356 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May S, im 
■water less often than in the ordinary kinds because the soil in the 
former remained moist for a greater length of time, and he resolved 
to try a few and note the results. These were such as to justify 
an addition of glazed pots yearly, and eventually the ordinary 
rough porous pots were discarded, except a dozen or two which he 
retained for a prolonged test, so to say, and permanent comparison. 
At the first, and for some months, the plants in these grew as well 
in the others, but occasionally were caught flagging, and they 
never finished so well as those in the glazed pots, which numbered 
a few thousands. This was accounted for, not so much by the 
occasional check the plants in the porous pots received by getting 
too dry, but by much nutriment being washed out of the soil by 
the far more frequent waterings which had to be given to them. 
It was computed that four times more water passed through the 
soil than was required to be given to an equal number of plants in 
glazed pots, and, consequently, the soil’s virtues were largely 
washed out in one case and retained for the support of the 
plants in the other. That was Mr. Woodhead’s opinion, founded 
on observation and experience, and there is little doubt if analyses 
of the soil and drainage [water had been conducted that science 
would have proved the correctness of his reasoning. Mr. Thomson 
alludes to that aspect of the question in a significant sentence in 
which he says—“ I prefer potting firmly, so as to pack as much 
soil andfnutritious ingredients into the pot, andileave as little room 
for air and water as possible, both of which in excess tend to rapid 
extinction of the nutritious elements of the soil.” 
Growers of those fine and floriferous plants in small pots for 
market press the soil firmly, in fact hard, without all of them 
knowing the rationale of the procedure, but they know the plan 
succeeds, and those expert cultivators would grow every kind of 
plant they take in hand equally large and well in still smaller pots 
if glazed and with less time occupied in watering ; but they cannot 
do so because pots are sold with the plants, and these have to be 
disposed of at the lowest possible prices in markets. And besides, 
the labour of watering can be, and is, reduced by plunging, the 
plants growing as quickly, if not more quickly, with the pots sunk 
up to and over their rims ; and in that case what becomes of the 
alleged necessity of air passing through the sides of the pots to 
support the plants ? 
If water is given when the soil is in a fit state for its reception, and 
only then, quite sufficient air is conveyed to the roots of plants and 
retained there for all their necessities ; and when plants in glazed 
pots refuse to thrive we are convinced it is not the fault of the 
pots, but of errors in management either in respect to compost, 
drainage, or watering. Growers of Chrysanthemums for exhibi¬ 
tion, who very properly object to plunging the pots, might do 
worse than try some that are glazed outside, and they would find 
the labour in watering sensibly reduced, while the wearing or sus¬ 
taining capacity of the soil would be prolonged ; but it would be 
necessary to exercise great care against overwatering, or the experi¬ 
ment might be the reverse of beneficial. 
Glazed pots are necessarily more costly than the ordinary kind, 
and on that account their use will be limited, though for certain 
purposes they have claims to attention ; and if a demand should 
arise for them their production would perhaps be cheapened, as 
manufacturers of ordinary kinds would soon find the cheapest 
methods of glazing by the natural force of trade competition. 
Much more could be said on this subject, though it is not easy to 
add weight to Mr. Thomson’s experience, confirmed by Mr. James 
Cole’s success, and all we will do now is to express our conviction 
that the supposition of ordinary flower pots possessing special 
virtues because the material is porous, and that the more porous it 
is the better the pots are for plants, though a popular view, is a 
popular fallacy.] 
A CHAPTER ON BROCCOLI. 
Some of the winter and early spring Broccoli failed to head in 
due season, and although this might be fOt as a hardship at the 
time it does not prove to be so, as at present all vegetables are un¬ 
commonly scarce, and the Broccoli now heading freely is really the 
only vegetable many possess. This I am sure will be the means of 
impressing their usefulness on the minds of those who have them, 
and probably it may occur to those who are buying them, and pay¬ 
ing 3d. each for very small heads, that they could grow them more- 
cheaply. The absence of spring Cabbages is much felt, and the 
Broccoli have become so prominent that their culture is sure to- 
become more popular. Where gardens are 'too small to admit 
of very many being grown I would not have autumn or early- 
winter varieties. Other vegetables are plentiful at that season, but 
it is in March, April, and May that the scarcity is most felt. The 
Broccoli season begins in November and continues to the end of 
May. If some can be grown to give a supply in every month be¬ 
tween these dates they will be greatly valued. January and 
February are, as a rule, the most uncertain months for their head¬ 
ing. Varieties are recommended to head then, but should sharp 
frost occur they will not do so ; and although we have plenty of 
ground on which to grow Broccoli I am always inclined to limit the- 
varieties that are said to head then, and give more space to later 
ones, which I know will come with certainty. 
As to the value of Broccoli there cannot be two opinions. Thejr 
are simply indispensable from autumn until summer, and from the 
middle of April until the middle of May is a very important time 
in connection with their culture. This is the season to sow the seed 
of all the varieties. There is no advantage in sowing it before this, 
as the plants are not wanted too early ; but after the middle of 
May it is late to sow, as although the plants may grow, and will 
grow if sown in June or July, they do not gain their full .size 
before the winter, and a half-grown plant is always more tender- 
and liable to be injured by frost than a fully grown one. Little 
half-grown plants are never remunerative. 
As a rule we find Broccoli seed very good, and it germinates- 
freely. A half ounce packet of seed of any variety will produce 
many scores of plants. The seed is best soMm in nursery beds either 
in rows or broadcast, but where space is limited the latter plan is 
best. Keep the varieties separate, or some early varieties may be 
planted with the very late ones, then the piece will be patchy before 
they are all ready for use. Let the seed be evenly distributed, and 
it should be covered to the depth of 1 inch. Make the soil firm on 
the surface ■with the rake or spade, and do not let the birds pull up 
the young plants as they are coming through the soil. If the seed 
is sown now the young plants will, under favourable circumstances, 
appear in a fortnight. They will be 4 inches high by the beginning 
of June, and some of them may be transplanted then. It is good 
practice to take an early, crop of Turnips, Potatoes, or Spinach off 
the ground before the Broccolis are put in, and if these are not 
cleared by the time the Broccoli are ready for planting do not 
allow them to remain in the seed beds to become overcro^wded and 
drawn, but take the largest out and dibble them in elsewhere at a 
distance of 3 inches apart, keeping them there until they can be 
planted in their permanent quarters. This transplanting will 
benefit them in more ways than one. It wiU make them grow very 
compact. It will cause the roots to form a close mass, and then 
transplanting may be done without their receiving the slightest 
check. We treat many of our Broccoli plants in this way. 
As to the best place in which to grow Broccoli there need be no 
difficulty. They wiU grow everywhere. We have had them good 
on light, heavy, and medium soils, in exposed positions and shaded 
positions, but we are averse to putting them in the latter. The 
majority of them having to stand out all winter they cannot be 
grown too much exposed to harden them. Neither am I in favour 
of growing Broccoli in rich soil. This will soon induce them to 
become huge luxuriant plants, but they will not stand severe 
weather. Some of the best Broccoli I ever possessed were grown 
in a field. The soil was not so rich as that of most gardens, and it 
was very firm, and this certainly induced the plants to be very 
hardy in character. I am therefore in favour of treading the soil 
firm as soon as the young plants begin rooting into it. The weather 
is often hot and dry when Broccoli are being planted, but if they 
are thoroughly soaked at the roots the night before, being trans¬ 
planted, and well watered once the day after planting, that is .all 
that is necessary. 
Having to make the most of our garden, we often try the plan 
of double cropping. This may be done in various ways. One way 
is to plant the ground with Potatoes in April, keeping the rows 
2 feet G inches apart, and when the Broccolis are ready for 
planting, put a row in between every two rows of Potatoes. In 
past years I have recommended this plan, but I shall not do so now. 
The Potatoes are apt to make a great deal of top growth, so as to 
completely shade the Broccoli at a time that they should be com¬ 
pletely exposed and laying the foundation of a substantial growth, 
that I much prefer to grow them quite unhampered. I find good 
plants and fine heads c.in be grown if the plants are put in at a 
