BROCCOLI. 65 



and originated in the northern part of Europe, whilst the 

 cauliflower is supposed to have been derived from what is 

 known as the Couve Tronchuda, or Portugal Cabbagej and 

 to have originated hi the south of Europe ; tradition says 

 in the Isle of Cyprus. The broccoli is much the hardier 

 of the two, and is best for an autumn crop in this country. 



Broccoli requires a very rich soil, its general treatment 

 being the same as cabbage. A top dressing of lime and 

 salt, or a mulching of sea-weed, is very useful to them. The 

 seed should be sown in a seed bed in the open air about 

 the middle of May, rather sparingly in drills half an inch 

 deep, and from four to six inches apart. A quarter of an 

 ounce of seed will sow a piece of ground four by four feet, 

 and produce about a thousand plants. 



The plants will be of proper size to transplant by the 

 beginning of July, when they should be set out in a per- 

 manent bed, giving them a good watering after they have 

 been transplanted. The proper distance to set them is in 

 rows two and a half feet apart, and the plants two feet 

 apart on the rows. After they have well taken root, they 

 should have a good deep hoeing, and this should be re- 

 peated two or three times, as they progress in growth, 

 drawing up some earth to the stems at each hoeing. 



Every care should be had not to allow the plants to be- 

 come stunted by the extreme heat or drought of the sum- 

 mer; to produce good flower heads, they require to be 

 kept in a growing, flourishing condition until the com- 

 mencement of cool, moist autumn weather. Frequent 

 waterings may therefore be necessary, should the summer 

 be hot or dry ; occasional waterings with manure water 

 will be very beneficial under any circumstances. 



Under almost any circumstances it will be found that 

 some of the plauts will not flower before frost sets in. 



