50 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
take them up, with roots and all complete, and plant them close 
together in dry earth in a shed, or any other suitable place from 
which they can be obtained as wanted. The winter supply is a 
question of weather as regards outdoor cutting, and of prudence as 
regards cutting under cover. In a mild open winter there will be 
plenty of nice broccolis turning in during January and February, 
provided suitable sorts are on the ground to produce them. 
WiNTEE Culture demands a paragraph, because broccolis are 
considered tender things. It is customary in November to “lay 
them down.” This process consists in heeling them over with their 
heads to the north without in any serious degree disturbing their 
roots. The practice may be needful in districts where the winters 
are usually more severe than in London, but on our cold wet clay 
in the valley of the Lea, five miles north of the metropolis, it is 
altogether unnecessary, for we grow broccolis largely, and never lay 
them down, and our losses in severe winters are really of no material 
consequence at all. Another practice preparatory to winter pro- 
tection is to sprinkle the ground between the plants with salt, at the 
rate of ten or twelve bushels to the acre. This is done early in 
October, and is certainly not a -waste of labour or of salt, for the 
result is a wholesale destruction of vermin, and a consequent pro- 
tection 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 Avorth its cost as manure, 
and its presence in the soil will benefit the next crop. 
Walceeren Broccoli demands a note, because of its distinct- 
ness and Amlue. It may be sown at almost any season, and cut 
■at almost any season. Indeed, we know not -n-hat 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 manage- 
ment, 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. 
Sprouting Broccoli also needs a separate paragraph, as it is 
not to be regarded as a high-class vegetable, though extremely useful 
in the cottage-garden. This should be sown early, and planted out 
early. We gBe our sprouting broccolis a space of four feet between 
the rows, and three feet between the plants, and then their leaves 
overlap, and we can scarcely go amongst them without doing mis- 
chief. As for the produce, it is enormous. The old Purple Sprouting 
is the best. The White Sprouting is useless, and the Late Sprout- 
ing scarcely worth having. 
Quality. — Some of the sorts are described as having “ leafy 
heads.” This means that a considerable number of leaves peep up 
among the intersections of the flower. It is a fault, but quite a 
small one. The largest sized broccolis are usually considered the 
best. But small heads are preferable to large ones ; though great 
