THE AMATEUR’S KITCHEN GARDEN. 
77 
consequent protection of the plants from their ravages, during 
those mild winter and early spring days, when slugs and other 
such come forth in troops, and eat out the hearts of the best 
vegetables in the garden. It is worth remembering, too, that 
the salt is worth its cost as manure, and its presence in the 
soil will benefit the next crop. 
Walciieren Broccoli demands a note, because of its dis- 
tinctness and value. It may be sown at almost any season, 
and cut at almost any season. Indeed, we know not what a 
master of broccoli culture might do with it, if supplied with 
good seed, and denied a supply of any other. He could 
certainly, by good management, cut from it beautiful white 
heads of medium size very nearly all the year round, and we 
think the whole circle of the year might be compassed with it 
in a garden where all needful appliances were at hand. As it 
will not endure severe frost, it is rarely cut from open ground 
plantations after the end of the year, or before the end of 
July. 
Quality. — Some of the sorts have “ leafy heads,”— -a con- 
siderable number of leaves appearing among the intersections 
of the flower. It is a fault certainly, but quite a small one. 
The largest sized broccolis are usually considered the best. But 
small heads are preferable to large ones ; though great size is 
not a great defect, because a large broccoli may be cut from, 
and a portion cooked as required, provided the form and 
texture are what they ought to be. In the spring of the 
year 1872, we had a head of Cattell’s Eclipse that weighed 
21 lbs. It was remarkably handsome ; a wonder to behold. 
It was carefully cut from as required, and made five dishes on 
five successive days, and, from first to last, as a table vege- 
table, was about as perfect as any broccoli ever eaten, and in 
every case the fifth part came to table as complete as an 
individual head. As to colour, it is impossible there should 
be two opinions. The whiter the head the better, and the 
texture should be fine, and firm, and close, not a gaj3 any- 
where, and the general outline hemispherical. The Purple 
Cape is invaluable for its earliness, and we cannot do without 
it ; but its colour is faulty, and we should be well off if we 
had a white Cape to equal it ; but we have not, though 
Hammond’s White Cape is good. Indeed the old Purple 
Cape is the best flavoured broccoli in cultivation. 
Selection of Varieties. — The following are probably the 
