STOKES SEEDS 



BROCCOLI 



GLORY OF CALABRIA 



A vegetable of enormous possibilities 



Days to maturity, 130-150. This Italian Green Sprouting Calabrese type of Broc- 

 coli is gaining greatly in popularity. In our opinion the 9onsumption has practically 

 doubled during this past season and growers who have not already tried it are urged to 

 include it in their list this year. As we pointed out a year ago, about ever>- decade this 

 countr>' seems to adopt another of the Old World vegetables. The place now given to 

 Grapefruit and to the Honey Dew Melon are examples of this. Similar popularity and 

 acceptance seems to be due this ancient Italian vegetable, the production of which has 

 been limited almost exclusively to the little Province of Calabria in Southern Italy. 

 The fact that within a five-year p>eriod the large markets are already accepting it on a 

 basis of several carloads a day, gives an indication of its popularity. It is a dish that is 

 now enjoyed not only by the Italians who have always known it, but by Anglo Saxons 

 to whom it is comparatively new. The enthusiasm for it is remarkable; perhaps what 

 is best of all, people are ready and willing to pay a good price for it. Even on the 

 produce markets it brings an average of $2.00 per bushel hamper almost any time of 

 the year. 



Because of its delicious table quality, and because it can be grown in almost any part 

 of the United States, we predict a very interesting future for it. In order to make a i 

 first-hand study of this new vegetable, our Mr. F. C. Stokes made a special trip to v 

 Italy for the purpose. Because there are a number of different species of Broccoli, the | 

 American trade has been very seriously confused as to the true heading type. One 

 stock, for instance, that has had wide sale is nothing more nor less than a type of Seven- 

 Top Turnip. This species in Italy is known as Broccoli di Rapi. 



In order to be positively sure of what we are selling, all of our stock of Broccoli, Glorj' 

 of Calabria, has been given a bag-by-bag type test. Therefore, all of our Broccoli as 

 offered this year will be proven stock and can be planted with entire confidence. 



This type of Broccoli is a member of the Brassica family and may be best described as 

 a green-headed Cauliflower. We would point out, however, that Broccoli does not re- 

 quire the same care as Cauliflower. It should be started in plant beds and transplanted 

 to the field so that it will mature either during the late Spring or the early Fall. It re- 

 quires a definitely cool season for its proper development. 



The true heading Broccoli, as originally grown near Cosenza in Calabria, develops a 1 

 head on the main stalk. After this is cut and marketed, smaller heads will develop from 

 the axis of the leaves. These are tied together in bunches of two or three and also | 

 marketed. The normal cut is thereby doubled. Growers should be on their guard 

 against buying merely Green Sprouting Italian Broccoli for you may or ma>- not be 

 getting the true Calabrese type. This is the only one that brings the high prices on 

 the market. 



For prices please refer to inside front cover 



