84 FIGTOEIAL PBAGTIGAL VEGETABLE GROWING. 



in the way of nursing is a box and a cold frame, and this should 

 only be tolerated on those dry soils in which, summer planting being 

 out of the question, May or early June planting becomes advisable. 

 Generally, an outdoor sowing in March and another in April settle 

 the question. 



Writing, as I do, after a cycle of dry seasons, I am fain to incline 

 a sympathetic ear to those who speak of getting their Broccoli along 

 fairly early. After a series of years, in which a sun-baked, iron- 

 bound soil has rendered summer planting a very unsatisfactory busi- 

 ness, it is natural that growers should want to have their plants 

 ready for putting out in May. There is no harm in it, provided the 

 soil is not so loose and rich as to encourage rapid, soft growth— then 

 there is every harm in it. 



If Broccoli plants are put between Potatoes, it should be between 

 earl 3^, short-topped varieties ; and when the Potatoes are removed 

 the soil should be rammed firmly around the Broccoli. 



There are now Broccolis to give a supply for eight months in the 

 year, but many do not trouble about autumn sorts, preferring to rely 

 upon Cauliflowers. ^ It is from March to May that Broccolis are 

 most useful. Leamington and Late Queen, with change dishes of 

 Purple and White Sprouting, will cover the period. I may, however, 

 mention a few other varieties which I have grown, principally 

 connected with the names of prominent seedsmen. Cannells' Early 

 Spring White and Cannells' Late Spring White have proved to be 

 valuable stocks, giving, between them, a supply of delicious hearts 

 for many weeks. Carters' Spring Mammoth is a large and good sort. 

 Suttons' Eastertide is a splendid mid- spring Broccoli. 

 Brussels Sprouts :— 



A long, steady season of growth in a firm, not very rich, soil will 

 give firmer and sweeter Sprouts than one violent electric-car rush, 

 although it may not give them so large. I have tried the rush 

 system for experiment's sake, and lived to thank my stars that the 

 other system was in force at the same time. I have pushed giant 

 Sprouts along, and had them 1 yard high in June, only to see them 

 yield loose clusters of leaves in the place of nobs, or serenely run 

 to seed. 



There is no objection to sowing Sprouts in February or eirly 

 March ; in fact, early sowing is good. There is no objection to getting 

 Sprouts out in May ; on the contrary, that is often good also. But 

 always rather poor soil, well solidified, must be the rule, and if the 

 Ijlants are put between Potatoes, the soil should be thorouo'hly 

 trodden directly the tuber is cleared away. 



All Greens are better sown in lines than broadcast ; then, with a 

 little attention to thinning now and again, a quarantining under 

 netting when birds are busy, an occasional soaking and dusting with 

 soot, sturdy, stifl'-stemmed, short-jointed plants are secured. 



It is a mistake to cut away the tops of Brussels Sprouts until the 

 plants are quite denuded of stem produce. 



Of many varieties grown, I am dis[)Osed to choose Imported, 



