On Preserving Broccoli in Winter. 305 



would bear uninjured a degree of cold, or rather a trans- 

 ition from cold to heat, (for it is that which usually destroys 

 vegetables), which would prove highly injurious if not fatal, 

 to the hardiest varieties of its species, the Scotch Kale. 



A small trench is made in the first week of September, 

 at the north end of each row, in which the adjoining plant 

 is laid, so low, that the centre of its stem at the top is 

 put level with the surface of the ground, the root being 

 disturbed as little as possible. It is then immediately wa- 

 tered and its roots covered with more mould, and every 

 plant is in succession treated in the same manner. The 

 ground being warm at this season, and rendered moist by 

 watering, the plants soon emit a profusion of new roots ; 

 and at the beginning of November scarcely present the ap- 

 pearance of having been moved. At this period, before 

 snow is apprehended, a small hillock is raised round each 

 plant to support its leaves, to prevent the possibility of their 

 being broken by the weight of snow, or by violent winds 

 during winter, after which no further care is necessary. 



The growth of the plants is certainly somewhat checked by 

 being laid down at the period above mentioned, and there- 

 fore I should not think the practice eligible, if my garden 

 were perfectly safe, in a mild climate, from the injurious ef- 

 fects of a deep snow, or severe frost ; but no gardens in this 

 country, exclusive of a few on the sea-coast, are thus favour- 

 ably circumstanced, and I therefore think the practice will 

 be found almost invariably advantageous ; for by the perfect 

 protection of their stems and the entire preservation of 

 the foliage, the plants exhibit a degree of freshness and 

 vigour in the spring that I rarely witness in those which 



