The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-07-19
for the $armer5.
The Culture OF Sea EAale.

WHY the culture of the crau6s marihma-
this delicious vegetable should have been 50 long
neglected, We do not know but from the frc
quency With which i Is met in the New York
markets for two years past il seems that its value
is better appreciated ROW than twas a few years
ago the following directions for its cutivation
VIII be of use, we believe, to many Of our read
ers:
The best soil for the successful production Of
sea kale is a rich deep sandy loam, though ordi-
nary garden soils, if mixed with a good proper
ton Of sand and we'll manured, viii answer the
purpose Stiff or wet soils should be thoroughly
prepared, BY trenehing to the depth Of from tao.
: to two and Ia hall feet and thoroughly mixing
with good compost manure, thereby rendering
top dressing sufficient for after culture, and sly
ing the roots from disturbanc2.
Sea kale may he raised by seed, root-cUttingS,
or offsets but the seed is 10y far the most PIE
ferab!e. Sow in Aprilc or May, h!nly in drills,
three or four feet apart and two inches deep, "
timately thinning out to fifteen or twenty inches
in the rows; which, in order to insure against
injury the first winter, should not be done until
the plants are one year Old. In the fall the
ground must be thoroughly cleaned from weeds,
and the surface well stirred, either with two
pronged hoe or still better, with 4 fork, to the
depth Of four or five inches; after which a COW
ering of fresh stable dung six inches in depth
should be laid on, and Lift 50 unit! spring. when
the rows should be dressed Just before the plant
comes through the ground, rs follows, viz: after
raking off the rough part OF the covering, point
in with fork, the short part G! it, taking par
ticular care not to wound the the roots at the
same time scatter . little earth upon the crowus
of the plants.
In inland places salt may be used to adyan-
sowing it will be fit for use; and to prepare It
for the table, blanching mist be attended TO as
: follows: As soon as the leaves appear above the
ground few inches, they should be eartheG up
and large hower-pcts inverted over them, taking
care to exclude light by stopping the hole in the
bottom of the pot, and then to guard against
sudden changes in the weather, cover Tie pots
entirely with SOIL When the sprouts have
sprungsu 10 the height Of from eight to twelve
inches, they are ft,for use, and should be cut Of,
with knife without injuring the crown Of the
root; after which they may be. prepared for the
liable in. the same manners as asparagus.
In case pots cannot be had, other methods
may be resorled to, such as earthiNg up, as the
plants advance, once in four or i've days, or by
hopping over the beds or rows, and covering with
mats but ifpossib!c, the pots are decidedly
preferable, and will repay the tr2"i!r or "N,"H.
OF procuring them. In launching Wij&,u, r..s
sand is sometimes recommended for cm'ning up;
but it IS difficult TO clean the sand t,ynuu,aiy
out oft.
: Throughout Great Britain and Ireland, SEA
! kale is very extensively used some think it n,t
inferior to asparagus, Others prefer it in soup to
aug other method of consuming it. They how
ever, SOW the seed early in the spring, a"1 trans
plant in the month Of May, Is we do with r..5.
bages. They take off the lower sprout, 0" The
stock as it grows up, and use them in soup whcn
tender, but not after the month of July anil til,
early frost which improves instead q irjurrG
them. II is a hardy vegetable and NAY hohe.
in the garden all winter, and used &$ i 5wa"s-
Fed. The treatment Of it to blanche it, !, qr...
an improvement gardener discovery, Ma..'
IS we'll worthy Of attentioa.-Nc.@'.he .i..I
caa.