THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



145 



cover the beds in autumn with leaves raked up from the woods 

 or pleasure-ground, covering each bed in thickness according 

 to the strength and age of the plants, giving the greatest co- 

 vering to the oldest or strongest roots. The covering may be 

 from five inches to fifteen when first laid on, and over that, 

 place a slight covering of light littery dung, to prevent the 

 leaves fi'om blowing about ; this covering is to remain on until 

 tlie crop be all cut, when it may be taken away, and the 

 beds dug over, or when, from particular circumstances, this 

 has not been attended to in autumn, as at this time the buds 

 begin to appear, fork the beds regularly over, and cover the 

 plants from twelve to fifteen or eighteen inches with saw-dust, 

 or rotten tan, when it can be conveniently procured ; if neither 

 can be had, break the mould on the surface of the beds as fine 

 as possible, and mould up the plants with it. But where there 

 are blanching-pots used for the crops of sea-kale, which have 

 been forcing during the winter, they may be used with propriety 

 to blanch the spring crops, as they will now be useless in the 

 forcing department. Place them over the plants, and di'aw a 

 sufficient quantity of mould round their base to prevent the 

 admission of air. The action of the rays of the sun pene- 

 trating through the pots will, in a considerable measure, acce- 

 lerate their growth. Large flower-pots turned down upon them 

 will answer the purpose, provided the holes in the bottom of 

 the pots be stopped ; the plants will draw sufficient air for their 

 sustenance, however well the holes may be stopped. For 

 blanching sea-kale, see further in the Forcing-garden, 



When the young stems are about three or lour inches high, 

 remove the leaves where they have been used, carefully with 

 a fork, and cut them off, but so as not to injure the remaining 

 buds, which are springing fi'om the same root. 



A succession of gatherings may be continued for five or six 

 weeks, after which period, the plants should be uncovered and 

 their leaves suffered to grow, that they may acquire and return 

 a sufficient quantity of nutriment to the roots for the next year's 

 buds. The flowers, when the seeds are not wanted, oiiirht to 

 be nipped off with the finger and thumb as long as they ap- 

 pear, as they tend considerably to weaken the plants. 



V 



