102 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 13. 
more especially in the perpetuate and autumn-blowing 
varieties. 
Turning .—This mode of training applies only to such 
as are of a climbing habit. Several of the hybrid- 
China, noisettes, Banksians, and all designated as climb¬ 
ing-roses, should he trained by this method. Many of 
them are handsome objects in pots, but as they produce 
their blooms on the spurs of the long shoots, they will 
not bloom if these are pruned away, hence it is neces¬ 
sary to twine them. The way to accomplish this, is to 
place four or five stakes at equal distances within an 
inch or two of the edge of the pot. These stakes should 
be at least three feet high, made of good red deal, and 
neatly painted green. The plants should be furnished 
with at least three, and not more than five long strong 
shoots. These branches should be brought outside the 
stakes, and twined gently round the circumference of the 
stakes, tied to each, sloping gradually upwards, and at 
equal distances from each other. They ought to cover 
the stakes nearly from bottom to top ; the extreme ends 
should be cut off; this would, combined with the 
twining process, cause almost every eye to break, and 
each side-shoot would most likely blossom in bunches 
freely. 
Thinning the blooms .—Whenever there are more 
flowers than there is room for each fully to expand, or 
where the plants are weak, it is highly necessary in an 
early stage to thin the buds; take away all that are 
small, deformed, or imperfect, leaving the largest and 
most healthy to expand and come to perfection. This 
is especially needful with such varieties as have very 
double flowers, or hard close buds—such for instance as 
Smith’s yellow noisette. It is reasonable to expect that 
any rose will be benefited if a certain number of flowers 
only are allowed to bloom. Such buds also should be 
left as are likely to bloom at the same time; this rule of 
course applies only to plants intended to be exhibited. 
T. Appleby. 
NOTES ON BROCOLI. 
If the long-continued service of any one vegetable be 
regarded as a criterion of its worth, the one which now 
forms the subject of our notice has great claims on our 
attention; as taken with its kindred tribe, the cauliflower, 
(and botanists class them together), they arc expected 
between them to furnish our tables with an acceptable 
dish the whole year round. Now, though this is diffi¬ 
cult to accomplish in severe winters, or in situations 
unusually bleak and cold, yet the improved varieties 
which the skill of cultivators have presented us with in 
the last few years, have made the undertakiifg more easy 
than it used to be, and some have affirmed their ability 
to accomplish the task with one kind alone. Be this as 
it may, we are not inclined to curtail our list so much 
as that, although we are enemies to a multitude of 
names; but as there is generally (we might say always) 
some uncertainty hangs over the character of seeds of 
this tribe, it would be unsafe to trust the whole crop of 
this important article to the uncertainty of one indi¬ 
vidual kind. Rather, therefore, make use of some four or 
five sorts which the experience of former years has 
taught us may be expected to come into profit at the 
times wanted, while at the same time a fair proportion 
of those whose character leads to a belief that they 
ought to furnish a continuous supply of themselves 
may also be planted; of the latter class, our readers 
will perceive that we mean the Walcheren, which, form¬ 
ing as it were a connecting link between the cauliflower 
and brocoli tribe, partakes of the character of both. 
This useful variety, which some insist may be made to 
keep up a supply from the first of January to the last of 
December, is, when true, the most serviceable brocoli 
that can be planted; yet we have seen many failures 
with it, and it is not sufficiently hardy to withstand 
such severe winters as we generally have alternately— 
we more especially allude to the central parts of 
England. Along the south coast, and other highly- 
favoured spots, no doubt but it is all that can be desired; 
but there are a great many places where it is evidently 
not at home. Besides, when a severe season does 
occur, and a total dependanee has been put on this one, 
then woe betide the gardener who has to face the 
kitchen authorities for so many weeks, when one of the 
most necessary of winter vegetables is lacking ! He will 
then sorrow that he did not plant a good breadth of the 
Sprouting, Danish, or other hardy kinds, on which the 
war of the elements makes but little impression. 
Now, though it i3 too late at this period to sow the 
principal crops of these and other brocoli, yet, as we 
gave directions at the proper time, we expect that a 
thriving brood are shewing themselves with great pro¬ 
mise, and we now proceed to the planting, or rather 
to make arrangements for that work ; as the skilful culti¬ 
vator is always expected to have that foresight which 
enables him to see his way clear in Iris different plans 
and crops, that he will have planted his other crops so 
as, if possible, to give this one a plot of ground on which 
something different from the cabbage-worts occupied 
last; not that we insist on this point, because we have 
seen excellent crops of this and other things follow each 
other for a number of years—still we think it was at a 
sacrifice. Nature is so accommodating as to direct her 
resources to the production of that particular food 
wanted by each individual tribe, but if she be taxed 
again and again for the self-same tiling, we may justly 
infer her energies will become impaired, and a sickly 
diminutive growth be the result, unless a generous 
assistance be given in the shape of manure, either solid 
or liquid. We are aware that a liberal application of 
these will maintain that degree of fertility necessary to 
support the same crop in health and vigour year after 
year, yet we are far from certain that a less quantity 
would not support equally heavy crops if varied every 
season; therefore, when it can be managed, let brocoli 
follow such a crop as potatoes, or some of the pea tribe. 
It is very common to follow the former of these the same 
season, when the roots have been dug early, and as it is 
necessary to crop heavily in most gardens, a period of 
rest is out of the question, unless it be that period in 
which all progress is arrested by the elements, and a;s 
early potatoes are generally off in time to plant brocoli, 
recourse must be had to such a suitable piece of ground. 
In addition to this, we plant brocoli between rows of 
peas, which, on that account, are sown in rows wider 
apart than usual—generally six or eight feet; and in 
planting, the usual distance of two feet is allowed be¬ 
tween row and row of brocoli, one being just a foot on 
each side of the peas, so that when the latter is cleared 
away, the ground is fully occupied, and, excepting the 
latest peas, there is generally sufficient growing season 
afterwards to allow tire plants to attain that sturdiness 
of habit which their confined position had deprived 
them of. Now, we are no advocates for mixed crops, 
except in some special cases, and this is one; and we 
have seen excellent crops of peas (five feet high) grown 
in rows eight feet apart, and when the picking is con¬ 
fided to some careful individual the crop alluded to is 
progressing likewise. It is almost needless to say, that 
if planted without the encumbrance of the pea crop 
the brocoli will be better; but there is seldom so much 
ground at command as to allow them that indulgence 
at all times. 
In planting, be sure to place a few of the latest kind 
on some north corner, or other shady late place, in order 
to prolong the season in spring up to the time of cauli¬ 
flowers coming in. 
As we have, in former numbers, given the kinds most 
