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THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



be pricked out in rows into 

 narrow beds or borders, 5 or 6 in. 

 apart, or more if practicable. The 

 distance apart of the plants for 

 the final planting must in some 

 measure be governed by the space 

 at disposal, but in any case there 

 is nothing gained by overcrowding. 

 Plants for the main crop should be 

 allowed at least 2 ft. apart each way, 

 but if 3 ft. can be allowed between 

 the rows, it will be all the better. 

 If extra fine sprouts are desired, 

 3 ft. from plant to plant each way 

 must be allowed. For early and 

 late plantations it is not necessary 

 to allow quite so much space as for 

 the main crop. 



Soil. — Brussels Sprouts will suc- 

 ceed in almost any kind of soil, 

 provided it is well and deeply culti- 

 vated and fairly manured. Poor 

 sandy soil will require a heavy 

 dressing of good manure, whilst 

 lime and burnt clay may be bene- 

 ficially applied to cold clayey land 

 in preference to rank manure just 

 previous to planting, which would 

 have a tendency to produce gross 

 open sprouts instead of the close 

 medium-sized buttons so much liked 

 in the kitchen. Frequent stirrings 

 of the soil, clean culture, and re- 

 moving decaying leaves add to their 

 growth and cleanly appearance, and 

 ought to be insisted on. As regards 

 earthing-up the stems, there has 

 been much dispute as to its merits 

 and demerits, but we have seen 

 them grown both with and without 

 that assistance, with much about 

 the same result. In windy places 

 earthing-up is certainly to be recom- 

 mended, in order to enable them to 

 resist the power of the wind; but 

 as Brussels Sprouts, unlike Cabbage 

 or Broccoli, bear all up the stems, 

 it is not desirable to bury them to 

 ..any great depth, beyond giving them 

 jiecessary support. The Cabbage- 



like heart from the centre of the 

 plant should not be cut off until the 

 crop is fit for gathering. The 

 Brussels Sprout in its proper state 

 is a small, compact one ; and very 

 rich culture, while giving large 

 rosettes, does not improve the 

 quality. 



Manure water given to Brussels 

 Sprouts during dry weather will help 

 to keep them in a vigorous and 

 healthy growing state ; but it is well 

 to remember that overfeeding will 

 spoil this vegetable, which in its 

 best state is neat and compact. By 

 making it coarse and large we make 

 it useless to the good cook, who 

 knows what it ought to be. 



Gathering. — In gathering, Brus- 

 sels Sprouts are frequently broken 

 from the stems of the plants, and 

 sometimes with a portion of the 

 stem adhering to them. This is 

 wrong, inasmuch as it destroys the 

 second crop of young sprouts. A 

 sharp knife should always be used 

 to cut off the sprouts, leaving as 

 much spur as possible. The largest 

 and hardest should always be 

 gathered first. 



Brussels Sprouts are chiefly 

 grown in the London market-gardens 

 as catch crops, under orchard trees, 

 or between other vegetables. The 

 seed is sown in April, and the plants, 

 when large enough, are put out 

 wherever a vacant piece of ground 

 occurs. Market gardeners prefer 

 Brussels Sprouts with medium-sized 

 stems to those of rank growth, as 

 from the former they get harder and 

 better sprouts, which realise the 

 most money in the market. In 

 gathering Brussels Sprouts most 

 market gardeners pull up the plants 

 and cart them to the packing shed, 

 where women divest the stalks of 

 the sprouts and pack them in half- 

 bushel or bushel baskets, the largest 

 and plumpest being always put on 



