50 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



Soil. Should best be rich, moist, and moderately 

 deep. In a dry soil, work compost or old manure 

 around the plants, or mulch with fresh manure, to re- 

 tain moisture and give food. 



Distances. Plants should stand two feet apart each 

 way. 



Depth. One inch. 



Sow under glass in March, prick out once, and set 

 out when well hardened, at the end of April, giving 

 protection against severe frosts. 



Sow outdoors about May 1, either in hills where the 

 plants are to stand (four to six seeds to a hill) or thinly 

 in the seed-bed, drills one foot apart. 



Thin hills to one in a hill. Thin seed-bed to about 

 two inches apart. 



Transplant when the plants are from four to six 

 inches high. Water in dry weather, and protect against 

 the sun for a day or two. 



Culture consists chiefly in conserving soil-moisture. 



Fertilizer. A little nitrate of soda at or soon after 

 transplanting, repeated once, a week later. 



Tie the inner leaves over the head as soon as it 

 is formed. 



Cut when the head is about four inches in diameter. 

 Broccoli is best when small. 



Wintering in mild climates is done either by allow- 

 ing the plants to stand where they are, or by heeling 

 them in with their heads turned toward the north, 



