BROCCOLI 



130 



BRODI^EA 



white heads are usually called Cauliflowers, and it is only 

 those with the sprouting heads that are known in our 

 markets as Broccoli, yet in many catalogues we find the 

 old name is sustained; but if you went to a market 

 salesman and asked for Broccoli, he would offer you the 

 sprouting sorts. The true difference is that the varieties 

 of Cauliflower come into flower while on a soft, tender 

 stem, while the Broccoli are strictly biennials, hardier, 

 and do not form a head until they have made a strong 

 hard stem, yet after all, they belong to the same species 

 of Brassica. We get the ordinary type all the year 

 through, and it makes a distinction to keep them under 

 the one name " Cauliflower," to define them from the 

 winter branching sorts. In private gardens the word, 

 Broccoli, is made to camprise every variety capable of 

 standing in the open ground during all, except 

 unusually severe, winters. It is only during the winter 

 and, early spring that we have the sprouting Broccoli ; 

 the original type. 



Time and Mode of Sowing. The time for sowing the 

 varieties are specified under each ; but we will add 

 that, for a small family, we have found the following 

 sowings and varieties are sufficient to keep up a supply 

 from the beginning of October to the end of May : 



Sow Early Cauliflower Broccoli the second week in 

 April, and the first week in June. The produce will be 

 fit for table during October, and until the middle of 

 December. Sow Green Close-headed the first week in 

 April. The heads will be ready in November, and until 

 January ends. Sow Dwarf Brown the second week in 

 April. It will be in production from February to end 

 of April. Sow Sulphur-coloured and Spring White the 

 second week of April. Their heads will be ready during 

 the April and May following. 



Each variety should be sown separately, and the 

 sowing performed thin ; the beds not more than three 

 or four feet wide, for the convenience of weeding, which 

 must be performed as often as weeds appear, as they 

 are very inimical to the growth of this vegetable. The 

 seeds must not be buried more than sufficiently deep to 

 keep them moist. After the ground has been well pre- 

 pared, it may be sown on the surface and simply raked 

 in, and the beds be netted over, to keep away the birds, 

 which, especially in showery weather, are very de- 

 structive. 



Pricking out. The plants are fit for pricking out when 

 they are two or three inches high. Do it during warm, 

 showery weather, and set them six inches apart each 

 way, and water every night until they have taken root. 

 They must have four or five weeks' growth before they 

 are again moved, or not until they have leaves nearly 

 three inches in breadth. 



Planting. When planted out, they must be set, on an 

 average, two feet asunder each way ; in summer a little 

 wider, in autumn rather closer. Water to be given at 

 the time of planting, and occasionally afterwards until 

 they are established. During the droughts of summer 

 it may be given plentifully, with the greatest advantage. 

 They must be hoed between frequently, and the mould 

 drawn up about their stems. 



Protection in Winter. To those crops which have to 

 withstand the winter in the open air, salt is beneficially 

 applied, as it preserves them from being frosted in the 

 neck. This application preserves their roots from being 

 worm-eaten ; and so does pouring soapsuds between the 

 rows, which application is also very beneficial to the 

 plants. The salt should be sown over the bed, in a dry 

 day, in autumn, at the rate of ten bushels to the acre. 



To preserve the winter-standing crops from destruc- 

 tion by severe weather, a small trench is made, in the 

 first week of November, at the north end of each row, 

 in which the adjoining plant is laid so low, with its head 

 towards the north, that the centre of its stem at the 

 top is just level with the surface of the ground, the root 

 being scarcely disturbed ; it is then immediately watered, 

 and its roots covered with more mould. Thus every 

 plant is in succession reclined ; and, in a few days, it is 

 scarcely perceptible that they have been thus treated, 

 though it certainly checks their growth. Before the 

 arrival of snow, a small hillock must be raised round 

 each plant, to support its leaves, and prevent their 

 being broken. If snow accompanies severe frost, ad- 

 vantage should be taken of it, and the plants be heaped 

 over with it, which will afford them an effectual pro- 

 tection. 



To obtain Seed. Such plants of each variety must be 

 selected, in March or April, as most perfectly agree 

 with their peculiar characteristics, and are not particu- 

 larly forward in advancing for seed. As the stems run 

 up, some gardeners recommend the leaves to be taken 

 away ; but this must be injurious. Some growers are 

 careful to avoid foliage overgrowing the heads, but this 

 is not always necessary ; the main point is to take the 

 earliest possible, so that the seed will ripen before we 

 get bad weather in the autumn. The Sulphur-coloured 

 is always difficult to obtain seed from. As the branches 

 spread, four or six stakes should be placed at equal 

 distances round each plant, and hooped round with 

 string, to support them, and prevent their breaking. 

 When the pods begin to form, water should be given 

 repeatedly, and occasionally some thrown over the whole 

 plant, which tends to prevent mildew. Before the pods 

 begin to change colour, those from the extremity of 

 every shoot must be taken away, as these yield seeds 

 which produce plants very apt to run to seed without 

 heading ; and, by an early removal, the others are 

 benefited. The branches ought to be gathered as soon 

 as the pods upon them ripen. Different kinds must 

 never be planted near each other, or they will reciprocally 

 be crossed. The seed ripens in August or September, and 

 it is often recommended to preserve it in the pod until 

 wanted ; but the general practice is to beat it out, and 

 store it as soon as perfectly dry, which is the safest and 

 best method. 



BRODI/E A. (Named after /. /. Brodie, a Scotch 

 cryptogamist. Nat. ord. Lilyworis [Liliaceae]. Linn. 

 3-Triandria, i-Monogynia. Allied to Allium.) 



Frame or half-hardy small bulbs, requiring the same 

 treatment as Ixias. Offsets ; sandy peat. Summer 

 temp., 50 to 70 ; winter, 40. 

 B. Bridge'sii (Bridges'). Blue. California. 1888. 



calif o'rnica (Calif ornian). Pale brown. July. Cali- 

 fornia. 1848. 



capita'ta (headed), i. Violet. May. California. 

 1871. 



a'lba (white). 



cocci' 'nea (scarlet). See BREVOORTIA IDA-MAIA. 

 conge'sta (crowded), i. Blue. July. Georgia. 1806. 

 a'lba. White. 



cro'cea (Crocus-flowered). Yellow. Northern Cali- 

 fornia. 1901. 



Dougla'sii (Douglas'). White. July. British 

 Columbia. 1826. Syn. Triteleia grandiflora. 



filifo'lia (thread-leaved). California. 1882. 



grandiflo'ra (large-flowered). ij. Blue. N.W. 

 Amer. 1806. 



Wa'rei (Ware's). Lilac-rose. California. 1886. 



Render so' ni (Henderson's). Yellow with violet- 

 purple midribs. Western N. Amer. 1890. 



Howe'llii (Howell's). White or pale lilac. Western 

 United States. 1888. 



lilaci'na (lilac). Delicate lilac. 



hyaci'nthina (Hyacinth-like). White, with green ribs. 

 California. 1833. 



la'ctea (milky). White, suffused lilac. 



,, ixioi'des (Ixia-like). Bright yellow, green ribs on the 

 back. California. 



,, ere'cta (erect). Bright yellow. 1896. 



sple'ndens (splendid). Bright yellow, in large 

 heads. 



la'xa (loose), i to 2. 

 1832. 



Leichtli'nii (Leichtlin's). 

 Chilian Andes. 1874. 



tnultiflo'ra (many-flowered). Blue-purple. California. 

 1872. 



Orcu'ttii (Orcutt's). Bright lilac. California. 1896. 



Palme' ri (Palmer's). Bright purple. Lower Cali- 

 fornia. 1889. 



parviflo'ra (small-flowered). See B. MULTIFLORA. 



peduncula'ris (stalked). Porcelain- white. California. 

 1896. 



porrifo'lia (leek-leaved). i. Blue, white. 

 1868. 



pulche'lla (beautiful). California. 



Pu'rdyi (Purdy's). Rose-purple. California. 



ro'sea (rosy). J. Rose. California. 1896. 



stella'ris (starry). $. Deep blue. California. 



terre'stris (terrestrial). California. 



Purple-blue. California. 

 White, green. Winter. 



Chili. 



1896. 



