264 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



sprouts abundantly in the spring. If it be an object 

 to preserve their natural colour while being cooked, 

 a little soda or pearlash may be put in the water, and' 

 this addition, in the absence of salted meat, will make 

 the common varieties of cabbage more tender. 



BROCCOLI. Brassica Oleracea Italica. 



Wherever broccoli and cauliflowers can be culti- 

 vated, they constitute one of the greatest luxuries of 

 the table, and their excellence would seem to justify 

 some little extra attention in growing them. In 

 England, owing to the moderate temperature of that 

 countrj^ broccoli is raised with as little difficulty as 

 the cabbage, and the plant is as common on the ta- 

 ble and in the market the greater part of the year. 

 In the middle, northern, or eastern parts of the Uni- 

 ted States, broccoli may be sown from the 10th to 

 the 20th of May, and transplanted in July. The earth 

 in which the plants are set must be in the best order, 

 and highly manured with well-rotted compost. The 

 plants should be in rows two and a half feet apart, 

 and two feet distant in the rows. The ground must 

 be kept constantly clean and loose by frequent hoe- 

 ings, and in August som« of the plants will begin to 

 show flowers, and until November will produce a 

 constant succession. Like most of the brassica 

 tribe, they will sustain a considerable degree of frost 

 without injury. Those who wish for directions for 

 growing them extensively and at all seasons, may 

 find them in Loudon or Bridgeman. 



Much of the excellence of this vegetable depends 

 on the cooking and preparation for the table. The 

 heads should be cut when close and white, some of 

 the outer leaves stripped off, the stalks cut off at the 

 bottom, and then allowed to lie in salt and water for 

 a little time. Put them into boiling water with 3 

 little salt, have plenty of water, and keep the vesse!! 

 uncovered ; serve them up with n)elted butter or 

 gravy from meat. The Purple Cape Broccoli is the 



