Sea-kale

Sea-kale (Crambe maritima; see CRAMBE), a perennial plant with large roundish sinuated sea-green leaves, found on the seashores in various parts of Europe, and in Britain. The blanched sprouts have become a very favourite esculent in Britain. It is commonly forced in the winter months in dark sheds or pits heated with fermenting manure or leaves, or with hot water circulating in pipes. The plants when to be treated thus are reared annually from cuttings of the roots or from seed; the latter is sown in March in rows 18 inches asunder, the seed being dropped, three or four together, at 15 inches apart, the seedlings to be thinned to one at each point. The cuttings are dibbled into the ground at the same distances apart, and by liberal cultivation they are quite strong enough to be forced the following winter. Of course the roots are lifted when to be forced in this way, and are thrown away afterwards. When they are to be blanched in the position in which they grow the rows are planted at 3 feet by 2 feet apart, the plants are covered with pots or boxes, which are also covered with leaves, tan, spent hops, or mildly fermenting manure. Plantations treated in this way last for several years. Darkness is essential to the proper blanching of the sprouts.