SEA-KALE 



649 



As the Sea-kale is a seaside plant, a little common salt, mixed with 

 the soil, can hardly fail to be beneficial to its growth. 



Like Rhubarb, the use of Sea- 

 kale is at present almost confined to 

 the English people at home and 

 abroad. It has gone to America 

 and the antipodes, but has not 

 crossed the Channel ! We speak of 

 its general use — in a few gardens in 

 France it may be seen, but they 

 belong to those who have learned to 

 care for the plant in England or who 

 have English gardeners. 



Forced Sea-kale fit for use can 

 be had early in December, and by 

 growing a sufficient number of 

 plants a constant supply may be 

 maintained till late in the spring. 

 The stock of roots may either be 

 grown from seed sown in the spring, 

 or by selecting roots from plants 

 lifted in the autumn to be prepared 

 for forcing, which may be easily 

 accomplished in any warm structure 

 kept dark for blanching purposes. 

 Seeds of Sea-kale may be sown in 

 March or early April, in drills 9 in. 

 apart, or broadcast upon beds 4 ft. 

 wide, covering them with fine soil. 

 When large enough, the young plants 

 should be thinned out to several 

 inches apart to afford ample room 

 for growth. The following spring 

 they will be large enough to trans- 

 plant into a piece of ground deeply 

 trenched and dressed with rotten 

 farmyard manure. Some time in 

 March lift the plants carefully with 

 a fork, and plant them in rows 12 in, 

 asunder and 9 in. plant from plant, 

 i.e. when grown for lifting in autumn 

 for forcing. But if to be planted to 

 make stools for forcing in the open 

 air — which may be done by covering 

 them with hot manure and leaves- 

 plant the rows 3 ft. apart and 2| ft. 

 clump from clump. This will give 

 plenty of room to cover the plants 

 with heating material. Three or 



four plants may be placed in each 

 clump, allowing 3 or 4 in. between 

 each plant. Take care that the 

 plants are 3 in. clear of the rims of 

 the Sea-kale pots which are placed 

 over them when ready for forcing. 

 Where the plants are grown from 

 roots or thongs, when lifted in 

 autumn for forcing, the strongest 

 should be selected ; but where the 

 stock of roots is scarce, thongs may 

 be used about the thickness of a 

 quill pen, when they will be strong 

 enough to force the following spring. 

 Cut the roots 9 in. in length, leaving 

 the top or thick end level, and the 

 thin end slanting about | in., when 

 it will emit a number of fibres. Tie 

 the roots thus prepared in bundles, 

 and lay them in some fine sandy 

 soil, covering them 2 in. in thickness. 



Ground intended for Sea-kale 

 should be deeply trenched during 

 autumn, and enriched by several 

 inches in thickness of rotten manure. 

 If ridged as the trenching proceeds, 

 the ridges must be levelled down in 

 spring before planting. Early in 

 April is a good time to plant the 

 roots or thongs; they will then be 

 found to have formed crowns, and 

 will be pushing out young fibres. 

 Rake the ground level after leveUing 

 down the ridges, tread it firmly, 

 and plant the sets in rows 12 in. 

 asunder and 9 in. plant from plant. 

 The ground will require to be fre- 

 quently hoed between the plants 

 during summer to keep down weeds 

 and the surface open. Liquid 

 manure will be found of great 

 benefit to the plants during summer, 

 and if at hand, a dressing of artificial 

 manure may be given, for by feeding 

 well during the growing season fine 

 strong roots will be the result. As 

 soon as frost kills the leaves in 



