i88i.] NOTES ON BROCCOLI. 211 



sively. A spring crop mast generally come off the ground before the 

 Broccoli are planted ; and as it is the most economical way, there is 

 no reason why it should not be so. At the present time we have a 

 number of Sutton's Queen Broccoli on land that was a crop of Peas 

 last July, and by that month again the same piece of ground will con- 

 tain an advanced crop of Turnips. If fine large heads are desired, the 

 plants must not be grown too closely together; besides, close planting 

 has also a great tendency to make the plants tender — a condition to 

 be strictly avoided in the case of all winter and spring plants. These 

 cannot be grown too hardy. Wide planting and an exposed situation 

 are the rules to follow to secure this. Early autumn kinds may be 

 grown 18 inches apart each way; later sorts, 2 feet and 30 inches. 

 Where large quantities are wanted, good breadths should be planted ; 

 but where only a few heads weekly are all that is required, a few 

 rows may keep up the supply — and for convenience these may be 

 planted in any little spare strip of ground. As late sorts remain a 

 long time on the ground, they should not be planted in the centre 

 quarters, which are likely to be wanted early; but when they are 

 kept at the ends of the quarters they are seldom in the way of any- 

 thing. Where the main crop of Potatoes are planted 30 inches or 

 so between the rows, a row of Broccoli may sometimes be planted 

 between each ; and when the Potatoes are lifted in autumn, the Broc- 

 coli are left in full possession for the winter. We practise this kind 

 of double-cropping a good deal, and find it answer well. ]\Iost of our 

 Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, (fcc, are planted between Potatoes. Unless 

 fairly good-sized Broccoli plants are secured before growth ceases, the 

 heads will not be large. For this reason the ground for this crop 

 should be on the rich side. They require plenty of manure put into 

 the ground at the time of planting, or some little time previously. At 

 the present time we are just getting our largest Broccoli quarter 

 ready. The subsoil is very retentive, and to improve this it is being 

 dug two spades deep. Decayed leaves and suchlike are being put 

 well down to the bottom ; and before the crop is planted a coating of 

 half-decayed cow-dung will be forked close under the surface. Should 

 the winter not prove all the worse, a fine crop may be depended on 

 from this piece, or any other that is prepared in the same way. We 

 have transferred the plants from the seed - bed when they were 

 from 2 to 8 inches high, and both succeeded; but unless great 

 care is taken with the smaller size, slugs are very apt to destroy 

 them. Large plants are not so easily injured. Those who can spare 

 the time to lift the young plants with balls of earth to their roots, and 

 plant with a trowel, will find this a better plan than using a dibble, 

 especially in dry weather, as they do not sustain such a check. 

 Showery weather or a wet day is the best time to plant Broccoli. 

 When the atmosphere and soil is very dry, one good watering imme- 

 diately after planting helps greatly to sustain the plant until fresh 



