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XXXV. Description of the Different Varieties of Broccoli, 

 with an Account of the Method of Cultivating them. By 

 Mr. Hugh Ronalds, of Brentford, F. H. S. 



Read June 2, 1818. 



Miller, in his Gardener's Dictionary, under the article 

 Brassica, supposes the few Broccolis that were then known 

 to have proceeded from the Cauliflower, which, he says, was 

 imported from the Isle of Cyprus ; he mentions white and 

 purple Broccoli as coming from Italy. From these two sorts, 

 it seems reasonable to conjecture, have arisen all the sub- 

 sequent kinds, either by accidental variations from seed, or by 

 purposely mixing the farina of the different varieties. Sup- 

 posing this to be the case, I proceed to give as distinct an 

 account as I can of those sorts which are now held in general 

 estimation, taking them in the order in which they come to 

 perfection for the table. 



1st. Purple Cape, or Autumnal Broccoli. This has a close 

 compact head of a beautiful purple colour. If the season 

 is showery, and it is planted in good ground, it comes as 

 large as a Cauliflower. Sown about the middle of May, 

 beginning and end of June, it Mill produce in regular suc- 

 cession, from August to December, or until frost destroy 

 the heads, which are tender; if sown in July and August, 

 and the winter is mild, it brings good heads in spring, as 



