VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 187 



left will throw up fresh sprouts for a succession. For 

 winter and spring greens this vegetable is nearly equal to 

 the Savoy cabbage, after the frost has rendered it sweet 

 and tender. 



BROCCOLI. (Brassica oleracea, var. Botrytis cymosa.) 



This is a biennial plant of the cabbage tribe, resembling 

 cauliflower, from which it differs in its undulating leaves, 

 its larger size, and the color of some of its varieties. 



It is supposed to have originated from the cauliflower ; 

 it is a hardier plant, but not so delicate in flavor. It has 

 been cultivated about two hundred years, and was intro- 

 duced into England from Italy. Broccoli is raised more 

 easily than cauliflower. The Early Purple Cape broccoli, 

 producing large, brownish heads, very close and compact, 

 is the best of over 40 sorts. 



It requires the same special manures as cabbage and 

 cauliflower, and for cultivation sow, transplant, and man- 

 age like late cauliflower. To protect from insects, see 

 Cabbage. 



Use. The same as cauliflower, to which it is inferior 

 and where that succeeds, will hardly be worthy of culture, 



BRUSSELS SPROUTS. 



(Brassica oleracea, var. bullata gemmifera.) 



This plant is a hardy variety of the Savoy cabbage, 

 producing an elongated stem, often four feet high and 

 crowned with leaves similar to the Savoy. Small, green 

 heads like cabbages spring from the axils of the stem leaves, 

 which, dropping off, leave the little heads arranged spirally 



