160 BRUSSELS-SPROUTS CABBAGE. 



fresh and good for some weeks: they suffer nothing 

 from rain, as the flower is protected by the hang- 

 ing leaves. 



o 



Brussels Sprouts. So called from the numerous 

 sprouting heads which arrange themselves in a pyr- 

 amidal form around the stem. This is the most 

 delicate variety of the kale tribe: it is easily reared, 

 and comes in a season of scarcity, namely, from the 

 dead of winter till well on in the spring; and as it 

 neither requires a rich soil, nor is tender as to cli- 

 mate, it is difficult to account for its greater pre- 

 valence in the southern than in the northern parts 

 of the island. As it occupies less breadth it may 

 be planted thicker than common greens. Sow the 

 seed in March, and plant after a shower in June. 



Cabbage. This is a principal, long standing, and 

 substantial vegetable excellent for a cow or such 

 of our own species as have the like powers of diges- 

 tion ; and it is rather the consciousness of impo- 

 tency than refined taste that will make any one 

 turn away from the snowy flakes and flavorous 

 mastication afforded by this queen of potherbs. To 

 begin with that which falls most within the reach 

 of human capacity the early sugar-loaf cabbage, 

 which is a light and tender vegetable when taken at 

 the size of lettuce and beginning to change its colour 

 from green to white the main fault of the early 

 cabbage is, that it usually comes not till far on in 

 May, when the sun checks its growth and hardens 

 its fibre into wood. In March and April it is soft 

 and juicy; and the cultivator has himself to blame 



