236 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 29. 
secured beyond the first generation, is a subject on j 
which we have never been able to persuade ourselves 
from such facts as have come within our own know¬ 
ledge. This meeting is to be held on the 5th and Oth 
of January next. 
THE LEEK. 
A humble subject, truly, but one of such importance 
in kitchen economy, as that poor cooks would cut a sorry 
figure without it. This vegetable has been stated to 
have been introduced into this country in 1562, but it 
is very probable that it was known long before that 
period. In the East, we are given to understand that 
its use dates as far back as the Egyptian bondage. What 
is termed the London Leelc is the kind generally culti¬ 
vated, as being more succulent, and, indeed, in every 
way superior. 
There is, perhaps, as great a difference between a 
well-cultivated Leek and a neglected one as between 
the bad and good of any other vegetable; the one pos¬ 
sessing a clean, succulent, and highly-blanched stem of 
some nine inches in length and two inches in diameter; 
the other a more whitened collar, with a bunch of loose 
green foliage, of no account in kitchen economics. In 
its highly-cultivated state it forms a very superior dish, 
dressed as Sea-kale ; 'and having supped on such a dish 
last night, I may be supposed to be somewhat inspired 
by the importance of the subject. 
Leeks require a long summer before them, in order to 
bring them to that degree of perfection of which they 
are capable; therefore they must be sown early, more 
especially as their hardihood is proverbial. 
Like Celery, rich soil is indispensable; without this, 
it is impossible to produce the high character and well- 
earned recommendations here bestowed on them. As 
to the character of the staple of the soil, it may bo 
observed, that by the assistance of manures they may 
be made to succeed in any soil found in gardens; but 
as to preference, I think they prefer it rather light than 
otherwise ; and it should be as deep as for Celery—say 
quite half-a-yard, if possible. 
They may be sown about the last week in February, ! 
or first week in March, on an elevated bed, the soil 
light and rich. My practice is to fork in a little old 
cucumber-bed soil, and then finally to spread a couple 
of inches of very highly-decayed dung on the surface, 
and on this, when made firm with the spade, to sow the 
seeds. 
Plants thus reared will be three times as strong when 
finally planted in the end of May as those treated in 
the ordinary way. This, however, may be observed, that 
they must have more room in the seed-bed than is com¬ 
monly allowed to them. They are too generally sown 
broadcast, but this is a bad plan; the drill system is by 
far the best here, as, indeed, in a majority of cases. 
The drills in the seed-bed should be about six inches 
apart, and the seed should be sown very thinly in the 
drills: aud when the young plants are fairly up, they 
should be thinned to an inch or more apart; in fact, no 
two should touch. No weeds must be allowed to obtain 
a footing ; aud in the early part of April the small hoe 
may be used between the drills. Watering will be re¬ 
quisite while in the seed-bed; and matters thus carried 
out, we will turn our attention to the final planting. 
The usual practice is to plant them in rows, singly, 
as any other vegetable; and this practice, I believe, 
prevails with the market-gardeners about the metro¬ 
polis. With the latter class I will not measure lances, 
but this I will say, that although I pretend not to judge 
what practice best suits their plans, rotations, &c , I do 
assume to know what is fitting in private gardens, and 
in pursuanco of such, I must strenuously recommend 
what is termed the “ bed system,” such as I have 
always recommended for Celery. I find, in the case of j 
Leeks, as with Celery, that such produces more, by I 
far, in a given space; facilitates the blanching process; 
and further, moreover, a spirited rotation system; the 
last a matter of great importance in these days of keen 
practice in the art of cropping. 
We select a plot of ground that is in pretty good con¬ 
dition, and our beds, we will suppose, are to be four 
feet in width, (although, be it observed, they may be as 
much as six feet, or as narrow as even a double row), a 
four-feet bed will require a plot of ground seven feet in 
width ; less would not be convenient, and more would be 
wasteful. This allows a surplus on each side of 
half-a-yard, and this is necessary for holding what ex¬ 
cavation is requisite. The line is then stretched, and 
each side of the four-feet bed “ chopped out.” The line 
removed, the soil is excavated about a moderate spade’s 
depth, and this soil is piled up right and left, as with 
Celery beds. Indeed, the practice is so alike, that the 
recommendations for one would pretty well suffice for 
the other. 
We must ever remember, however, that one portion 
of our readers would much rather read an original 
article, fresh from the mint of the mind, than refer 
back to old ones; for the latter are apt to be viewed in 
the same light as old newspapers—glanced at, and then 
filed forever. Well, but about our poor Leeks; what 
more can we say ? The soil excavated a spade deep, 
and piled compactly on either side, the next thing is to 
wheel in some half-rotten manure, four inches in thick¬ 
ness; and if it is too rich the Leeks will freely forgive 
the error, as they are tremendously gluttonous. This 
manure spread, must be forked in, and well mixed with 
about as much soil; and now, before planting, we gene¬ 
rally spread a coating of old tan, or leaf-soil very mellow 
(or very old aud powdery manure is better by far), over 
the surface another inch or two, and then we cover this 
two inches thick with a portion of the excavated soil. 
The ground is now ready for planting, and a bed, four 
feet wide in the clear, will just take seven plants, which 
will be seven inches apart, leaving just three inches on 
each outside. The rows should be nearly a foot apart, 
and we bore holes with a stake for their reception. The 
plants are inserted in these holes, accompanied by a 
slight fastening with the dibble, not for fear of their 
being blown out of their holes, but for fear of a drying 
air searching out their weak points before they are 
able to cater for themselves. It lias been strongly 
recommended, I am aware, not to fasten them at 
all, or even to fill up their holes with soil; but the 
reasons for this I could never learn. When planted 
they require a little training, as they are a very top- 
heavy thing when grown strong. About one-third of 
the foliage may be cut away, aud about one-fourtli of 
the points of the fibres; the latter operation becomes 
almost imperatively necessary, on account of the ex¬ 
treme length to which the fibres run, rendering it diffi¬ 
cult to insert them in their holes, providing the plants 
are fine. A clean course of culture now becomes requi¬ 
site, and an occasional watering, in dry weather, and, it 
may be, the use of the hoe about three weeks after thoy 
are planted; after which I advise that all weeds be 
pulled by the hand until earthing-up time, when the 
application of soil will alone stay the growth of weeds. 
And, now, about earthing-up; for I would have this 
considered unconnected with mere cultural processes. 
Whatever may be people’s opinion about the earthing 
of Celery, whether soon and frequent, or late and heavy, 
there is no question, I think, but that Leeks do not love 
to be buried until the “ eleventh hour.” I do not say 
that other plans will not succeed, but I have ever 
noticed them to make the most bulk when enjoying the 
