BRA 



B R A 



When the plants of any of the crops, but 

 especially those of the- earliest, begin to show 

 flower, they should be examined frequently, 

 and, w here they are found, the inner leaves turned 

 down over the heads to screen them from rain, 

 the sun, and full air, in order to preserve them 

 more white and close; as, when fully exposed 

 to the weather, it generally changes the fine- 

 white colour to a Yellowish hue, and occasions 

 the head to open, before it becomes perfectly 

 formed. 



The excellence of the plant consists not only 

 in size, but in the whiteness and compact curd- 

 like growth of the head; such as have a frothy 

 loose appearance being inferior in value. 



It is in its utmost perfection of growth when 

 the outward parts of the head begin to open and 

 expand; after which the whole soon divides, 

 and shoots up to flower and seed. 



In cutting these crops, the flower-head should 

 mostly be cutoff with some inches of the stalk, 

 together with most of the surrounding leaves, 

 which should be trimmed down nearly equal to 

 the circumference of the head, especially when 

 for present use; but, when required to be kept a 

 few days, and such as are intended for market, 

 should have the full leaves to continue, trim- 

 ming them off as wanted. As the stalks of these 

 plants never produce sprouts, as in those of the 

 cabbages, they should be removed as soon as 

 the head is cut. 



It is common in some places to preserve some 

 heads of the latest crop in dry cellars or other 

 places, by taking them up with their roots, 

 and putting them in sand, keeping them as dry 

 as possible, and carefully removing such parts as 

 decay. 



Saving seeil.—\l is of great importance to 

 have good seed in the culture of this planl, 

 which cannot be obtained without saving it, as 

 that which is purchased can seldom be depended 

 on. For this purpose, some plants of the ear- 

 liest crops are to be selected, which have the 

 largest, most perfect, compact, firm, white 

 heads, and permitted to remain to run up to stem 

 and form seed, which is usually perfected about 

 the beginning of September. The plants 

 should be well supported, and the seed be col- 

 lected as it ripens, care being taken to guard 

 against the birds. Some should be saved every 

 year, as old seed cannot be depended upon. 



Culture in the Brocoli kind. — There are, as has 

 been seen, several sorts of this plant in cultivation; 

 but the Brown, Green, and Purple succeed best 

 for early crops, and the White for the principal 

 and late crops. 



All the different varieties of Brocoli are raised 

 from seed sown annually in the open ground. 



The season for sowing the main crops of all the 

 varieties is March and April for the autumn and 

 winter production, and May and the begin- 

 ning of June for the principal succession crops, 

 to come in for the spring supplies. 



Some may occasionally be sown so early -as 

 February or beginning of March of the Cauli- 

 flower Brocoli; as also any of the Purple kinds, 

 in order to obtain an earlier autumn produc- 

 tion. 



The seed should be sown on a good soil in 

 an open exposure, as the plants rise much 

 stronger than on narrow borders under walls. 

 Each sort should be sown separate, not too 

 thick, on the surface, raking them in lightly: 

 the plants appear in ten or twelve days; occa- 

 sional waterings being given in dry weather ; 

 and when they have leaves an inch or two 

 broad, it is proper to prick them out in a nur- 

 sery-bed three or four inches apart, giving them 

 water as soon as planted, and occasionally till 

 they have taken root; in which bed let them 

 remain a month or six weeks to acquire 

 strength: by these means their shanks will be 

 short and of robust growth, and be considerably 

 better prepared for planting out where they 

 are to stand than those which remain in the 

 seed-bed. 



The times of planting them out are ; June; 

 July, August, and the beginning of September, 

 according as they were sown, or are desired for 

 use. 



The ground for setting them out upon should 

 be good, well prepared by digging over, and en- 

 riched by good stable dung. The plants should 

 then be planted in rows two feet and a half 

 asunder, and two feet distant in the lines; but 

 for those planted late two feet at most between 

 row and row is sufficient, and eighteen inches 

 distant in the rows. As soon as planted they 

 should be watered; and if dry weather prevail 

 the watering should be repeated every other day 

 till the plants have got root. 



The culture afterwards is, to keep them clear 

 from weeds by hoeing the ground occasionally, 

 and when they have advanced a little in growth 

 to draw some earth with a hoe about their stems, 

 which if repeated once or twice is of great 

 advantage to the plants in promoting their 

 growth. 



In gathering them for use, attention must be 

 had that the heads have attained their full 

 growth, but which should be cut while they 

 remain close, and before they begin to divide 

 and assume a seedy-like appearance, and with 

 about six inches of the main stalk to each head, 

 as the upper part of the stalk eats exceeding 

 sweet and tender; but which, previous to its 



