Cultural Directions. 161 



VARIETIES. 



White Cape and Purple Cape are the varieties generally 

 grown in America. More than forty different forms or varieties 

 of broccoli are known to English gardeners. 



BRUSSELS SPROUTS. 



Brassica Oleracea. German, Bt usseler Sprossen Kohl ; 

 French, Chou de Bruxelles. The " head " of this cabbage variety 

 consists of a few loose, crumpled leaves borne on a tall stalk, and 

 no culinary use is made of it. The stalk itself, however, is 

 surrounded and often completely covered by the " sprouts/' 

 which are miniature cabbage heads, seldom much larger than a 

 walnut, and of choicest quality, not inferior to cauli- 

 flower. While it is as easily grown as a cabbage, it is 

 seldom found in American gardens. There seems to 

 be a good demand for it in city markets, and the crop 

 can be made as remunerative as cauliflower. Sow 

 seed in April or May, and in July set the plants about 

 two feet apart in soil prepared as for late cabbages, 

 giving about the same cultivation. The sprouts will 

 be ready for use in autumn, and until severe freezing. 

 Where, as in the south, the plants endure the winters Brussels 

 in open ground uninjured, a supply of sprouts can be Sprouts, 

 had until spring. In gathering, they should not be broken off, 

 but cut off the stems with a sharp knife, leaving as much of the 

 spur as possibl-e, in order to induce the formation of successive 



S P rOUtS ' VARIETIES 



Dwarf Brussels Sprouts. This is the variety generally 

 catalogued by American seedsmen. It is of low, compact growth, 

 and produces the little heads closely all around the stalk. 



Tall Improved. The stem of this is much taller, and the 

 heads grow more scatteringly around it. 



CABBAGE. 



Brassica Oleracea. German, Kopfkohl ; French, Chou; 

 Spanish, Col Re polio. 



GROWING FOR EARLY MARKET. Early cabbages are one of 

 the foremost crops of the market garden, and usually yield a fair 

 profit. The plants are started in September, and wintered over 

 as directed in chapter on " cold frames," or grown in hot-houses or 

 hot-beds during the second half of winter. When grown in the 

 latter way, great pains should be taken to have the plants 

 thoroughly hardened off, for they are to be set as soon as the 

 ground can be put in working order, and in all probability will 

 have to endure considerable cold and uncomfortable weather. 



