222 THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



planted between the rows without we often see them in private gardens; 



the soil being loosened or dug. The yet it is seldom they are injured by 



Potatoes ripen before the Broccoli frost, and the fine white, firm heads 



can injure them much, and when the that may be seen by thousands in 



Potatoes are removed the Broccoli Covent Garden Market during the 



has the whole space to itself.-* The autumn are seldom surpassed, if 



trees lose their leaves in October; even equalled, in private gardens, 



then the Broccoli, having the benefit In the neighbourhood of Shepperton, 



of increased light, becomes invigo- in the Thames valley, may be seen 



rated, and some of the plants then breadths of Broccoli from twenty to 



begin to afford a good supply of thirty acres in extent, and from this 



sprouts, which are not all gathered place alone it is calculated that in 



at once, even from the same plant, the height of the season as many as 



but at intervals as they become 30,000 heads per week are sent to 



fit for use. The immense breadths market. In some parts of Kent 



of Broccoli grown in some of the Broccoli is grown to a large extent, 



market gardens render it almost one grower yearly planting over 



impossible to have all heeled in as 200,000 plants. 



USES. The same as those of the Cauliflower. The value of 

 this vegetable to the many who depend on the markets for their 

 supplies is greatly lessened by the deterioration it suffers from 

 being cut long before being used. Early crops being grown in 

 perfection in Cornwall, and at considerable distances from London, 

 the heads are often stale before being used, even when they do not 

 seem so. We have frequently noticed an intensely bitter flavour in 

 the Broccoli sent to market, even when cooked in the most careful 

 manner. Every one who can should grow their own, and cut it an 

 hour before dinner ! 



Extra Early White Broccoli. Hardy enough in the climate 

 of Paris ; in earliness it surpasses all the other kinds. The 

 leaves are short, compact in growth, somewhat less undulating 

 than those of the Large White French Broccoli. The head is 

 large, firm, white, and very fine in grain. It is a good variety 

 for forcing. 



Early Saint-Laud Broccoli. Leaves short but well developed, 

 broad, of a grayish dark green colour, and slightly crimped ; head 

 white and regular. A fine variety much grown in the south-west 

 of France, where it comes into use between the Extra Early and 

 the Extra Late Broccoli, a few days earlier than the Early White 

 Broccoli. 



Large White French Broccoli (Brocoli blanc de Saint- Brieuc). 

 A vigorous-growing plant, with rather numerous, long, stiff 

 leaves, of a glaucous green colour and deeply undulated on the 

 edges ; the interior leaves which cover the head are very much 

 twisted and almost curled ; head white, very compact, and 

 continuing firm for a long time. A hardy and easily grown 

 variety. 



