Soorzonera (Scorzonera Hispanica)

An open compartment of well-manured and deeply-dug ground is essential to this plant, and if the sou be of a light texture so much the better. Sow the seed in drills eighteen inches apart, and as soon as the young plants are from two to three inches high, they should be thinned out to nine inches asunder in the rows. By August or September the roots will have made sufficient progress to warrant some of them being taken up for present use. The others may be left in the ground to perfect their growth, which they will do by October.

Sea-Kale (Crambe Maritima)

This plant may be increased both by division of the roots and by seed. In the case of seed, sow in drills two feet apart about the end of March, and as soon as large enough thin out the plants to three inches asunder in the rows. For a permanent plantation the plants should be put out in triangular groups of three each, in rows two feet apart, and the groups the same distance from each other in the rows. Between every third row there should be a three-feet space, for the convenience of carrying the litter and pots for forcing in spring. Sea-kale (the roots of which must be strong for this purpose) may be forced on the ground by covering with pots and litter from the stable-yard: this covering should not be less than a foot and a half thick all round the pots, and it is advisable to dust the crowns with lime, as a preventive against slugs, before covering in. The pots and litter can, and, indeed, ought to be removed directly after the sea-kale is cut, and the ground be made tidy for the summer; but every care should be taken to prevent the plants flowering and seeding, as it weakens them considerably for the following season. For forcing in houses or pits, young roots with only one pointed crown to each are preferable, as such roots will not throw up flower stems.

When transplanting these roots make it a practice to cut off the crown of each, for this process removes the flower buds, and causes fresh buds to push up from below them. A very quick and easy method of growing sea-kale is as follows: - In April or May plant out small roots in beds, and these will the following year make capital roots for use. These may be taken up in October, planted in pots or boxes, with the crowns just above the surface, and placed in some dark place where the temperature averages about fifty degrees.

Shallot (Allium Ascalonicum)

For these plenty of manure must be dug in deep, so that the bulbs cannot touch it. Plant in drills in November or from February to April, in beds slightly raised, and of an arched form : let the rows be one foot apart, and the bulbs six inches asunder in the rows. Equal proportions of soot and charred refuse should be put in the bottom of the drills previous to planting. As soon as the leaves begin to decay they may be taken up, dried, and stored away in a dry and cool place.

Skirret (Slum Sisarum)

A light, moderately rich soil suits this plant best. Seed may be sown from the first of March to the end of April in drills eight inches apart on an open compartment. As soon as the plants are two inches high, they must be thinned out to five or six inches asunder in the drills. Some may be taken up for immediate use be-tween August and September, but they will not have attained their full growth till the latter end of auttumn.

Spinach, Round Or Summer (Spinacia Oleracea Inermis)

This vegetable delights in good soil; it is sometimes sown broadcast in beds, at other times in drills one foot from each other. In any case it must be carefully-thinned out as soon as large enough for the purpose. It is of a very accommodating nature, so far as it may with safety be grown in almost any nook or corner, provided it is not too much shaded by trees. The best time to sow it is early in March to begin with, and continue to make small sowings up to the end of April: our reason for recommending small sowings is, that unless gathered quickly it soon runs to seed.

Spinach, Prickly Or Winter (Spinacia Oleracea Spinosa)

This is an important crop in the gardens of the wealthy, and not altogether an unwelcome one to those of limited means. Like its predecessor it prefers good soil, and to secure a liberal supply a considerable breadth should be sown in August and September, either broadcast or in drills, on raised beds. It is very impatient of any kind of stagnation, and for this reason it will be necessary to protect it with dry litter during severe weather. It may be had nearly the year round by means of small successional sowings.