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THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



is an extremely useful agricultural root, called mangel wi'irzel, or the great German 

 beet. 



Beet, Sf.a, — Beta mnritima, {Linn.) — belonging to the same genus with the two 

 last, but so differing in its botanical characters, as to constitute a distinct species. 

 It is a native of our sea-coasts in many places, in the Isle of Wight, Coast of Sussex, 

 Western Coast, &c., is seldom cultivated in our gardens, but there is little doubt 

 that it would be much improved by cultivation, and be a valuable accession to our 

 spiiiaccous vegetables. 



Broccoli, — Brcusica olcracea, a sub-variety of the variety hotrytis {Linn, and 

 DecandoUe) — belonging to the class and order Tetradynarnia Siliquosa, and natural 

 order Crucifercr. However singular it may appear, professor DecandoUe and others 

 have proved, that all the varieties of broccolis have their origin in the Brassica 

 oleracea, or the common wild cabbage. Miller mentions several kinds of broccoli as 

 being cultivated in his time ; he says, " the Roman, Neapolitan, and black broccoli, are 

 in use, but of those, the Roman is the best." Since his time, they have wonderfully 

 increased, but this is less surprising, for of all the brassica families, they are the 

 most inclined to sport into varieties. They are supposed by some to have sported 

 from the cauliflower, which is said to have been introduced into this country, from 

 the Isle of Cyprus, about the middle of the sixteenth century. Miller seems to prefer 

 them to cauliflower, as being more tender, and by many they are preferred even at 

 the present time. The best collection of broccolis we have met with, is that of 

 Messrs. Ronalds', of Brentford, and given as follows in the Hort. Trans. — Purple 

 cape, or autumnal ; gi-een cape, or autumnal ; Grange's early cauliflower broccoli, 

 green close-headed winter broccoli, early purple, early white, dwarf brown, close- 

 heailcd broccoli, tall large-headed purple broccoli, cream coloured, or Portsmouth 

 broccoli ; sulphur coloured broccoli, spring white, or cauliflower broccoli ; late dwarf 

 close-headed purple broccoli, latest g.een, or Siberian, or " Danish broccoh. To this 

 fist may be adiled, the sprouting broccoli, and Belvidere, or improved white, two 

 sorts which may be considered as distinct from any of the above-mentioned sorts, and 

 are in our estimation excellent. The former of these, is a hardy spring sort, and 

 tiic latter, a handsomely formed and equally good one, but probably not equally 

 hardy. 



Of Messrs. Ronalds' lists, the two former are nearly aUied to each other, differing 

 only in colour, and the head of the second being rather larger, as well as the whole 

 plant stouter than the first. The third is a well-known sort, and will amply repay 

 the expense of cultivating ; the fourth is said to be rather new, and is supposed to be 

 a seedling from the second ; it does not attain to a great size. The early purple is a 

 good sort, but is apt to branch, if planted in too rich ground. This sort grows to 

 the height of two or three feet, and is a strong growing plant. The early white is 

 also a fine broccoli of a beautiful colour, and grows nearly three feet high. The 

 cream-coloured, or PorL^mouth, is an excellent sort, and merits general cultivation, 

 we would include it as among the best for general use. In May, 1819, a head of 

 this sort, grown in the garden of the late Sir Joseph Banks, was sent to the Hort. 

 Soc, which measured above two feet in circumference, and quite firm and close. 

 The sulphur-coloured is a valuable sort, hardy, compact, and rather conical in 

 the head. The spring white is a valuable sort, the leaves of which grow in such a 

 cucuUated manner as almost to hide the flower, and serve as a shield to protect it 

 from the feost common in the spring months. The two latter sorts are very hardy, 

 particularly the last, which no winter can destroy. This sort for a late crop should 

 1)6 planted to a large extent, as it comes into use at a season when vegetables are 

 most in demand, and it may be fianted closer than any other, so that a large 

 quantity may be produced on a sn.ail piece of ground. 



