BROCCOLI. 



53 



rieties of tlie cauliflower. Miller mentions the white and 

 purple broccoli, as imported into England from Italy ; and 

 it is thought that from these two sorts all the subsequent 

 kinds have arisen, either by accidental or premeditated 

 impregnations. The kinds introduced into this country are, 

 the early white, early purple, and large cape. 



The seeds of broccoli should be sown in New England 

 about the latter end of May, or beginning of June ; and 

 when the young plants have germinated eight leaves, they 

 should be transplanted into beds. By this management, 

 towards the latter end of July, they will be fit to be planted 

 out in some well sheltered piece of ground, at the distance 

 of a foot and a half in the rows, and two feet between 

 each row. 



The soil proper for broccoli is rather light than heavy. 

 M'Mahon says, the early purple broccoli, if sown early in 

 April, and planted out as you do cabbage, in good rich 

 ground, will produce fine heads in October or November, 

 very little inferior to cauliflowers, and, by many, preferred 

 to them : the white will not flower so early, and, in the 

 Middle and Eastern States, must be taken up in November, 

 and managed as directed in that month, [see " preserving 

 cabbagesj^'' &c. under the article Cabbage, in the following 

 pages,] by which a supply of this very delicious vegetable 

 may be had, in great perfection, during all the v/inter 

 and spring. 



" In such of the Southern States, as their winters are not 

 more severe than in England, they will stand in the open 

 ground, and continue to produce their fine flowers, from 

 October to April. In the Middle, and especially the East- 

 ern States, if the seeds are sown early in March on a hot- 

 bed, and forwarded as is done with cauliflowers and early 

 cabbage plants, and planted out finally in April, it would 

 be the most certain method of obtaining large and early 

 flowers." 



Insects and diseases. — " In old gardens, infested, as is of- 

 ten the case, with an insect which in summer insinuates 

 itself into the roots of all the hrassica tribe, and causes , the 

 disease called the club^ trenching the ground deep enough 

 to bring up four or six inches of undisturbed loam or earth, 

 will probably bury the insects too deep for mischief, and 

 provide fresh ground for the benefit of the plants. In gar- 

 5^ 



