 

 alike in strength, the same quantity of soil will be required for 

 all. The weakest plants may be kept in the cold frame ten days 

 longer, which, with a second sowing, will give a succession. 

 Water the newly turned-out plants, and loosen-up the soil between 

 them. If dry weather succeeds this operation, the plants will 

 require watering once or twice, until they get established, after 

 which they will only require to be kept clear of weeds till October. 

 This will be most advantageously done by forking among them 

 occasionally, and thus keep the weeds in check, and promote the 

 growth of the plants better than by using the hoe. In the 

 beginning of October, the most forward trench of plants will 

 have attained their full growth, and a sufficient number of well- 

 twisted hay-bands must be provided for winding round them. 

 Taking advantage of a fine dry day, commence by carefully 

 bringing all the leaves into an upright position, in which they 

 should be held by one person while another fastens the hay-band 

 round the bottom of the plant, and winds away tightly until the 

 whole of the stalk is bound round, and the end of the rope secured. 

 When each row is completed, earth-up till the bands are covered 

 with the soil, which should be pressed very tightly round the 

 plant at the top, to exclude air and moisture as effectually as 

 possible. Hay-bands are said to rot the plants ; but, by deferring 

 the earthing-up till October, and by twisting the bands well, and 

 fastening them tightly round the plants, very few failures occur. 

 Some have tried blanching by fastening the leaves closely together 

 with string and matting, and putting an earthen drain-pipe over 

 the plants, and filling up with sand. This plan answers ad- 

 mirably ; the whole of the leaf-stalks becoming perfectly blanched, 

 quite crisp, and fit for use. The adoption of this plan prevents 



