74 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



Distances. Rows two to two and one-half feet 

 apart, according to variety. Plants in the row eighteen 

 to twenty-four inches. Or set out or sow in hills, 

 twenty-four to thirty inches each way. 



Depth one inch in spring, two inches later. 



Early crop. Usually from the dwarf or early 

 varieties. Start under glass in early March, or thirty to 

 forty days before the ground will be fit, and prick out 

 once. Keep the plants stocky, but do not stunt, and 

 harden off. Set out when the ground is in the best 

 condition; the plants will need no protection against 

 light frosts. Give nitrate of soda or liquid manure to 

 start them off well. 



Second crop. Sow outdoors, in a seed-bed for a 

 quicker start and better care, in drills a foot apart, as 

 soon as the ground is fit. This crop is usually of the 

 large kinds. Sow very thinly, and thin to two inches 

 apart, transplanting the thinnings if necessary. Or sow 

 in hills thirty inches each way, several seeds to a hill, 

 and thin to one. Transplant from seed-bed at about 

 five inches, and give nitrate of soda or liquid manure. 



Besides these two crops, it is possible to get a late 

 crop of early varieties by sowing in early June. 



Culture consists in clean hoeing and surface mulch- 

 ing, either with dirt, or, best, with manure. 



Fertilizer. Dress with nitrate of soda once or twice 

 soon after transplanting. 



Tying. When the heads have formed enough to 



