January  18,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
f)3 
with  pots  in  early  spring  to  blanch  the  growth  when  it  pushes,  hut  it 
cannot  be  obtained  so  early  by  this  method. 
The  plants  will  be  stronger  the  third  year,  especially  if  growth  is 
encouraged  by  the  application  of  manures,  such  as  guano  1  oz.  per 
square  yard  applied  in  June.  Salt  is  also  beneficial  at  the  rate  of  1  oz. 
rer  square  yard  given  between  May  and  July. 
Old  roots  are  the  best  for  lifting  and  forcing,  and  a  portion  of  the 
stock  may  be  treated  in  this  way  every  year  after  the  foliage  has 
18  inches,  in  rows  2^  feet  asunder.  To  maintain  the  stock  this 
method  should  be  followed  each  year. 
The  forcing  of  Seakale  is  carried  out  in  various  way,  but  heat, 
moisture,  and  darkness  are  essential.  A  hotbed  is  a  suitable^  place, 
surrounding  the  roots  well  with  soil  and  excluding  light  from  the 
crowns.  Planting  the  roots  thickly  in  boxes  or  pots  of  soil  and 
covering  the  crowns,  then  placing  the  receptacles  in  a  moist  and  well 
heated  structure,  is  a  handy  method  of  producing  blanched  leaf- 
'tniiiiinwu 
m, 
Fig.  10.— STAPELIA  ASTER  [AS 
"III, I 
died  down  in  November,  i  The  thick,  strong  roots  must  be  selected 
for  forcing,  cutting  off  the  thin,  thong-like  roots  and  preserving 
them  for  future  planting.  These  may  be  prepared  for  planting  by 
cutting  them  into  lengths  of  6  inches,  cutting  the  upper  part  trans¬ 
versely  and  the  lower  part  slantingly,  so  as  to  distinguish  the  crown 
end.  Lay  the  roots  in  sand  or  ashes  until  March,  when  they  can  be 
planted.  By  that  time  the  upper  part  of  the  roots  will  have  pro¬ 
duced  a  ring  of  growth,  or  little  buds.  When  the  roots  are  planted 
the  buds  will  advance,  but  eventually  only  allow  the  strongest  to 
remain.  The  distance  between]  the  roots  may  be,  in  good  soil. 
stalks  for  early  use.  To  maintain  the  supply  introduce  roots  into 
heat  in  successive  batches.  Later  in  the  season  a  good  supply  of 
blanched  produce  may  be  secured  by  covering  the  roots  with  Seakale 
pots  or  tubs,  which  are  handy  by  reason  of  their  having  movable 
covers  or  lids. 
Seakale  is  often  obtained  early  by  forcing  the  roots  where  they 
are  growing.  Fcr  doing  this  the  crowns  must  be  covered  with  pots 
having  movable  lids.  Fresh  growth  from  the  root  is  desirable,  and 
this  can  be  had  by  thinning  out  the  buds  which  are  produced. — 
E.  Barrow. 
