BROCCOLI 6 1 



riant under the influence of cooler nights and greater 

 moisture ; the plants are tenderer and more susceptible 

 to frost. The hardy varieties should be selected, not 

 so much for mere size as for their compact growth, 

 and the way they keep. Some gardeners would say 

 that it is an easy matter to lift plants that have heads 

 of any size, and store ; but it is useless to lift those 

 only just forming. Christmas White, Vanguard, 

 Early White and Penzance are excellent winter 

 Broccoli, and mature in the order named. Snow's 

 Winter White is one of the best when the seed can be 

 obtained true. All the winter and spring Broccoli 

 should be grown on an open, exposed site, without 

 coddling, as the growth cannot be too hardy. It is 

 not unusual to find that almost the entire winter crop 

 has been killed in sheltered gardens, whereas in open 

 fields losses are less severe, the plants are hardier and 

 resist extremes of weather. The plants like a good 

 loamy soil, or what is called a holding soil, as fewer 

 losses occur if the plants are not too small. A long 

 growing season is not desirable. Much depends upon 

 the planting. Firmness is essential, and early planting 

 saves much watering. It is a wise plan to plant quite 

 small seedlings in their permanent quarters, an easy 

 thing to do in drills, as though a few plants may die 

 the blanks can be soon made good. Much time is 

 thus saved, as once the plant has a fair root hold it 

 grows freely. The longer the seedlings of any of the 

 Brassicas remain in the seed beds the more likely are 

 they to get drawn and badly " clubbed ". 



