BRUSSELS SPROUTS 



155 



the top. The Cabbage-like tops are 

 packed separately in large baskets. 

 Some growers, however, pick the 

 sprouts from the plants as they grow, 

 and leave them to supply a second 

 crop. Brussels Sprouts when in the 

 seed-bed are often attacked by small 

 white-winged flies, which congregate 

 on the under-side of the leaves and 

 greatly injure the plants. In order 

 to get rid of these, an old sack is 

 nailed to two poles, about 6 in. 



being allowed to hang over one of 

 the poles to act as a flapper. The 

 sack, but not the flapper, is then 

 tarred all over, and two men, one 

 each side the seed-bed, walk quickly 

 along with the sack directly over the 

 plants. The flapper drags over the 

 plants and disturbs the flies, which 

 fly upwards and get stuck to the 

 tar. This several times repeated 

 gets rid of the majority of the 

 insects. 



Uses. — In Belgium, preference is given to small-sized sprouts, 

 which grow very thickly and close together on the stems ; but in 

 France the largest-sized sprouts, as big as a good-sized walnut, 

 are most in favour — another proof that the fine appearance of a 

 vegetable or a fruit is not always an index of its quality, for the 

 smallest and hardest Brussels Sprouts 

 are certainly the most delicate in 

 flavour. 



Tall Brussels Sprouts. — Stem 

 2j to over 3 ft. high, slender, with 

 numerous leaves set at some distance 

 apart, leaving the stalk bare for 

 a great part of its length, round, 

 sHghtly hollow or spoonshaped, and 

 very faintly crimped. Sprouts of 

 medium size, very firm, rather pear- 

 shaped, and never so close as to 

 touch one another. This kind is 

 extensively grown in the fields 

 around Paris ; it is hardy, and con- 

 tinues to bear, for several months, 

 producing the smallest, most delicate, 

 and best " sprouts." 



Half-dwarf Paris Market 

 Brussels Sprouts. — Strong, straight 

 stem, 20 to 28 in. long ; medium- 

 sized leaves, rounded, very slightly 

 crimped, spoon-shaped, borne on 

 long bare stalks and slightly tinged 

 with purple. The sprouts are nume- 

 rous and closely set on the stem, 

 very firm and rounded, and a light gray-green colour. They 

 remain a long time without opening, and are scarcely larger 

 than a large hazel-nut. The Half-dwarf Paris Market Brussels 



Tall Brussels Sprouts natural 

 size; sprout, ^ natural size). 



