CRUCIFERyE. LXXXIII. BRASSICA. 



241 



sown in July, they will begin to shew their heads about the latter 

 end of the month. If the weather is dry, make a hollow or 

 basin round the roots of these plants, into which pour a quantity 

 of water ; by this means their growth will be accelerated, and 

 the heads will become much larger. Plant those Cabbage-Cole- 

 worts which were sown about the end of July, about the middle 

 or end of this month, in a sheltered part of the garden : plant in 

 rows about seven or eight inches apart, the rows about a foot 

 distant. Some of these will be fit for use about Christmas. 

 Prick out those Cabbage plants which were sown about the 

 middle or latter .end of August in nursery-beds in a piece of 

 good ground in a sheltered situation, well dug and divided into 

 beds ; plant four or five inches apart, give a moderate watering 

 if the weather is dry three or four times for the first ten days. 

 About the first or second week of this month the last crop of Bro- 

 coli should be finally transplanted into a warm situation, and they 

 should be planted in rows about a foot and a half apart, and about 

 the same distance from each other in the row. Hoe the ground 

 and draw the earth round the stems of the former crops ofBrocoli. 

 10 October. The Cauliflowers sown in August? and beginning 

 of September will now be fit to prick out in beds, where they 

 are to remain during winter ; prepare a piece of ground of the 

 same size and form as recommended last month, in a sheltered 

 but not in a shaded situation ; plant about four inches apart 

 each way, water and settle the mould about their roots, place a 

 frame over them if such can be spared, exposing them as much 

 as possible in good weather, covering them when frost or heavy 

 cold rain is apprehended. Guard against the attacks of mice 

 and slugs. If a frame cannot be had, prick them out in the 

 same way under a wall or paling, sloping the ground in digging 

 towards the sun, or they may be protected in beds on a warm 

 spot, covered occasionally with mats, supported by hoops ; in 

 either case let them enjoy a free circulation of air, and to be 

 kept as dry as possible. Store Cauliflowers as directed. Plant 

 out finally towards the end of the month early Cabbage plants, 

 for cabbaging early in the following summer, in a good spot of 

 ground well manured and trenched, make ridges and plant be- 

 tween them, and in wet ground even on the top of the ridges. 

 If both survive the winter, make the one row make good the 

 other, preferring to leave the row at the bottom of the ridge, 

 these last are most likely to be preserved, as they will be shel- 

 tered from the cutting winds. The Brassica tribe seldom suc- 

 ceed if planted twice in the same ground. Plant in rows about 

 two feet apart each way. Some of the early Cabbage plants 

 should be allowed to remain in the nursery-beds till January or 

 February, for in many instances the plants that are planted out 

 early are destroyed by the frost, should this take place, then 

 have recourse to the nursery-beds to supply their places. If 

 any Cabbage plants remain in the seed-beds, remove them into 

 the nursery-beds in the beginning of the month, to gain strength 

 to endure the ensuing frosts. Clear the crops of Brocoli from 

 weeds, and mould them up for winter ; prefer a dry day for this 

 operation. The crops of Brussels-sprouts should be treated in 

 the same manner. 



It November. Admit free air every fine day to the Cauli- 

 flowers, in fine dry weather during the day-time by wholly re- 

 moving the glasses, tilting them only in wet weather ; clear off 

 the dead leaves and keep them free from weeds ; those plants 

 under bell or hand-glasses require the same treatment, draw a 

 little earth round their stalks. Where Cauliflower plants were 

 neglected to be pricked out last month, let it be done as early in 

 this month as possible. Planting Cabbages for next spring use 

 should be finished as early in this month as possible, that they 

 may become sufficiently rooted before severe weather sets in ; 

 the weakest plants may remain in the seed-bed during winter, 

 to make up vacancies in the plantations in spring. 

 VOL. i. PART. HI. 



12 December. Treat Cauliflowers as directed last month ; 

 keeping free from frost, damp, and slugs, admitting free air in 

 good weather. 



2 B. CAMPE'STRIS (Lin. spec. 931.) leaves rather fleshy, 

 covered with glaucous bloom ; first ones rather hispid or 

 ciliated, lyrate, toothed ; the rest cordate, stem-clasping, acumi- 

 nated, partly pinnatifid. $ . H. Native of Britain, Lapland, 

 Spain, Transylvania, and in the Crimea in fields. 



* A. oleifera (D. C. syst. 2. p. 588.) root fusiform, slen- 

 der ; stem elongated. O- H. Smith, eng. bot. 2224. Dalech. 

 lugd. 523. Native of Britain, Lapland, &c. in fields, and about 

 the banks of rivers and ditches. Wild navew. Pet. hort. brit. t. 

 45. f. 9. Stem 2 feet high. Flowers yellow, corymbose. Col- 

 sat, Colsa, or Colza, Pomet. hist. drog. p. 17. f. 2. Chou de 

 Champs Navette (Fr.) Coleseed, Wild Navew or Navette 

 (Eng.) 



This plant is very extensively cultivated in Belgium, Switzerland, 

 and Germany for food for sheep, and for the seed to be pressed for 

 its oil. It is sometimes sown broad-cast, but it is alleged, that trans- 

 planting has many advantages ; one is, that the seed-bed occupies 

 but little room, whilst the land which is to carry the general crop 

 is bearing corn. In the latter end of September, or second week 

 of November, the plants are put in with the dibble or the plough 

 without apprehending any miscarriage. The seed-bed is usually 

 sown in July or August. In October, or sooner, the stubble is 

 ploughed over, manured, and ploughed again. The plants are 

 dibbled into the seams of the ploughing (each furrow being 12 

 inches broad) and are set out 12 inches distance in the rows. In- 

 stead of dibbling upon a second ploughing, in many cases they lay 

 the plants at the proper distances across the furrow, and as the 

 plough goes forward the roots are covered, and a woman fol- 

 lows to set them a little up, and give them a firmness in the 

 ground where necessary. After the frost in spring, the inter- 

 vals are weeded and hand-hoed, and the earth drawn up to the 

 plants, which is the last operation till the harvest. It is pulled 

 rather green but ripens in the stack ; it is threshed in the common 

 way, and the haulm is burned to ashes for manure, which is 

 found to be mote valuable than any other kind of manure, and it 

 is considered that upon clover, a dressing of one-third less of it 

 is amply sufficient. The seed is sold for crushing, or, as is fre- 

 quently the case, crushed by the farmer himself. 

 . There is a variety of this called Colsa de Mars, which may be 

 sown in spring and harvested in the same year, but is less pro- 

 ductive. The two varieties have a very different aspect. Some 

 authors speak of the White-flowered Colsa; but this name ap- 

 pears to have arisen from some confusion in nomenclature. 



** B. pabularia (D. C. syst. 2. p. 589.) root fusiform, slen- 

 der; stem short. Q. H. Native of Europe; cultivated in 

 fields for sheep fodder, but very rarely ; it bears frequent cut- 

 ting. Chou afaucher, Commerel in mem. soc. agr. par. 1789. 



* * * C. Napo-Brassica (D.C. syst. 2. p. 589.) root tumid, tur- 

 nip-formed. $ . H. Frequently cultivated in fields. Bras- 

 sica oleracea Napo-Brassica, Lin. spec. 932. Cavolo navone o 

 Rutabaga, Galliz. bot. agr. 3. p. 192. 



Var. a, communis (D. C. 1. c.) root white or purplish ; neck 

 and petioles greenish or purplish. $ . H. Cultivated in fields. 

 Chou-navet commun ; Chou-navet blanc ; Ckou-navet rouge. 

 The Turnip-rooted Cabbage is little known in the English gar- 

 dens, though not uncommon in French horti culture. Mr. Neill 

 observes it has a root under ground as sweet as a Swedish Tur- 

 nip. The root is either white or red. 



Far. ft, Rutabaga (D. C. syst. 1. c.) root yellowish, rather 

 globose. $ . H. Cultivated in fields. Rutabaga, Nacctjaune, 

 Chou de Laponie, Chou de Suede, Navet de Suede (Fr.) Swe- 

 dish Turnip (Eng.) Navone di Laponia (Ital.) 

 I i 



