BROCCOLI 129 



where the summers are warm. It deUghts in the cool, moist air 

 of the ocean breeze, and reaches its highest development in loca- 

 tions like eastern Long Island. It may also be grown in northern 

 interior regions like Wisconsin and Minnesota, but even here 

 succeeds best near large areas of water. Under irrigation it thrives 

 in the high altitudes of Colorado. In central Illinois, Indiana 

 and Missouri the summers are usually so hot and dry that late 

 cauliflower is a failure, and few gardeners in these regions attempt 

 its culture. 



Wherever late cabbage does exceptionally well, late cauli- 

 flower may usually be grown with at least a fair degree of success. 

 The method of starting the plants is essentially the same as for 

 cabbage, except that even more care is taken in the preparation 

 of the seed-bed, and the plants are started slightly more in advance 

 of the transplanting season owing to their slower growth at the 

 beginning. The reason for greater care in the preparation of the 

 seed-bed is that the seed is very expensive, and it does not pay 

 to run the risk of getting a poor stand through negligence in the 

 preparation of the seed-bed or in the matter of watering. 



When transplanted to the field late cauliflower needs even 

 more room than late cabbage, owing to its greater demand for 

 moisture. The failure of late cauliflower to produce satisfactory 

 heads is sometimes caused by too close planting. Large, late 

 varieties should be planted at least three by four feet, and some- 

 times even four by four feet is advised. 



BROCCOLI 



Broccoli resembles late cauliflower in cultural requirements 

 and form of head (Fig. 77). However, it demands a longer season 

 of cool weather in which to develop, and it is little grown in this 

 country. In France and England it is more prominent than cauli- 

 flower and is used as a substitute for it at certain seasons of the 

 year. In some parts of southern Europe it is planted in the fall, 

 grows all winter, and then heads the following spring. Farther 

 north, it may be planted in early summer and grow all the fall 

 without heading; then with slight protection survive the winter 

 and produce heads in the spring. In America the winters are 

 too cold where the summers are not too warm to practice this 

 method of handhng the crop. On the whole, broccoli gives 

 little promise of ever becoming a prominent vegetable in thi§ 

 country. 

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