1876 . ] 
GARDEN WORK FOR DECEMBER. 
279 
are comparatively scarce, the markets of Brussels being supplied with it from 
Christmas till Easter, and even later. 
The seeds are sown during the first fortnight of June, 
in good and rather deep garden soil. The only care to 
be taken is not to crowd the plants too much. The 
roots should be about 4 in. apart, in order that they may 
be thoroughly developed, for upon the strength of the root 
% 
will the size and quality of the head in a great measure de¬ 
pend. The forcing is commenced about the end of October, 
and continued to the end of February. A trench, from 
•3^ft. to 5ft. wide, and from Sin. to 16in. in depth, is 
opened in a favourable part of the garden. In the bottom 
of this trench, after having cut back the leaves to a length of 
about 2 in., the roots are planted upright, or very slightly 
inclined, at the distance of an inch from one another, and in 
rows about 8 in. apart. Between the roots light soil or 
compost is placed so that no space may be left, and finally, 
the crowns are covered with about 3 in. or 4 in. of the same 
light soil. The planting is then finished, and the develop-1 
ment of the leaves now only depends upon the heat applied. 
The system of heating adopted in Belgium consists in 
putting a bed of fresh stable-manure, of the thickness of 
from 2 ft. to 3 ft.,, over the plants.' This, perhaps, is a 
somewhat primitive and expensive method of forcing, as 
by it a large quantity of manure is required and much 
trouble involved, and it is quite possible that less costly 
methods of treatment might be devised. However this 
may be,' if the heat be sufficient, the heads are fit for 
cutting a month or six weeks after it is applied, and will 
then measure from 3-J in. to 6^ in. in height, by 1 in. to 
2 in. in thickness. The heads are cut before the leaves 
reach the manure, ' in fact when they are an inch or two 
from it, and this saves them from being embrowned and 
spoilt. The word “ "Whitloof ” means literally “ White 
leaf.”—(Abridged from the Journal de la Societe Centrak 
JHorticulture .) 
GARDEN WORK FOR DECEMBER. 
FLOWERS. 
WEE-BEDS that are wanting new soil may be made up by using the soil 
^ ^ of old vine borders, which is sometimes available at this season in the pre- 
paratory work of vine-culture. ' No soil is better adapted to the purpose 
than this, and for top-dressing herbaceous borders and rose-beds it is excel¬ 
lent and nutritious. In frosty weather this may be wheeled on here and there 
