I054 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



name this is a most valuable sort), Walcheren, Early White, and 

 Snow's Winter White. All the above should be sown thinly in 

 rich soil early in April, and planted out from the seed-bed in 

 rows 2ft. apart, with a similar distance between the plants in the 

 rows, arranging them so that each plant comes between two 

 others in the next rows. This is what gardeners term "planting 

 alternately," and an excellent system it is. For later supplies in 

 spring or early summer we can recommend Knight's Protecting, 

 Improved Wilcove, Model, and Late Queen. The last two are 

 very useful to the professional gardener, as they come into use 

 in May and early June, before the Peas and Cauliflowers are 

 ready, and are a great boon in keeping up an unbroken supply 

 of vegetables. The seeds of these later varieties should be sown 

 about the end of April, and the seedlings planted out the same 

 distance apart as mentioned above. On the approach of bad 

 weather, such as much wet, snow, or sharp frost, it is advisable 

 to tie up the leaves over the centre of all plants forming heads, 

 thus throwing off wet or snow, and protecting them from frost, 

 which would otherwise spoil the heads. If there are indications 

 of much and continued frost, it is an excellent plan to take up 

 carefully, with a good ball of soil attached to the roots, all 

 those plants exhibiting signs of forming heads, and to place 

 these close together in pits or frames, or even in sheds from 

 which frost can be excluded. In the hard winters of 1894 and 

 1895 ^^'^ ^^^^Sj '^'^d were able to keep up a supply of small, 

 tender Broccoli daily for weeks, while all the other Broccoli 

 outside, except Model and Late Queen varieties, were killed by 

 the severity of the weather. Another plan is to bend on their 

 sides all the plants facing north, before bad weather arrives ; 

 but this method is not so safe as that of lifting and storing 

 under cover. 



Brussels Sprouts. 



This highly productive vegetable is deservedly esteemed 

 everywhere, and to procure large, firm sprouts the seeds 

 should be sown and the plants grown on as advised for 

 Borecole, or Kale. If such varieties as Rosebery or Imported 

 are selected, 2^ft. each way for the plants will be plenty 

 of room ; but if extra fine stems, with very large sprouts, 

 are wanted for exhibition, another foot each way should be 

 allowed, choosing Sutton's or Veitch's Exhibition or the new 

 President Carnot, which has proved excellent for exhibitors of 

 late years. One of the greatest mistakes made with Brussels 

 Sprouts is to pick or cut off the top first when commencing to use 

 them. The top ought to be left until last ; when taken off first, 

 it causes all or most of the sprouts on the stem to open and 

 start growing, and so become less valuable than they would be 

 if close and firm. 



