300 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



the litter, and dig in some of the manure into the alleys, 

 and then, if you blanch with pots, spread over the beds 

 about an inch deep of clean sand. The shoots may be 

 blanched, and a few cut for use, but sparingly, as the 

 plants must not be weakened. The better way is not to 

 remove the covering of leaves until you have gathered 

 what you desire. On a portion of the bed to produce 

 early, the winter covering of compost and leaves must be 

 yearly applied. 



Another portion must be left uncovered until the shoots 

 begin to rise, and then covered with eight or ten inches 

 of sand, for a later crop. Each spring give it a dressing 

 of salt, like asparagus, and dig over the surface of the 

 bed, as before. Retain for each plant only four or five of 

 the best suckers, at regular distances around the stem ; 

 suffer none of these to seed, if you would not greatly 

 injure the next year's growth. 



Sea kale, though eatable without blanching, as spring 

 greens, is vastly improved when blanched. This may be 

 done by earthing-up the crowns eight or ten inches with 

 sand, or light mould, or by retaining the coat of dry 

 leaves put over the beds in autumn. 



This covering may remain until the cutting ceases in 

 the spring, when all covering must be removed at evening, 

 or in cloudy weather. The shoots will raise the covering 

 when in a fit state for cutting. The courses of leaves 

 should be from five to twelve inches thick, according to 

 the age of the plants, and as directed above, may remain 

 on all winter. But a large flower pot, with the hole in 

 the bottom stopped, and light at the edges carefully 

 excluded by a coat of litter, is the best of all modes of 

 blanching. 



For Seed. — A plant that has not been blanched or cut 

 from must be allowed to run to seed in the spring. A 

 single plant will produce an abundant supply. 



Use. — Sea kale comes on early in March, when vege- 



