358 THE GARDENER. [Aug. 



plants as forward as possible, so as to give them the full benefit of 

 the whole season to grow. This advice may be disregarded in good 

 climates, but in cold northern localities it is of very great importance. 

 When no other means exist for raising plants, they must just be sown 

 under the most favourable conditions possible, using rich soil ; and 

 this applies to the raising of all the plants of this class in early spring — 

 but by no means to those sown in autumn, as it is apt to induce a 

 growth too tender to stand the severities of winter. As we advised 

 when speaking of Cabbages, so we advise in this case — prick out the 

 plants 3 inches apart in rich roil, and lift and transplant with the 

 trowel. It is more than worth all the trouble. 



Curly Greens may be treated as recommended for Savoys, or, in- 

 deed, may be sown late enough to be ready in time to fill ground 

 which is cleared of early crops of Spinach, Turnips, Potatoes, &c. 

 The tops can be used in winter and early spring, and the stems will 

 afterwards furnish a spring supply of tender sprouts. 



Caul) flower for a first lot should be sown from the 10th to the 

 20th of August, and afterwards protected with hand-lights, or in 

 frames, in boxes, or otherwise, as necessity may suggest, during win- 

 ter. Give them air on all favourable occasions, and give the extra 

 protection which a mat affords during frosty weather. Plant these 

 out in rich soil when the weather has become spring-like in March 

 or April, and give them a little protection by means of inverted 

 flower-pots, boxes, or even evergreen twigs, on frosty nights. Another 

 sowing may be made under glass about the beginning of March, and 

 afterwards nursed on in a frame or under a hand-light to succeed the 

 autumn-sown ones, and another towards the end of March out of 

 doors, and a third about the 1st of May. A small pinch of seed each 

 time will suffice. All the Cabbage kind require rich soil and liberal 

 treatment to do them justice, but none more so than the Cauliflower. 



Broccoli comes in when other vegetables are scarce, and is much 

 appreciated on that account. Small growers do not need more than 

 one sowing, and the best time to sow is about the end of March or 

 beginning of April. They may be treated much in the same way as 

 the others — only, do not manure the ground heavily, as too rich soil 

 causes too luxuriant a growth, which is often damaged during winter. 

 When a gross growth does ensue, it is a good plan to lift the plants 

 and heel them over with their heads to the north. This operation is 

 done by taking out a trench on the north side of the rows, and lifting 

 the plants carefully and laying them in it, covering the stems up to the 

 base of the fresh leaves ; then another trench and another row of Broc- 

 coli, until the plot is completed. Those which show head during 

 severe weather should be lifted and put where they can be protected, 



