82 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[June, 



and when to use it, subsciilje for The Lan- 

 CASTEii Fakmek. This and various poison 

 remedies may be applied dry or in a liquid so- 

 lution, or suspension, and if as a liquid, Peck's 

 Li(juid Atmnizer, advertised in the May num- 

 ber of The Fakmek, seems to well adapted 

 to the purpose, and ous;ht to have an earnest 

 and honest examination and trial. Also, 

 Anthony Isl-e''s Bur/ Trap ought to receive at- 

 tention by those wlio are averse to poison, for 

 depend uptm it, something must be dove, done 

 well, (md done novj. 



If the people i)ersist in regarding the history, 

 habits, and perpetuation of noxious insects 

 with indifference, a time may come in our 

 economic history when it may become neces- 

 sary to make such indiftl'rence a civil crime, 

 liable to tines and punishments. If a law can 

 be enacted and enforced «o< to t?o certain things 

 — such as killing birds, etc. — certainly a law 

 to do certain other things — killing Imgs, for in- 

 stance — would be equally within tlie sphere of 

 legislation. In conclusion, we would direct 

 the reader to the 10th volume of the State Ag- 

 ricultural lleport, as containing illustrated his- 

 tories of the Colorado beetle and other nox- 

 ious insects, 8,800 copies ofwhich have been 

 published for distribution, but a pamphlet of 

 25,000 or 30,00(1, containingthose papers, would 

 not have been too many for the farmer popula- 

 tion of the great State of Pennsylvania. 



CABBAGES, (Brassica Oleracea.) 

 Broccoli 

 Is another variety of cabbage, inferior to the 

 delicate cauliflower only, and which it much 

 resembles in ajipearance, growth and flavor. 

 It is supposed to have originated on the island 

 of Cyprus, in the Mediterranean, and has been 

 greatly improved by cultivation. The name 

 by which it is generally known is derived from 

 the Italian language, and, indeed, we know 

 that it was first carried to Great Britain from 

 Italy. The several sub-varieties winch have 

 been produced by chance or intentional hybri- 

 dization, ditt'er greatly as to the color of their 

 heads, some 1_>eing j'ellow, while others are 

 white, purple, etc. As broccoli can be raised 

 more easily and with greater certainty than 

 tlie cauliflower, it is becoming very popular, 

 esitecially among small gardeners. The follow- 

 ing kinds are considered among the best, viz. : 

 Grange's Early Cteulijiejicer, Early Purple 

 Cape, and the Eaily White Caxje. 

 Culture. 



Market gardeners are accustomed to sow the 

 seed in the latter part of summer, and, at the 

 approach of winter, to set the plants in a cold 

 frame for protection through the cold weather, 

 in tlie manner directed for cabbage. These 

 plants are to Ije removed to the open ground 

 in spring and carefully cultivated, by which 

 means heads suitable for cooking are to be 

 expected as early as the month of June. 



It is most conunon in this latitude, however, 

 to wait until April or May, according to the 

 character of the season, liefore sowing the seed, 

 one ounce ofwhich yields about four thousand 

 plants. In the .Southern States the summer 

 fre(iuently proves too hot for the early-planted 

 liroccoli to come to perfection, and there the 

 seed can be sown about the middle of July, on 

 shaded borders, to be \vatered occasionally, if 

 the weather be dry. In alwut a month's time 

 the plants will Ije of a proper size for removal 

 to a large bed. 



The soil ought always to be mellow and rich, 

 liaving an open exposure. Sow thinly in .shal- 

 low drills, six inches apart, and, if the surface 

 be light and dry, press it down* comiiactly by 

 means of the rolU^r, or by walking over a board 

 placed lengthwise of the bed. Should the 

 weather continue dry, some delay in the vege- 

 tation of the seed will probably be experienced. 

 The soil may then l)c sprinkled with water 

 every two or three days until the plants ap- 

 pear, or it may be covered during the daytime 

 with a thin layer of straw or light mats. In 

 the latter case, the covering should be removed 

 at an early hour in the evening, that the 

 natural deposit of dew may not be interrupted. 

 Transplanting can be performed in June or 



July, when each stem shows five or six leaves. 

 Set the iilants out in rows, two feet ajiart each 

 way. The work is best performed in dull, 

 damp weather, and water ought to be given 

 occasionally in moderate quantities until the 

 roots become established, as well as subse- 

 quently during titnes of drought. 



The after-culture consists in hoeing the 

 ground fvecjuently and iii the destruction of 

 weeds as soon as they make their apiiearance. 

 In the coiu'se of a fortnight or three weeks 

 after transplanting, the earth should be drawn 

 up to the stems in such manner as to form a 

 kinil of shallow basin around each. ]5r<x'Coli 

 will not flourish unless it receive considerable 

 attention from the gardener. It is much 

 annoyed, and oftentimes destroyed, by insects ; 

 the attacks of which must be guarded against 

 by the useof sntiff, charcoal, ashes, air-slacked 

 lime, etc., sprinkled upon the plants when 

 they are wet with dew or water from a water- 

 ing pot. The earliest heads from the o|ien air 

 sowing will be of a suitable size for the kitchen 

 in September or October, and, in favorable 

 seasons, a regular supply may be expected 

 from that time until the coming of hard frost. 



In the Southern States the winter is mild 

 enough for the i)lants to remain undisturbed 

 in the open garden, where they will contiime in 

 bearing until April. In this part of the country, 

 in the latitude of New York, some protection 

 is necessary. The plants are taken up at the 

 commencement of cold weather, and set in 

 trenches, with the stems buried tip to the 

 lower leaves. A cold frame may be set over 

 the ridges, or they can be enclosed by any 

 rough box or Ijoards that has a gentle inclina- 

 tion f)f tiie roof sutlicient to turn off rain. 

 Boards or shutters may be used for the roof, 

 instead of hot-bed sashes. When the frost 

 becomes severe, throw some loose straw over 

 the plants. In mild, pleasant days, the cover- 

 ing should be wholly or partially removed for 

 the admission of fresh air. In this way fine 

 heads can lie gathered from time to time dur- 

 ing the winter and spring. The protection 

 ought to be gradually removed when the 

 weather becomes warm. Or the plants can be 

 set out in a shed, or in a light, dry cellar, 

 without the cold frame. Frozen heads should 

 be covered up so that they may thaw slowly, 

 by which means their flavor will be less im- 

 paired. 



For Seed. 



Reserve a few of the best and earliest plants 

 and set them out in April. Water frequently, 

 and tlie heads open, remove all the shoots ex- 

 cept four or five of the best, which will need 

 support by a stake. The seed ripens in Sep- 

 tember and ought to be perfectly dry before 

 being beaten from the pods. American broc- 

 coli seed is sometimes in demand for exiiorta- 

 tion, but American gardeners generally make 

 use of that which comes from England or 

 France, while in England the Italian seed is 

 preferred. 



Use. 



Broccoli is not only a very pleasant but also 

 a very wholesome vegetable. It is i)rei>ared 

 for the table in the same manner as the Cau- 

 LiFLOWEK, to which tlie reader will please 



refer. 



-^ 



CAULIFLOWER. 



" Of all the flowers in the garden," said Dr. 

 Johnson, "I like the caulitlower. the best." 

 It is the most curious as well as the most deli- 

 cately flavored of the numerous varieties of the 

 cabbage family. The white flower-buds form 

 a large, firm head, surrounded by long green 

 leaves — being something like a "giant rose 

 wrapped in a green surtout. " Its history is 

 not so well kiKiwii as that of some other plants 

 less valuable in th.e culinary department. On 

 its being introduced into England from the 

 i.sland of Cyprus, about the beginning of the 

 seventeenth century, much attention was paid 

 to its culture, by which means its aiipearani* 

 and character liave been greatly improved. 

 In our own country it is much less known 

 than its merits deserve. To show what iWi 

 enormous size it can be made to attain under 



skillful management, we mention a single 

 plant raised in the garden of the late Hon. 

 Peter C. Brooks. Itledford, Mass. The bare 

 flower measured thirty-eight inches in circum- 

 ference and weighed six pounds and five 

 ounces. Its culture is attended with not a 

 little anxiety and trouble, but not by iiny 

 means sufficient to discourage any enterprising 

 man from the labor. It is not one of the 

 fancy vegetables, and we think it ought to oc- 

 cupy a prominent place in every garden that 

 is worthy of the name. There are two sub- 

 varieties, viz : the Early and the Late, or 

 Larye — which will afford a succession of crops. 



C'ULTUKE. — For the early crop, the seed — 

 one ounce of which will atford between three 

 and foiu' thousand plants — should be sown in 

 the middle of September, in the manner di- 

 rected for Cahbage. If the weather be dry, 

 a little straw kept upon the bed until the seed 

 has siirouted, and subsequently an occasional 

 watering, will prove of great advantage. 

 When tile plants have acquired a height of 

 two or three inches they must be thinned out 

 to distances of four inches, so that they may 

 acquire a good, strong growth before cold 

 weather. About the first of October, a piece 

 of ground is to be selected for the cold frame. 

 It ought to be in a warm, sheltered situation, 

 spaded deep, and heavily manured. After 

 being laid into a bed of suitable size, the sur- 

 face should be finely pulverized and raked 

 smooth. In the course of a week the frame is 

 to be placed over this bed, with a bunk of 

 earth upon the outside, in order to prevent 

 sudden alterations of temperature wittiin. 

 When the ground becomes settled, take up the 

 plants from tlie seed bed, by means of a 

 trowel, and set them in a frame about four 

 inches asunder. Give a gentle sprinkling of 

 Water, but do not attempt putting on the 

 sashes or shutters until the weather actually 

 demands it. The longer ■ it can be delayed 

 with safety, the stronger and healthier will be 

 the plants. During very severe weather, the 

 further protection of mats or straw will be 

 necessary ; but, to prevent a weak, spindling 

 growth, air must be freely given on every clear 

 day. There is much more danger of injury 

 from close confinement than from moderately 

 low temperature. 



Where such accommodations cannot he af- 

 forded, and early plants are desired, recourse 

 must be had to a hot-bed, made somewhere 

 aliout the beginning of February. Should 

 they come up too thick, they ought to be 

 thinned out to distances of four inches, and 

 the surplus ones can, if desired, be set in an- 

 other bed. The leading direction for the man- 

 agement of the frame is simply to keep the 

 heat at such a degree that the stems and 

 leaves will have a bright green color. To af- 

 fect this a good supply of light and fresh air 

 are required at all'times when the weather 

 will admit of the sashes being raised. 



In tlie middle of spring, or as soon as the 

 gardener deems it prudent, preparations must 

 be made for removing a portion of these early 

 plants from the cold frame or hot-bed to the 

 open ground. The soil should be rich and 

 mellow. In order to secure a succession of 

 crops two beds may be selected — one having a 

 warm, southern exposure, with shelter on 

 the northwest, and the other in the open com- 

 partment. 



In taking the plants from the frame, some 

 of the very best ought to lie left standing, in 

 rows about eighteen inches apart each way. 

 By the protection of mats in cold days and 

 nights together with extra care in their cul- 

 tivation, these will come to maturity much 

 earlier tlian those which are removed. The 

 trowel is a very valuable implement for the 

 work of transplanting, as the roots can be 

 taken up with .slight injury. The balls of 

 e.aith may be set out at distances of eightetai 

 or twenty inches. If the plants in the bed 

 liaving the southern asiiect are covered with 

 hand-glasses, flower-pots, vine shields, or 

 even common wooden bo'.xes, during cool, 

 frosty weather, in maturing, they will succeed 

 those left in the frame, and be several days in 

 advance of those in the open compartment. 



