Briza 



139 } 



Brodisea 



BRIZA. (QUAKING GRASS.) 



Graceful, hanly annunl or perennial Grasses 

 (iifd. Grainincii-), of much value for drying for 

 winter use. or for mixing with cut flowers. They 

 can lie grown in loam, peat, and leaf .-oil, and the 

 native species, media, does well in sandy soil. It 

 is a perennial, and grows about 1' high. Other 

 good -prcies are : 



maxima, 11', Je. rotundata, 1', Je. 



minor, li", Je. (/. rubra ( maxima). 



minima). spicata, 9", Je. 



These are all annuals, and are propagated by seeds 

 .-own in spring. Media can be increased by divi- 

 sion, and raised from seeds also. 



BROADCAST. 



Broadcast sowing is the rough and ready way of 

 putting in seeds without drawing drills. Sand 

 should always be mixed witli line seeds when they 

 are sown broadcast. The hand should be held low, 

 and a day selected when then: is no wind. Drills 

 are, however, as a general rule, so immensely 

 superior to broadcasting that the latter should 

 only be resorted to in rare cases. 



BROCCHINIA. 



A small genus (ord. Bromeliaceas) closely allied 

 to Billbergia and Bromelia, and needing similar 

 treatment. 



Principal Species : 



ccirdylinoides, l.V, aut., whitish (syn. Cordyline 

 micrautha). 



paniciilata, I)', whitish. 



reducta, 'A', whitish. 



BROCCOLI. 



Description. A useful garden vegetable (Bras- 

 sica oleracea botrytis asparagoides, ord. Crn- 

 cifera;), the flower heads of which are edible. 

 Broecolis are hardier than Cauliflowers, and 

 valuable for providing a supply of vegetables in 

 the winter and spring, when Cauliflowers are un- 

 available. By a proper selection of varieties, and 

 careful management, the supply of Broccoli may 

 lie maintained from the autumn to the following 

 summer. 



Propagation. From seeds sown in a frame in 

 March, and in a prepared bed outdoors in April 

 ami May for succession, pricking out the seedlings, 

 and finally transplanting 2' apart each way. 



Soil. The rooting medium should be deep, and 

 well manured, but firm. If made loose and friable 

 the plants are apt to make soft, luxuriant growth, 

 and they are unable to withstand the winter. 



Other Cultural Points. Sturdy plants of Broccoli 

 may be obtained by putting them out in ground 

 that has not been recently dug, making the holes 

 with an iron-pointed dibber, and pricking up the 

 surface soil between the plants with a fork. Draw 

 the soil up to the stems as growth increases. To 

 assist Broccoli in withstanding severe frost, lay 

 them over with the heads facing north in Novem- 

 ber. Take out a trench 1' or 1J' deep, turn over 

 the plants carefully with a fork, and cover the 

 roots with the next spit of soil, broken fine, 

 leaving only the heads exposed. If the weather 

 is very severe, cover each plant with litter. 



Enemies. Protect plants in a seedling stage 

 from the ravages of slugs and small birds with 

 dustings of lime and soot, and garden netting 

 stretched over the beds. 



Chih Hunt (nee CABBAGE ENKMIES). 



(full II 'irri/ (nee CABBAGE ENEMIES). 



Varieties : 



for cutting in the autumn and early winter : 

 Michaelmas White. Snow's Winter White. 



Self-protecting. Walcheren. 



Fur cutting in the late winter andearly spring : 

 Cooling's Matchless. Leamington. 



Knight's Protecting. Winter Mammoth. 



For cutting in the spring and early summer : 

 Kclijise. Model. 



Late Queen. White Protecting. 



Sprouting Varieties : 

 Purple Sprouting. White Sprouting. 



BRODI^EA. 



Charming bulbous flowers (ord. Liliacea;) de- 

 lightful ornaments of rock gardens or borders 



BRODIA UUAN-DIFLOUA. 



in light, sandy soil, and In a warm and sunny 

 position. In cold districts they should have a 

 little covering in winter. Propagated by oHV> -ts, 

 taken off when the bulbs are at rest ; or by seeds, 

 sown when ripe or in spring. They make pleasing 

 pot plants for the greenhouse or window, and may 

 be potted and grown on gradually without much 

 heat. 



