MONTHLY CALENDAR. 323. 



909. The increase of so-called varieties led the Horticultural Society to test 

 their qualities a few years ago, with the following results : — Eight kinds were 

 sown on April 9, and subsequently treated alike in every respect. Of the 

 eight kinds tried, the largo Asiatic and the Walcheren proved to be the most 

 deserving of cultivation. It must here be remarked, however, that April 9 

 is much too late to prove some cauliflowers in this country; for every gardener 

 knows that a kind which comes good in spring may bo almost worthless in a 

 dry hot summer. The early varieties were failures, but the late kinds wer& 

 good. In experiments upon vegetables, it is important that they should be 

 proved in the best season for their particular gi-owth, as many are trained to 

 early spring, others to summer, and others again to autumn growth ; and 

 there is little doubt that these properties, within certain limits, become 

 hereditary. 



910. Uroccoliis supposed to be a variety of the cauliflower ; and certainly, 

 if we admit all the other Brassicce to be varieties of the wild B. oleracea, this 

 relationship may be readily admitted. It differs very slightly indeed from the 

 cauliflower. The flower-stem is longer and less fleshy, the head less compact, 

 and it rarely attains the size or delicacy of the cauliflower. It is of very 

 recent introduction, and Miller mentions the fact of the white and purple- 

 broccoli coming from Italy in his time. In many respects the culture of the 

 broccoli is the same as the other cabbages. From the middle of April to the- 

 middle of May, according to the season and localit)', it is sown in beds, or, as 

 some recommend, in the ground where it is to grow, first trenching and treading 

 it thoroughly, and inserting the seeds in rows two feet apart from each other, 

 dropping two or three seeds into each hole. In order to prevent early and par- 

 tial flowering, where this mode of culture is adopted, all but the strongest plant 

 are drawn, when the seeds come up, and either thrown away or transplanted. 

 Where seed-beds are adopted, they should be prepared of rich light mould, 

 well dug, and, if very dry, well watered the evening before sowing. The seeds 

 should be thinly sown, and the beds covered with mats or litter till the plants 

 appear. When the plants are about two inches high, prick them out into- 

 nursery-beds four inches apart, watering them in dry weather. In a fort- 

 night or three weeks they will be strong enough for planting out, the ground 

 for them having been prepared by trenching and manuring. 



911. Broccoli succeeds best in fresh loamy soil ; therefore, where that cannot 

 be given, deep trenching, by which fresh earth is brought up nearer th» 

 siu-face, is the next best soil for it, adding plenty of manure. According ta 

 the size of the plant, they should be planted 18 inches to 3 feet asunder. 

 Knight's dwarf only require 18 inches ; early white, 27 inches ; purple Cape, 

 Walcheren, and early white, 2 feet asunder ; and the taller sorts, as large- 

 headed purple, cream-coloured, and cauliflower broccoli, 3 feet apart. 



912. During its summer growth the ground requires to be deeply stirred 

 between the rows, to keep up the action of the air and moisture about 

 the roots. 



913. Hints on So\Hng Seeds, — There are two points in connection with s: 3d- 



T 2 



