OF ESCULENTS. 



SECT. XV. 



topped when gathered, and they will ihoot out again 

 below. 



Broccoli is of two diftinft kinds, thepurple, and 

 the white ; for the green, &c. are only varieties from 

 them ; of each, there are large and dwarf forts, the 

 latter of which is moftly cultivated. All the forts,, 

 except the white, generally produce fide {hoots, as well 

 as a head. The white is called caulifiozver broccoli, 

 becaufe it refembles a iauliflower much, but is not fo 

 white. This is not fo hardy as the purple, nor is it 

 thought fo good ; perhaps the green may be efleemed 

 the beft. Of the purple there is an early and a late 

 fort; the former is fowedto come in at autumn, and the 

 latter in fpring. 



The firft day of April is a good general time to fow 

 for the autumn crop, (though fome do it fooner) and the 

 laft day of April for the fpring crop, A little white- 

 may be fown with the early autumn purple. But it 

 will be very proper to fow again a fortnight after each; 

 and at the end of May, for late fpring ufe ; which, 

 though they produce fmall heads, will be very ac- 

 ceptable. Some gardeners fow in June, or even the 

 beginning of July. Do it in open ground, and fee that 

 the young plants are thinned, when quite fmall, that 

 they may not be drawm up w r eak ; and prick them out 

 when they have got fix leaves, to fix inches diftance, 

 where having grown to a proper robuft fize, (as about 

 July J let them be planted out at two feet, or a little 

 more, afunder. I! ; autumn fort fhould be planted to- 

 wards a warm wall, left it come not in at the time. 

 Broccoli requires a rich and dry foil; yet watering, in 

 a dry time, is neceffary to help their heads to fwell, and 

 forward them. Stir the ground about the plants oc- 

 cafionally, and keep them well earthed up. The beft 

 broccoli feed comes immediately from Italy, whence we 

 firft had it ; but it degenerates. 



Brussels sprouts are winter greens, growing 

 much like icorccle, and by Tome preferred as morede- 



-4icate 



