226 SEA KALE. 



It may be propagated from roots or seeds, and it 

 does best «'heii planted on a deep, sandy loam. The 

 least expensive way to start a bed, is to sow the seed 

 in hills, two feet apart each way, early in April, and 

 when the plants come up, thin ont leaving only two 

 to each place. Before sowing the seed, however, the 

 bed should be thoroughly prepared, for on this will 

 depend the success of the crop. The ground should 

 be hoed frequently the first year, and no ^Yeeds al 

 lowed to appear. In the Fall, a mulch of long ma- 

 nure, three or four inches in thickness, should be put 

 on the bed to protect against the cold weather. 



Two ounces of seed will furnish enough plants 

 for family use. 



When propagated by roots, a few old ones may 

 be lifted in the Fall, divided and kept buried in 

 damp sand imtil the following Spring, when they 

 may be set in place, covering the " crowns " four 

 inches. Or the roots can be started in hot-beds in 

 March and transplanted in place in April. 



With this treatment, stocks for table use can be 

 cut the first season. In the Spring of the second 

 ^ 3'ear, the bed should be forked over, turning in some 

 of the mulch. The lighter part of it should be gath- 

 ered in heaps, mixed with some leaf-mold, and, be- 

 fore the plants start to grow, placed on the " crowns," 

 to blanch them. This Spring mulch should be eight 

 or ten inches in thickness. 



Large flower-pots covering the " crowns " wUl 

 answer the same purpose, the object being to exclude 

 the light. A slight dressing of common salt, every 

 Spring, ^vill be found beneficial. All the cutting of 



