Vegetable Growing for Market 87 



]asts until Turnip tops and Spring Greens oust it. It is especially useful 

 when Spinach is scarce, and the leaves of good curled sorts have been 

 used for garnishing when Parsley has been dear. In selecting seed a 

 good dwarf curled sort should be chosen. Let the market grower fight 

 shy of the mongrel abominations sold as "Cottagers' Kale". [w. G. L.] 



7. BROCCOLI 



The Broccoli (Brassica oleracea botrytis asparagoides) is closely related 

 to the Cauliflower, but is hardier. The white or creamy-headed varieties 

 are frequently mistaken for Cauliflowers, but they appear at a season of the 

 year when the Cauliflower proper is under protection. 



On well-worked grounds from 10 to 16 tons of heads of Broccoli may 

 be secured from an acre of ground. The individual heads will weigh from 

 2^ to 3 Ib. each, and as many as 10,000 heads can be obtained from a 

 similar area. To secure the best results the soil must be deeply cultivated 

 and heavily manured. Broccoli, being gross feeders upon the potash, lime, 

 and phosphoric foods in the soil, tend to impoverish the land. These foods 

 should therefore be supplied by well-rotted stable manure and dressings 

 of 4 cwt. of kainit, or 1 cwt of sulphate of potash to the acre, especially 

 if the land is naturally light. In heavy soils, well and deeply worked, 

 there are inexhaustible natural supplies of potash, and in such cases a 

 dressing of superphosphate 4 to 6 cwt. to the acre would be better. A 

 dressing of lime on land that has been previously heavily manured is 

 highly beneficial. 



Broccoli must be considered under the heads of White and Sulphur- 

 tinted Section, Purple Section, and Sprouting Section. 



Veitch's Self-protecting is a good white Broccoli which comes in after 

 Autumn Giant Cauliflower. The leaves fold over the head, protecting it 

 against the effects of frost if it does not come too severe. In fairly mild 

 weather it will last till Christmas. In the White and Sulphur section come 

 the spring varieties, seed beds for which are made in May and plantings in 

 July and August. These heart in during May. They w r ill weather any 

 but abnormally hard winters. Sometimes additional protection is given to 

 the heart by turning the rows towards the north, either with a plough or by 

 digging soil away from the north side. This serves to protect them from 

 the early sun after a frost, and the leaves lie over the heart. The process 

 ahva}^s has the effect of somewhat checking the growth. The chief place 

 in England for this class of Broccoli is Penzance, where the plants come in 

 earlier than anywhere else, Cornish heads having made quite a name for 

 themselves. This class of Broccoli is cultivated w r ith success, however, in 

 other parts of England and in Scotland. 



In the Purple Section the chief is the Purple Cape (fig. 464). There 

 are two varieties, the Early and the Late. These are very old varieties 

 of Broccoli, formerly much more cultivated than now, the Autumn Giant 



