SEA 



ing buds below, fome of which will immediately begin to 

 fwell. In this way a fucceffioti of gatherings may be con- 

 tinued for the fpace of fix weeks, after which period the 

 plants are to be uncovered, and their leaves fufFered to grow, 

 that they may acquire and return nutriment to the root for 

 the next year's buds. When feeds are not wanted, the 

 rtowers (hould be pinched off by the finger and thumb, as 

 long as they appear. Where the expence of blanching-pots is 

 objefted to, the beds muft be covered with a large portion 

 of loofe gravel and mats ; but the faving is trifling, when the 

 time and trouble of removing and replacing the gravel, for 

 the cutting of the crop and fecuring th- plant, are confidered. 

 By this mode of management, fea-kale is faid to have been 

 cut which meafured ten, eleven, and even twelve inches in 

 circumference, and that each blanching-pot on the average 

 afforded a di(h of it twice in the feafon. 



The blanching-pots for this ufe are fomewhat of the fame 

 (hape and fize as the large bell-glafles commonly employed 

 in market gardens for railing tender vegetable crops, but 

 made of the fame materials as the common earthenware, 

 having a handle at the top. They may be about a foot and 

 a half in diameter at the rim where they apply to the ground. 

 Forcing S:a-Kak. — It is fuppofed that no vegetable can 

 be fo eafily and cheaply forced as this, or require fo little 

 trouble ; as the dung is in the finelt itate poflible for fpring 

 hot-beds, after the common crop has been cut and gathered. 

 The principal circumftance necellary in this bufinefs, is that 

 of being very attentive and particular in guarding againil 

 too great a heat. The temperature under the blanching- 

 pots (hould conftastly be kept as near fifty-five degrees of 

 Fahrenheit's fcale as poflible, and on no account higher 

 than fixty at any time. In this intention, in either of the 

 two concludmg months of the year, as the fca-kale may be 

 wanted more early or late, a fuitable quantity of frefh (table 

 dung (hould be coUefted and prepared, to cover both the 

 beds and the alleys from two to three feet in height ; as 

 in the quantity to be laid on, a great deal muft always be 

 left to the judgment of the gardener, as well as to the date 

 of the feafon as to mildnefs or feverity. 



It (hould invariably be well prelFed down between the 

 blanching-pots, heat-fticks being placed at proper intervals, 

 by the occafional examination of which the heat below will 

 be readily (hewn. When the dung has remained in this 

 fituation four or five days, the pots (hould be examined to 

 fee the ftate of the (hoots. It not unfrequently happens 

 that worms fpring above the furface, and fpoil the delicacy 

 of flavour in the young (hoots. In order to prevent this, it 

 is beft to cover it with dry fea-coal afhes, which have been 

 fifted neither very fmall nor very large. Salt has alfo the 

 power of deftroying them in an effedual manner, without 

 injuring the fea-kale. 



The crop, it is faid, will be ready to cut and gather in 

 three weeks or a month from the firft application of the 

 heat ; but as much danger and mifchief are the confequence 

 when this is violent, it is advifed to begin foon enough, and 

 to force flowly, rather than in too quick a manner. It is 

 likewife neceffary to cut the leaves off a fortnight or three 

 weeks before they decay, in thofe plants which are intended 

 to be forced at a very early period. 



It is alfo fuggefted that the blanching-pots ufed in 

 forcing (hould be made in two pieces, the uppermoft of 

 which (hould fit like a cap upon the lower; as the crop 

 might then be examined at all times without difturbing the 

 hot dung. See Tranfaftions of the Horticultural Society 

 of London, vol. i. p. ij. 



&E\-Lark, in Ornithology. See Charadrius Hiaticula, 

 and Embbriza Mujlelina, 



SEA "^ 



SEA-Laurel, in Botany. See Phyllavthus, and Xylo- 

 phylla. 



Sex-Lows. See Laius o/"OLEitoN, UsES and CUSTOMS 

 of the Sea, and Marine Ikslrance. 

 SEA-Leecl). See Hirldella Marina. 

 SEA-Letter, or Sea-brief, in Marine Infurance, one of the 

 documents expefted to be found on board of every neutral 

 (hip. This fpecifies the nature and quantity of the cargo, 

 the place from wliich it comes, and its deflination. This 

 paper, however, is not fo neccflary as the pafl'port, which 

 is the permifTion from the neutral ftate to the captain or 

 mafter of the (liip to proceed on the voyage propofed, and 

 ufually contains his name and refidence, the name, defcrip- 

 tion, and deftination of the (hip, with fuch other matters 

 as the praftice of the place requires. This document is in- 

 difpenfibly neceflary for the fafety of every neutral (hip. 

 Hubner fays that this is the only paper that is rigoroufly in- 

 filled upon by the Barbary corfairs, by the produftion of 

 which alone their friends are protefted from infult. The 

 paffport in moft cafes fupplies the place of the fea-letter. 



SEA-Lion, P/.'Oca leonina of Linnaeus, in Zoology, is a 

 fpecies of feal, which inhabits the feis about New Zealand, ' 

 the ifland of Juan Fernandez, tlie Falkland Hands, and that 

 of New Georgia. Tiie animals of this fpecies are feen in 

 great numbers m June and July, the breeding feafon, on the 

 ifland of Juan Fernandez, whither they refort in order to 

 fuckle their young on fhore, and where they continue till 

 September : they bring forth two at a lime ; and during 

 this feafon, the female is very fierce. They arrive on the 

 briieding iflands very fat and full of blood, and their blub- 

 ber has been found a foot thick ; one of them has been 

 known to yield a butt of oil, and the blood has filled two 

 hogfheads. 



Lord Anfon's people eat the flefh, calling it beef by way 

 of diftinftion from that of the common feal, which they 

 called lamb. The old animals, except at the breeding fea- 

 fon, are very timid ; and to prevent furprife, each herd 

 places a fentinel, who gives certain fignals at the appear- 

 ance of danger ; they adbciate in families, like the fea-bears, 

 and are equally jealous of their miftredes. They are of a 

 lethargic nature, and fond of wallowing upon one another 

 in miry places ; they grunt like hogs, and (nort like horfes. 

 During the breeding feafon they abllain from food, and 

 become very lean ; at other times tiiey feed on fifh and the 

 fmaller feals. The male has a projefting fnout, hanging 

 five or fix inches below the lower jaw ; the upper part con- 

 fills of a loofe wrinkled flcin, which the animal when angry 

 has the power of blowing up, fo as to give the nofe an 

 arched appearance ; the feet are fhort and dufl<y, having 

 five toes on each, furnlfhed with nails ; the hind-feet appear 

 like laciniated fins ; the eyes and the whidiers are large ; the 

 hair on the body is fhort and of a dun colour ; that on the 

 neck a little longer, and the diin very tliick. The length 

 of an old male is twenty feet, and the greateft circumference 

 fifteen. The nofe of the female is blunt and tuberous at 

 the top ; the noftrils wide ; the mouth breaking very little 

 into the jaws; two fmall cutting teeth below; two fmall 

 and two large above ; two canine teeth, remote from the 

 preceding, five grinders in each jsw, and all the teeth conic ; 

 the eyes oblique and fmall ; no auricles ; the fore-legs 

 twenty inches long ; the toes furnilhed with oblong flat 

 nails ; the hind parts, inftead of legs, divided into two great 

 bifurcated fins ; no tail ; and the whole covered with fhort 

 ruft-coloured hair. The length from the nofe to the end of 

 the fins is four yards, and the greateft circumference two 

 and a half. Pennant's Hift. of Quad. vol. ii. p. 531. See 

 Phoca leonina. 



Sea- 



