638 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Jan. 



at any season after November, in tlie ground, where it is grown 

 for a general crop, by placing deep boxes over the roots, and 

 covering them with hot dung or leaves, as is usually practised 

 for sea-kale. By this means, it can be had all winter, where 

 there is not the convenience of a hot-house or vinery, in which 

 to place it, but of course it will be attended with a little more 

 trouble. The boxes for this purpose should be made of half- 

 inch boards, and jointed close, so as to exclude the rank steam 

 of the dung from getting in to the young shoots. 



Knight has practised forcing this vegetable with success, by 

 digging up the roots of young plants early in winter, and placing 

 them in large and deep pots, each pot being made to receive 

 as many as it would contain. Some fine sandy loam was then 

 washed in to fill entirely the interstices between the roots, the 

 tops of which were so placed as to be level with, and about 

 an inch below the top of the pot. These pots were covered 

 with others of the same size inverted upon them. They were 

 then placed in a situation in the vinery, where nothing else 

 would prosper being so much shaded; there, they were co- 

 piously supplied with water, the plants vegetated strongly, 

 and from each pot he was enabled to obtain three successive 

 crops ; the leaf-stalks of the two first crops being crowded so 

 closely as nearly to touch each other over the whole surface of 

 the pots. As soon as the third crop of leaves was broken off, and 

 a change of roots became necessary, those were removed from 

 the pots, and a firesh supply put in. Tlie roots that produced 

 the said crop were planted out in the open ground, their tops 

 being covered about an inch with mould, and he conjectures, 

 that they will, after a year's rest, be fit to be brought into 

 forcing at a future period. Should they, however, perish, he 

 adds, it will be of very little consequence, as year-old roots 

 raised from cuttings of the roots, or even fi'om seeds sown in 

 autumn, will be found sufl^iciently strong for use. We are, 

 however, of opinion, that plants from four years' old and up- 

 wards are much better for general crops ; but, for Mr. Knight's 

 plan, the younger ones are certainly to be preferred. 



