CHAP. X VILLA GARDENING 441 



made by doing this. It is in tlie early Potatoes only that patches 

 of Broccoli are planted. They wonld not succeed among the 

 large -topped late kinds, and both crops would suffer. In the 

 case of the early Potatoes, the crop would be lifted before the 

 greens required the space. If the rows of early Potatoes are 

 planted about 2 feet apart, the Broccoli shoidd be placed in every 

 alternate row of Potatoes. The distance of 4 feet would, in the 

 case of late kinds, be satisfactory. Just before planting the 

 greens (I have treated Brussels Sprouts and other greens in the 

 same way) the tops of the Potatoes which overhang the trenches 

 where it is intended to plant them are carefully tm-ned back. 

 Sometimes the tops may require a little attention afterwards, 

 but, as a rule, the trouble from this source is not great. When 

 the Potatoes are lifted the Broccoli have all the space, and may 

 be earthed. Some people say that earthing-up vegetables, except 

 for the purpose of blanching, is of no benefit ; but it is a support 

 and shelter, lessens the force of the wind in spring, and increases 

 the plant's power of resistance at all times. 



WiNTEEiNO. — The autumn and winter Broccoli, such as Veitch's 

 Self-protecting and Snow's Winter (both of which are indispen- 

 sable), must of course have protection, as frost will spoil the 

 advancing hearts. The best way of dealing with these is to lift 

 all the earliest at the approach of frost, remove a few of the 

 bottom leaves to economise space, and plant them thickly in pits. 

 Expensively -constructed places are unnecessary, though, of course, 

 where the first outlay is not grudged, permanency in such buUdings 

 is desirable. The next best plan is to lay the plants down thickly 

 in some dry sheltered border, burying the stems up to the leaves 

 in the soil, and in frosty weather cover with mats, straw hurdles, 

 or spruce branches. Sometimes the roots and stems of the plants 

 are embedded in soil in a shed, but I never found this plan had 

 more advantage than laying them down in the open air with the 

 necessary protection. I have tried a good many ways of keeping 

 late Broccoli through the winter, with the view of discovering not 

 only the best way of saving the plants, but the most economical, 

 especially as regards labour and protecting materials ; and I have 

 come to the conclusion that there is no better way than heeling 

 them in or laying them down with their heads to the north in 

 October — towards the end of the month in most seasons and 

 localities. The check given in the operation has a beneficial 

 tendency, as a plant whose growth has been built up firmly will 

 pass through a lower temperature unimpaired than when luxuriance 

 has been encouraged. The gross plants do not have the largest or 

 closest hearts. A certain maturing or ripening influence seems 



