198 



GARDENING FOR THK SOUTH. 



but not veiy generally until tlie beginning of the present 

 century, though the English peasantry have been in the 

 habit of gathering the blanched shoots as they pushed 

 through the sand, and boiling them as greens, from time 

 immemorial. 



Wherever the climate will admit its cultivation, as all 

 through our mountain region, if not in the low country, it 

 will be found a very valuable addition to the scanty list 

 of spring vegetables now upon our tables. Tt is partial to 

 a cool climate. 



The following analysis of the ash of this plant is by 

 Herapath. The per-centage of ash in the undried plant 

 was 2.42, the constituents of which are in the following 

 proportions : 



Carbonic acid, . 

 Sulphuric acid, 

 Phosphoric acid, 

 Potassa, 

 Soda, 



Chloride of sodium, 

 Carbonate of lime, . 

 Carbonate of magnesia, 

 Sulphate of lime, 

 Phosphate of lime. 

 Phosphate of magnesia, 

 Phosphate of iron, 

 Silica, 



LEAVES. 



TOUXG SHOOTS. 



6.92 



4.22 



15.16. 



21.85 



trace 



5.06 



2.10 



6.75 



20.80 



23.58 



12.54 



trace 



27.17 



3.61 



trace 



trace. 



1.51 



trace 



12.10 



30.71 



trace 



trace 



1.58 



trace 



.10 



4.22 



99.98 



100.00 



Common salt, bone-dust, and gypsum are pointed out 

 by the analysis as beneficial special manures for sea kale. 



Culture. — The native soil of sea kale is a deep sand, 

 mingled with alluvial matter from the sea. It likes a deep 

 mould, or sandy loam, and if poor, well putrified dung and 

 half decayed leaves may be added. Upon the richness 

 and proper preparation of the soil, not only the luxuriance 



