46 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



SHOET NOTES ON USEFUL VEGETABLES. 



}HE kitchen garden will, for some time to come, claim a 

 considerable share of the attention of the amateur, and 

 a few hints on the cultivation of the more important 

 vegetable crops will, perhaps, be of considerable service 

 to many readers of the Eloeal Woeld. As the culti- 

 vation of all the vegetables has been dealt with at considerable 

 leno-th in past issues, it is now proposed to allude to those points 

 only which are of the most importance. 



Brussels Sprouts. — This is, perhaps, one of the most popular, 

 as it is one of the most valuable, of winter vegetables. It is hardy, 

 elegant in appearance, delicious in flavour, and may be had in per- 

 fection for quite four months. To insure a good crop of sprouts 

 the plants must be grown in rich soil, and have a rather long season 

 of growth. The seed should be sown early in March on a sheltered 

 border, and, as soon as the plants are large enough, commence to 

 plant out tlie strongest, two feet apart, on a piece of ground that 

 has been well manured and stirred deeply. Continue to plant out 

 until the space allotted is filled, and be careful to well water them 

 uutil they are well established. By planting at intervals and 

 selecting the strongest each time, overcrowding is prevented, and a 

 supply of a more satisfactory character than would otherwise be the 

 case will be secured during the winter. A second sowing may be mnde 

 in April if the stock of plants is short, otherwise it will not be needful, 

 as the best crop is obtained from the March sowing. Scrijmger's 

 Giant is, perhaps, the best stock of this vegetable in general cultivation . 

 Broad Beans. — One of the main essentials to success in the 

 cultivation of these vegetables is to sow in deeply-stirred and well- 

 manured ground. To maintain a succession from the earliest moment 

 possible, sow early in February one or two of the earliest sorts, and 

 towards the end of the mouth make a good sowing of a main crop 

 variety, and continue sowing, at intervals of a fortnight, until the 

 end of April. As a rule, it will suffice in small gardens to sow an 

 early sort in the first week in February, and to make sowings of a 

 main crop variety at the beginning and end of March. The dwarf 

 sorts will require a space of fifteen or eighteen inches between the 

 rows and the tall sorts fi'om twenty-four to thirty inches ; and in 

 each case the seed to be sown thinly in two rows. The hardiest 

 sorts for sowing early are the Early Longpod and Ma-Reagan, and the 

 best for main crops are Green Wi7idsor, Taylor s Broad Windsor, 

 and Minster Giant Lo7ig;pod. Beclcs Green Gem is a very excellent 

 and productive dwarf sort, well adapted for small gardens. 



Borecole, or Kale. — There is not, perhaps, a more thoroughly 

 useful class of vegetables grown than the borecoles, or kales, as they 

 are most generally designated. They are of especial value for their 

 hardiness, and the amateur may sow and plant with the full assurance 

 of obtaining a good supply of tender greens during the winter and 

 the spring. As a long season of growth is of considerable importance, 

 sow on a warm border early in March, and commence to plant out 

 immediately the plants are large enough. Draw from the seed-bed 



