52 



BORER. BROCCOLI. 



of thick fimbriate, curled leaves, not cabbaging, and are 

 desirable open greens for winter, &c. Let this seed be sown 

 in an open exposure, distant from trees, and from close 

 fences, as, in such situations, they are apt to draw up too 

 fast, with long, weak stalks ; sow it broad-cast, and rake it 

 in." Several crops may be sown in several successive 

 months, from the middle of April to the middle of Septem- 

 ber. In dry weather, water the plants occasionally, both 

 before and after they are up. " When about three inches 

 high, it will be proper to thin the seed bed, and prick out a 

 quantity therefrom, at four inches distance, that the w^hole 

 may obtain proper strength for final transplanting. 



When the plants are set in the places, where they are 

 to complete their growth, they should be planted out like 

 cabbages, at three feet distance every way, and afterwards 

 be kept free from weeds, and the earth drawn to their 

 stems as they advance in growth. Those intended for win- 

 ter use should not be planted in a rich, fat loam, as there 

 they would become too succulent, and consequently could 

 not bear the frost as well as if growing on a gravelly soil. 

 Such as are designed for autumn use, may be planted in 

 any convenient bed that is tolerably rich. 



" The green and brown curled borecole, being very hardy, 

 will require little protection [against the cold of winter]. 

 In November they may be taken up, and planted in a ridge 

 tolerably close together, and, during severe frost, be covered 

 lightly with straw ; this will preserve them sufficiently : 

 and during winter the heads may be taken off as they are 

 wanted for use ; the stems, if taken up and planted in rows, 

 as early in March as the weather will admit, will produce 

 abundance of the most delicious sprouts. 



" In the Southern States, and even in warm soils and ex- 

 posures in the Middle States, borecole will stand the winter 

 in open beds, without any covering whatever." — M'Mahon, 



Ust, — The crown or centre of the plant is cut off, so as 

 to include the leaves which do not exceed nine inches in 

 length. It boils well, and is most tender, sweet and deli- 

 cate, provided it has been duly exposed to frost. — Loudon, 



BORER. — Saperda bivitata. — An insect that injures ap- 

 ple-trees, &c. — See Insects. 



BROCCOLI. — Brassica oleracea. — There are several 

 varieties of broccoli, which are all merely late-heading va- 



