302 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
However, the reverse is the case witli Sea-kale, for with 
it fibre and other woody matter would seem to be 
more fully formed when exposed than when blanched 
up in the confined manner it is when forced into use; 
nevertheless, means may be taken to direct the efforts of 
nature to produce a different article, as by covering over 
the crown of the plant with something that will exclude 
the air a certain degree of blanching takes place, de¬ 
priving the young shoot of the woody fibre and the 
strong taste, which, in common witli some other 
members of the Cabbage family (to which it is in some 
degree related) is much diminished; and the article, 
with good management, has all the crisp tenderness of 
the forced production, with more of the vigour and 
strength of the last-named than the more forward crops 
could boast of. Now, as this is easily attained by very 
humble means, and coming into use when ordinary 
\ garden vegetables are far from plentiful, it may not be 
altogether useless here to point out the way, adding a 
i few words, in the first place, on forcing in general. 
Eor the earliest crop of Sea-kale, I have, for many 
years, been of opinion that plants reared on good ground 
' in one season, with single eyes, and of such a size as to 
1 resemble tolerably well-grown Carrots, are best adapted 
I for the first crop, by being taken up carefully and in- 
I serted in soil that is heated in some way for that 
| purpose. The amount of warmth necessary is much 
less than is often supposed—nevertheless, it must be 
j forthcoming, or the result will be unsatisfactory. How¬ 
ever, there are often odd corners in which a quantity 
might be stowed away with ease, which could not be 
made available for anything else. The mushroom- 
house is often applied to this purpose, and is a very 
good place, as is also any heated corner in connection 
with the hothouse fire, as the amount of heat is the 
only requisite qualification, light being of no conse¬ 
quence—in fact, it is better without it, except so far as 
arranging the plants and examining them afterwards is 
concerned. Eor early work, the plants ought to be 
taken up as soon as the leaves drop off; in other words, 
“ when they are ripe; ” and it is of the greatest im¬ 
portance to take them up with as little injury as possible 
—for, as the future produce is, in a measure, the de¬ 
velopment of the stored-up matter contained in the 
crown, or incipient bud, assisted by what little nourish¬ 
ment the plant can draw from the medium it is placed 
in, it follows that the latter cannot be expected to 
supply much if all those small rootlets, which ramify 
in various directions for food, be all cut ofF in the taking 
up or replanting process, and, as they are very tender, 
and easily broken, it requires great care to ensure their 
doing well. Some growers put the roots in pots—some 
half-a-dozen roots, or so, in a large, deep one; but as 
these must be very large, and difficult to remove, I have 
generally contrived to do without them, by planting the 
roots tolerably thick on the heated place, giving a final 
coat of ashes at last, and over this something that will 
keep the place dark, and somewhat moist: some very 
i homely contrivances will effect this well enough. 
It would be as well to remark, here, that when a 
! supply of plants like the above are wanted yearly, a 
I corresponding quantity must be sown every spring; 
and, as I have observed they may be reared in one 
season, it is only fair here to observe that it is only on 
good ground that such can be done, and, when that is 
not effected, two-year-old plants must bo substituted— 
| these, however, have generally more crowns than one to 
a root, and, consequently, are not so good. Neverthe¬ 
less, they may be used when single ones are not to be 
had. It is almost needless here to observe, that in 
preparing plants for forcing the seed should be sown 
where the plant is to remain, and, by being properly 
thinned in time, a good, useful produce will generally 
follow. Very small plants, standing one year, may be 
January 19. j 
transplanted during winter, and in summer, by being j 
regulated a little in the way of curtailing the head, a j 
very good plant may be obtained for forcing. 
Eor the later crop, beginning with February, and fol¬ 
lowing on to May, plants in the open ground may be 
more advantageously forced in country places, where 
leaves or other heating materials are at hand, by being 
covered up with the heating matter, pots being placed 
over the plants, with lids, &c., as is generally known, 
and the heating matter being applied between, imparts 
a warmth to the ground which urges on the growth of 
the new vegetable in such a way as to bring it to a size 
fit for table in about three weeks or a month after the 
fermenting matter has been applied. This, of course, 
will depend upon other circumstances as well, only let 
it be remembered, that after January the amount of 
heat requisite for forcing is much less than before 
that period, and the plant is also much better able to 
endure the process than when done earlier, and the 
produce is also considerably stronger, and gradually 
improves in that respect as the season advances, and 
forcing becomes a mere matter of assistance. This, 
however, will be easily understood; and those who wish 
to have a dish of Sea-kale before Christmas must not 
expect to have it so strong and fine as if they waited 
later for it; but the sacrifice is generally made without 
a scruple. 
Much of the well-being of Sea-kale depends on the 
treatment the plants receive during the summer months 
If they are left to run wild, flowering and exhausting 
themselves in a useless way, the produce must not be 
expected to be good, as it can hardly be expected that a 
ripened crop of seed can leave the plant which produced 
it with all its “stores” unimpaired; on the contrary, 
the nutriment which ought to have been stored away 
in embryo has been used to perfect the crop of the 
past season—on that account, therefore, let no plants 
seed, unless a few to produce the quantity that may be 
requisite to sow the crop wanted the following spring. 
It is scarcely necessary to add, that enriching matter is 
also needed to assist the growth of the plant, and, if 
that could be applied at the growing time the result 
would bo more satisfactory. Liquid-manure and a little 
salt might be applied at that time to advantage, and 
the ground-stirring, and other modes of good cultivation, 
being carried out, a crop may be expected ; but the 
usual summer treatment has in other places been dealt 
with, that it is unnecessary here to repeat it, only it 
may be worthy of notice to all who arc contemplating a 
new plantation to call their attention to the nature of 
the ground where this plant is found wild—the sandy 
shores of the sea side—and by that they will have a 
hint what description of soil is best calculated to ensure 
a good growth afterwards. J. Robson. 
MANAGEMENT OE DOWN EWES AS 
BREEDING STOCK. 
(Continued from, paye 284.) 
The time at which the Tup should be turned in with 
the Ewes will depend, in some measure, upon the dis¬ 
trict where they are kept; for, except in those localities 
where the soil and climate are good, it is useless to 
attempt early breeding; not only will the habit of the 
stock oppose this, but the cultivation of the land also, 
for in cold, backward situations, the stock must depend 
more upon the summer-keeping, as in that case the 
greatest increase and requirements of the flock will 
take place at the period when such land is capable of 
yielding its greatest produce. Whereas, the better 
