2$. I**' 



GARDENERS 



MAGAZINE 



343 



VEGETABLES 



FOR E 



SEAKALE. 



iCrambe rnaritima) forms one of the most important crops 

 SE ,K.ME PfiLfr garden, and it is to be regretted that this vege- 

 tated >n t ne * ^ amateurs and cottagers. 



lS D °llv well blanched it is most delicious, and liked by nearly 

 l ' nqUeSt 'Then properly cooked. It is not at all fastidious as to soil, 

 ***** "Vnd will grow it to perfection. Perhaps the blanching 



* The most troublesome, but this little difficulty is easily over- 

 process ,€ - J 



come. 



Seakale 



ch prefer 



and systematically made, very 



and left neat and tidy for the summer. It is surprising what a length of 

 time a plantation will last in this way, in fact, if properly attended to,' it 

 is something like wine-age improves it. This is the old method of 

 forcing seakale, and, I think, without a doubt, still* the best when quality 

 and flavour are considered. But in these go-ahead times it is not fast 

 enough for many, and especially for market gardeners. 



When large quantities are required, a more rapid mode of produc- 

 tion must be employed, and annual plantations made. This is most 

 easily accomplished. In lifting the crowns for forcing, all the small roots 

 should be trimmed off with the knife, cut in lengths of six inches, and 

 tied in bundles of twenty-five ; any time during the winter months will 

 suffice for this work. The bundles should be stood on end thickly 

 together in boxes, placing a little fine soil about them. They may be 

 placed under the greenhouse stage, or even in cold frames, when they 

 will quickly form eyes. Early in April they should be planted out on 

 well prepared ground, in the same way as previously advised, at a 



oroperlyand sysreiu*»«»»j - fnrm : nff a nermanent weu prepared ground, in the same way as previously advised, at a 



Seising or maintaining a constan supply In forming a permanent distance of eighteen inches between the rows and one foot from set to 

 £Sba? is, a place where seakale is intended to remain and be forced sct Plant with a dibber, placing a few ashes over each crown and 



that is a place where seakale is intended to remain and be forced 

 ii an oDen sunny position should be chosen ; in fact, this will 

 . mall modes of cultivation. The ground should be heavily 

 apP , J 1 (farmyard manure being preferable), and well trenched to the 

 ? a!? from two feet six inches to three feet during autumn, but the 

 i tin? should be deferred till early in March. The ground should be 

 Jin forked over, and the rows staked out ; plenty of room should always 

 £ allowed both between the rows and from plant to plant. I advise a 



set. Jlant with a dibber, placing a few ashes over each crown, and 

 should the weather be dry, give a thorough watering in. Several shoots 

 will generally break away, and after these have made a fair start, they 

 should be reduced to one, of course leaving the strongest. Frequent 

 hoeings during spring and summer will be necessary, and in dry seasons 

 the crop will be much improved by frequent drenchings of farmyard 

 liquid manure, well diluted. Good forcing crowns are produced annually 

 by hundreds of thousands by this mode of culture. As soon as the foliage 



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CALADIUM EXCELLENT, TEMPLE SHOW. 



2^^^^v' bet, ^ ent S c^ows,and tW0 feet six inches between 

 the sun and »! ♦ • a "? W , Space for w °rking, and also for 

 crowns~an ? m n. r , t0 > a ? S1St m the buildin & and Opening up the 

 «* Plantea in tCf P? mt "T^W** °ne-year-old cr.wns should 

 crowns should t', L"^^ 1 ^ fash,0n ' about six inches a P a ". The 

 should De nhiV * buned ' \ fter which son,e finel y sifted binder ashes 

 th e ravages of l\L I \" d ab ° Ut them - This is a & ood preventive of 

 d <> much m isrhiS g m SOme s , easons are a great annoyance and 



but allowed to ™L olVu^ Crowns should not be forced th e first season, 

 sure to apnea r g ,n W nU ° Wn S r et wilL The flower head > wh ^h will be 



has died away in the autumn, the roots may be lifted and forcing com- 

 menced In many large establishments seakale is in request every day 

 duriS winter, and'whin plenty of ground and labour are at ■ cowman J 

 little difficulty will be experienced in producing it. I know of no better 

 v lace for bringing this forward than the mushroom house, providing the 

 EgE :and coEare excluded, but if a suitable temperature can be found, 



'* Tak^Ts" ^t, as before stated, I much prefer 



fisTl^PnX^ 



sure to appear ,i n ,u k ^ 1 WU1 - 1 ne nower nead ' wnich wiH be 



must be hoed an? V »r Ut °, Ut before the flower s open, while the crops first weeK m npru in u. .i» MMnftvin( , - ve ' other see dline 



*m have died Cpt r free from weeds - In autumn, as soon as the should be put in regularly s.x inches apart, "^"K^^"^? 1 ™! 



about ?h\ fi rs t aWay > fo ? lng ma y be commenced, generally speaking, when large enough, thus finally leaving them one foot asunder and 

 nibbish and am, Z l eC ^ nd we , ek in November. Carefully remove al 



growth 



"fcWsh and anv Af rt! a We J ek m November - Carefully remove all 

 U P cones of asW „ de ^ a y ed leaves » P oint over the ground, and build 

 ^er these and cnl^IT • ? crowns - Seakale pots should be placed 

 k'ng far preferahi! ? W S T e sweet fer menting material, good leaves 

 Kcntle heat as an 1, & " y ° then Use onlv -> ust sufficient to create a 

 * h en cooked • a JZtl ? S 15 Very detr imental to the flavour of the produce 



^ ir must be quite ^rfff^ ^ fr ° m 5 °^° 55 de ^ rees at a11 times - 

 fess material w II • ^ for la ter supplies as the season advances, 



cover up the ' De required, and for the very latest cuttings simply not oe cut ou mc ^ ^v^hitinn tahl? before neces- 



b v *nS riim Sdte o November till the end of April seakale forms an 

 • Zt H fel ine dish' but it must be presented in the very best 

 mi ^r^L^ Xtn^ct will be taken of it by expert judges. It 

 LTufd b ™o oughly bknehed, stout, not showing the flower heads, and 



^bfeu^ 



^■ng of theTA.r 'J""" sl,oma ^ w e" patted with the spade. The 



* the v ery fines? a «S e u° te l when the seakale is fit for cut ting, and some 

 100,1 a * the cron . fv* ? avoured sea kale is produced in this way. As 



^"ng the rootc «"*V i eaves and P ots shouId be removed, once more 



W|tn ash es ; the ground should be then forked over 



h^sVprtlp whrforced, and the newer sort, named Lily White, 

 which to my mind, is an improvement both in appearance and quahty, 

 though not so hardy as the older form. Beckett 

 Aldenham House Gardens. Beckett. 



