Broccoli 



ing is another important matter. If the land is not ready for planting, 

 thin the seed-bed and prick out the seedlings. A good crop of 

 Broccoli is worth any amount of trouble, although trouble ought to 

 be an unknown word in the dictionary of a gardener. 



As a rule, Broccoli should be planted in fresh ground, and, in 

 mild districts, if the soil is in some degree rank with green manure 

 the crop will be none the worse for it. But rank manure is not 

 needful ; a deep, well-dug, sweet loam will produce a healthy growth 

 and neat handsome heads. However, it is proper to remark, that if 

 any rank manure is in the way, or if the ground is poor and wartfs it, 

 the Broccoli will take to it kindly, and all the rankness will be gone 

 long before they produce their creamy heads. Still, it must be clearly 

 understood that the more generous the treatment, the more succulent 

 will be the growth, and in cold climates a succulent condition may 

 endanger the crop when hard weather sets in. With this reservation, 

 we proceed to observe that Broccoli follows well upon Peas, early 

 Potatoes, early Kidney Beans, and Strawberries that are dug in when 

 gathered from for the last time. But it does not follow well upon 

 Cabbage, Turnip, or Cauliflower ; if Broccoli must follow any of 

 these, dig deeply, manure heavily, and in planting, dust a little 

 freshly slaked lime in the holes. The times of planting will depend 

 on the state of the plants and the proper season of their heading in. 

 But everywhere and always the plants should be got out of the seed- 

 bed into their permanent quarters as soon as possible, for the longer 

 they stay in the seed-bed the more likely are they to become drawn 

 above and clubbed below. As regards distances, too, the soil, 

 the sort, and the season must be considered. For all sorts the dis- 

 tances range from two to two and a half feet ; and for most of the 

 medium-sized sorts that have to stand out through the winter for 

 use in spring, a distance of eighteen to twenty-four inches is usually 

 enough, because if they are rather close they protect one another. 

 But with strong sorts in strong soils and kind climates, two feet and 

 a half every way is none too much, even for safe wintering. Plant 

 firmly, water if needful, and do not stint it ; but, if possible, plant in 

 showery weather, and give no water at all. Watering may save the 

 crop, but the finest pieces of Broccoli are those that are secured 

 without any watering whatever. 



Autumn Broccoli. To grow Autumn Broccoli profitably, sow 

 in February, March and April, the early sowings in a frame to insure 

 vigorous growth, and the later sowings in the open ground. Plant 

 out as soon as possible two feet apart each way in fresh land that 



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