December 15,1881.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
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Royal Society at 4.30 P.M., and Lirmean Society at 8 P.M. 
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4th Sunday in Advent. 
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LEEKS. 
Y* UDGING from what has appeared from time to 
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time, especially last spring, in the Journal, 
recommending Leeks as a good and reliable 
vegetable, we conclude that they are not 
generally cultivated in these islands. In¬ 
deed, judging from some of the instructions 
given by the majority of southern growers, we 
doubt if even those who do grow them have 
W£) them at all satisfactory, even in that land of Leeks— 
' Wales. 
In the northern half of this island Leeks are generally grown^ 
alike in the nobleman’s many-acred garden and in the cottager’s 
little patch or “kailyaird,” and are appreciated alike by peer 
and peasant. Possibly the difference in the cooking of the 
two divisions of the country accounts for the different degrees 
of popularity in which this esculent is held. In the north 
vegetables are mostly used in soups, and seldom is the Leek 
otherwise used. “ Cocky-leeky ” is a favoured dish among the 
upper classes, but not among those lower in the social scale 
and “ cocky-leeky " is the only way that we know of whereby 
Leeks are used simply as a vegetable. In this form the flavour 
is too strong for ordinary tastes. In soups, even in Leek soup 
pure and simple, this strong flavour disappears, and is replaced 
by one which few northern palates do not appreciate. 
If a few necessary rules are observed in its cultivation a crop 
is certain, even in the least favoured positions. It is like 
Borecole in this, and bleak indeed must be the spot where 
neither will grow. For this reason it replaces Onions where 
climatical causes make the latter a precarious crop. It is also 
particularly free from insect pests, thriving where Onions are 
destroyed wholesale by maggots. And then every portion of 
the plant may be used ; so it is an extremely economical vege¬ 
table to grow where ground is limited or reasons exist for grow¬ 
ing only the most productive crop. 
It is of no use attempting to grow line Leeks on poor soil, 
for when stinted and starved the crop is scanty and the quality 
poor. The first thing, then, in the successful cultivation of 
Leeks is to trench the ground at least two spades deep, and to 
put a thick layer—the thicker the better—of rich partly de¬ 
cayed manure between the layers of soil, especially under the 
upmost one. This is for ordinary crops, for these are of the 
most value. To produce extraordinary crops, to furnish ex¬ 
amples for exhibition or other extra purposes, such as those 
exhibited by a Scotch grower at Manchester last year, the soil 
must be trenched at the very least 2 feet deep and very liber¬ 
ally manured. To thoroughly incorporate the manure and the 
soil retrenching may be necessary. 
The next point is the preparation of the plants, and various 
ways are in vogue among those who strive to excel. The com¬ 
mon way is to sow the seed in a sheltered position on rich soil 
about the end of February or beginning of March, or later if 
the weather should not be favourable at the time stated. Bat¬ 
tering them into soil at once cold and damp will effectually 
prevent success. The seed, though smaller than Onion seeds, 
will germinate under the same conditions ; but, although all 
the plants are to be eventually transplanted, care should be 
taken not to sow too thickly ; indeed we are not sure but the 
best way is to sow in rows 1 foot apart. 
In order to forward a few plants handglasses or cold frames 
are sometimes placed over portions of the bed. Deep frames 
should not be used for this purpose, as the plants are apt to be 
weakened thereby. The seeds are often sown in cold frames 
for the same purpose. 
To prepare a large number of plants in order to secure extra 
fine crops, we advise those who are ambitious to excel to make 
a mild hotbed and to cover it with a glazed frame about the 
middle of April. A strong heat is mischievous, and should be 
avoided. Rich soil should be used and the seeds sown thinly. 
Air should be given after the plants are up, and care must be 
taken that they never suffer by w 7 ant of water. An occasional 
supply of weak liquid manure should be given, which will 
forward the plants considerably. If carefully treated they will 
be strong and fit to put out by the middle of May—a gain of 
two months, for plants raised in the ordinary way are not fit 
to put out till July. Two months of summer weather to grow 
in make a difference in the crop that needs to be seen to be 
believed. Leeks so raised will frequently, if put out on rich 
soil,’measure 12 inches round the stem, and we have often had 
them with a 5-feet spread of tops by October. And Leeks 
grown thus are always of first-rate quality. 
There is yet another way of preparing plants which is prac¬ 
tised by exhibitors, by which the large specimens seen at 
northern shows are grown. About the beginning of February 
—not sooner, or the plants will be apt to run to seed prema¬ 
turely—the seed is sown in rich soil in pots and placed in stove 
heat. As soon as they show the second leaf, by which time 
they are forming the second root, the plants are placed in 
3-inch pots in very rich soil. When the roots are coiling in 
these they are shifted into 6-inch pots. They are kept near 
the light, and occasionally given very much diluted urine or a 
little sulphate of ammonia. By the second or third week of 
April they will be fit for kitchen use, and should be hardened 
off. We do this by placing the pots in a frame into which a 
foot or so of hot manure has been placed. This will maintain 
a temperature nearly equal to that to which the plants have 
been accustomed, and as it cools the Leeks will harden. Then 
ventilation should be increased for a week or two, when the 
plants will be ready to be put out. Instead of using pots for 
the plants they may be pricked into boxes, but in transplant¬ 
ing a check will be given, whereas when pots are used no check 
is given ; at the same time we have raised many fine Leeks in 
this way. Melon pits, Cucumber frames, and other warm 
structures, too warm for forwarding any other hardy vegetables, 
will do capitally for Leeks if they can be well exposed to 
light. A high temperature will ruin Cauliflowers or Celery in 
a few daj'S, but will benefit the Leeks. Those, therefore, who 
can neither spare manure to make hotbeds or afford cold frames 
for this may utilise any spare room at their disposal. 
No. 77.—Vol. III., Third Series. 
No. 1733.— Yon. LXVI. OLD SERIES, 
