I 



BROCCOLI 



217 



spring. The two plants also differ somewhat in appearance, the 

 Broccoli usually having more numerous, broader, stiffer, and 

 narrower leaves than the Cauliflower, and generally bare leaf- 

 stalks ; the veinings of its leaves are also stouter and whiter. Its 

 heads, although handsome, firm and compact, are seldom as large, 

 in this climate, as those of good varieties of Cauliflower. The seed 

 of both plants is identical in appearance. 



The cultivation of the Broccoli dates back to a more remote 

 period than that of the Cauliflower, as the name, at least, would lead 

 us to infer. In Italy, the name broccoli is applied to the tender 

 shoots which, at the close of the winter, are emitted by various 

 kinds of Cabbages and Turnips preparing to flower. These green 

 and tender young shoots have, from time immemorial, been highly 

 esteemed as vegetables by the Italians, who were careful to select 

 and cultivate only those kinds which produced the most tender 

 shoots in the greatest abundance. The Sprouting, or Asparagus, 

 Broccoli represents the first form exhibited by the new vegetable 

 when it ceased to be the earliest Cabbage, and was grown with an 

 especial view to its shoots. After this, by continued selection and 

 successive improvements, varieties were obtained which produced a 

 compact white head, and some of these varieties were still further 

 improved into kinds which are sufficiently early to commence and 

 complete their entire growth in the course of the same year. These 

 last-named kinds are now known by the name of Cauliflowers. 



Culture. — The seed is sown in a nursery-bed from the 

 beginning of April to the end of May, according to the earliness of 

 the variety ; the seedlings are usually pricked out in a bed, and in 

 June or July are finally transplanted. Like all plants of the 

 Cabbage family, they are benefited by frequent hoeings and 

 waterings. At the beginning of winter a mulching of manure is 

 applied, and the plants are earthed up to the lowest leaves, or they 

 may be taken up altogether and laid in a sloping trench, with the 

 heads turned to the north. The ground in which they are to pass 

 the winter should be sweet and well drained, and the plants should, 

 if possible, be protected in severe frosty weather. In March the 

 heads begin to form, and may be cut until June, if successive 

 sowings have been made. 



As a rule, in private gardens 

 Broccoli is cut when about a third 

 or half its full size : the aim of 

 growers should be, not the produc- 

 tion of gigantic heads, but a constant 

 succession of firm, compact Broccoli 

 of medium size. Some growers 

 choose a few good kinds and make 

 successional sowings, whilst others 



select a number of varieties that 

 will naturally succeed each other, 

 although they be all sown and planted 

 out at the same time. 



This is doubtless the best plan 

 when the ground intended to be 

 occupied with Broccoli can be all 

 spared and got ready at one time ; 

 but it frequently happens, where the 



