114 



THE AMERICAN GARDENER. 



[Chap. 



inches apart. Thus you have a sort of net-work 

 over the whole plantation. And, there let it stand, 

 till the rains are over, and until the winter is fairly 

 set in, which, at New York, may be about Christ- 

 mas. When all is frozen hard up, cover close over 

 the lattice work a foot thick with straw, at the least, 

 and lay on something to prevent the straw from 

 moving. Then set up straw, or corn stalks, against 

 the sides and the ends of the erection. Place the 

 straw or stalks a foot thick at least, and fasten them 

 well up, so as to keep out, net the frost, but all 

 light and all occasional thaws from entering. Thus 

 let the whole remain till the breaking up of the 

 frost : and then take all aivay. Do not wait till the 

 frost is out of the ground ; but, take away as soon 

 as the grand breaking up comes. You will find 

 the plantation as green as it was when you closed 

 it up. This will be about the middle of March 

 (Long Island ;) and though there will be many and 

 sharp frosts after this, these will not injure the 

 plants. As soon as the ground is dry at top, hoe 

 deep amongst the plants ; hoe again in about ten 

 days ; and again in another ten days ; and, about 

 the first week in May, or in the second at latest, 

 you will begin to cut Brocoli to eat. The heads 

 will come in one after another ; and, recollect, that 

 you have 110 heads, which is nearly 4 a day for a 

 month; and this, you will observe, at a season, 

 when people are glad to buy dock-leaves to eat ! 

 When we talk of trouble, what is trouble but la- 

 bour ; and what is labour but a thing to be bought ? 

 I am supposing a case where a gardener is kept; 

 and, pray, what has he else to do ? But, suppose a 

 man to be hired expressly, would he not go to the 

 wood and get the materials and make the lattice 

 work in a day ? Would it take him more than an- 



