BOOK I. BROCCOLI. 615 



appear, and when the young plants have from eight to ten leaves, which is in about a month, they arc finally 

 planted out, at the distance of two feet every way, in a piece of sandy loam, which has been well prepared 

 for the purpose by digging, and enriching it with a large proportion of very rotten dung, frcqucntiy 

 n.rned over to pick out every sort of grub, or insect deposited in it. The ground is kept constantly clean 

 by hoeing whenever a seed-leaf of any weed springs up, and the loose surface is drawn together into a heap 

 round the stem of each plant. The second crop is treated exactly as the first, but the weaker plants left in 

 the seed-bed are permitted to remain eight or ten days longer to gain more strength. They are then trans- 

 planted into pots of the size called sixtcens, filled with very rich compost, placing them close to each other 

 in the shade, and duly watering the plants, till they begin to grow freely. After this, the pots are plunged 

 in the open ground at two feet distance from each other every way, and about three inches under the 

 general level, leaving a hollow or basin round each plant, to retain any water given to them when neces- 

 sary. By the time the pots are filled with roots, and that autumnal rains render watering unnecessary, 

 the basins are filled up by drawing the earth round each plant, at the same time pressing it firmly down 

 to prevent the wind from shaking them. A few of these plants in pots sometimes show flowers too soon - 



and to guard them from early frost 

 frost in December and J 



early frost, a leaf or two is broken clown over them. On the approach of settled 

 anuary, all the pots are taken up and removed to a frame, pit, or shed, where 

 they can be sheltered from the extreme severity of the winter, but have air when it is milder, and by this 

 method a supply is preserved for the table in the hardest winters. To make broccoli succeed in pots I 

 find, by experience, that it should be potted immediately from the seed-bed. If it is transplanted oftener 

 the head or flower is both less in size, and runs much sooner after it forms. For the same reason, I never 

 prick out or transplant the general crops ; and as the temperature of our climate does not suffer vegeta- 

 tion to go on briskly from October to March, by following this method, the heads of flower will remain a 

 long time in a state of rest after they are formed, without bursting, and heads from six to seven inches 

 diameter are the ordinary produce of our plants. The seeds of the third crop are sown in a frame or 

 under hand-glasses, and about the third week in October, the plants become strong enough to remove', as 

 in the two former crops." 



3561. Green cape, or autumnal broccoli. This sort differs but little from the preceding, except in coloi 

 and in the heads, as well as the plant, proving in general larger. The leaves are long and narrow, much 

 like those of a cauliflower; they are very little waved, and, consequently, have a general appearance of 

 smoothness ; the veins and mid-rib are green. The head, which has some resemblance to a cauliflower, 

 is of a greenish-white color, and is usually somewhat covered by the leaves. These two sorts are very 

 sportive, running much into each other, and have a strong tendency to degenerate, yet are quite distinct, 

 and when so, very beautiful. The greatest care should be taken in saving the seeds from the plants which 

 are perfectly true. This remark applies generally to all the sorts. 



3562. Grange's early cauliflower broccoli. If this sort is sown at three different times, from the beginning 

 of May until the end of June, it will bear its heads in succession from Michaelmas to Christmas, if the 

 weather is not severe. The leaves covering the head, defend it from slight attacks of frost, they have 

 long naked foot-stalks, are wider and shorter than those of the green cape, are lobed at bottom, but not 

 much waved ; the veins and mid-rib are whitish green ; the head is large and quite white. It should be 

 planted at about two feet apart. 



3563. Green close-headed winter broccoli. This is a new and good sort, apparently a seedling from the 

 green cape, which it closely succeeds in coming into use. The plants are dwarf; leaves spreading, and 

 moderately indented, they are numerous, much waved and large ; the veins are white ; the flower 

 grows exposed, nearly resembling that of the green cape in appearance, and does not attain a great size. 



3564 Culture. The peculiarity of this variety is, that it continues to bear during the whole of the 

 winter, if the weather is mild. A single plantation, from seeds sown in May, Ronalds found to yield 

 heads fit for use, through the months of November, December, January, and February. Plant from one 

 foot and a half to two feet distance. 



3565. Early purple broccoli. This is a very excellent kind, of a deep purple color ; if the true sort, it is 

 close-headed at first ; afterwards it branches, but it is apt to come green, and too much branched, especi- 

 ally in rich ground. The plants are from two to three feet high, growing strong and tall ; the leaves are 

 much indented, of a purplish-green color, they spread out wide, but not long, though the stalks are so; 

 the head is quite open from the leaves ; small leaves are sometimes intermixed with the head : the plants 

 produce sprouts of flowers from the ala? of the leaves. 



3566. Culture. When sown in April, it begins to produce in November, and continues bearing the 

 heads and sprouts throughout the winter, in mild seasons ; if sown in June, it produces abundance of 

 sprouts in March and April. It should be planted three feet apart in rich ground. 



3567. Early white broccoli. The heads of this sort are of a close texture, and of a pure white color. 

 It grows to about three feet in height; with erect, concave, light-green, and nearly entire leaves. 



3568. Culture. To obtain heads fine and early, the seed should be sown in February, or beginning of 

 March, on a slight hot-bed. The plants, when about three or four inches high, must be transplanted 

 into beds of light rich earth, three or four inches apart, and defended from the frost and cold nights 

 by a mat covering ; they will be strong enough to plant out at two or three feet distance by the end of 

 April : under this treatment, they will produce beautiful heads in November, and continue to do so until 

 Christmas, if the weather is tolerably mild. This sort, as well as several others, is sometimes cut in con- 

 siderable quantities by the market-gardeners, previous to an expected frost, and kept in sheds or cellars for 

 the supply of the market. 



3569. Dwarf brown close-headed broccoli. From its resemblance, I take this to have sprung from the 

 sulphur-colored broccoli, from which, however, it differs, by coming in earlier, as well as in the shape and 

 color of its head ; the leaves are also shorter and broader than those of the sulphur-colored ; they are 

 small, not much waved, dark-green, with white veins ; they grow upright, and do not cover the head at all. 

 Most of the crowns are green on their first appearance, but soon change to large, handsome, brown heads. 



3570. Culture. If sown about the middle of April, it is in use through March and April. Two feet 

 distance is sufficient for the plants, when put out. 



3571. Tall large-headed purple broccoli. This sort produces large, tall, purple heads, at two and three 



3572. Culture. If sown towards the end of March, it will prove a useful kind in March and April. The 

 plants should be three feet asunder, in good ground. 



3573. Cream-colored, or Portsmouth broccoli. This is a very noble sort, exceeding all the others in size. It 

 is of a buff or cream color, and has a very compact firm head ; its leaves are large and broad, with white 

 veins ; they spread out widely, but the small centre leaves cover the flower. A head, sent by Oldacre 

 from the garden of Sir Joseph Banks, to the Horticultural Society, on the 5th of May, 1819, measured 

 more than two feet in circumference, although it was quite close. 



3574 Culture. Seeds sown in the middle of April will be in perfection during the following February, 

 March, and April. It bears near the ground. The plants should be planted three feet asunder. 



3575. Sulphur-colored broccoli. A hardy and valuable sort ; if sown in April, it produces in the following 

 April, and beginning of May, fine, compact, conical, sulphur-colored heads, some of them slightly dotted 

 with purple. The leaves have long foot-stalks, are much indented, and of a bluish-grey color. 



3576. Culture. Two feet distance will be sufficient for the plants to grow well. 



3577. Spring white, or cauliflower broccoli. This sort grows very robust, with large leaves, flat and 

 narrow, with thick veins ; the leaves encompass and compress the head, so as to render it generally in- 

 visible when fit to cut, which is a great preservative from the frosty mornings common in the spring 

 months. 



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