138 
close, and fine texture, for which they are so justly 
esteemed. 
In order to carry out a continual succession of the 
Cauliflower section, in which I include the Waleherens, 
Granges's Early White, and others of that class, I make 
three sowings, irrespective of that sown in August for 
hand-glasses, &c.,—one in the last week of April; a 
second in the middle of May; and a third about the 
end of the first week in June. From these sowings, 
plantings in succession may be made, which will carry 
on a continual supply from the early part of September 
to Christmas; the latter, of course, preserved in a special 
manner; of which more presently. 
We will now suppose that our cook has been well 
supplied all the summer, through the medium of two 
sections—the Cauliflowers and the Capes—and that we 
have arrived at that period when “ the holly bough 
hangs on the old oak wall.” Let us now see how the 
gardener provides, henceforth, a continual supply of this 
useful esculent. This brings me to the branching or 
sprouting Brocolis, which, although somewhat despised 
on account of less pretensions, both in point of appear¬ 
ance and colour, yet have for a very many years proved 
a friend in need; for, when those of the Cauliflower 
section, with their marbled faces, have become half 
petrifactions, through retarding or protecting principles, 
or shrunk through long keeping, then it is that these 
despised little ones dare to show their faces. 
With the fear of frosty, dark December, then, before 
our eyes, and an assurance that new kinds, with high 
mid-winter pretensions, may prove treacherous; more¬ 
over, knowing, full well, that our real late or Spring 
Brocolis must not be expected before the first mild run j 
of weather in February; we take care to plant some of J 
the branching or sprouting class to which I before i 
adverted. One sowing in the middle of April, and a ! 
second in the middle of May, will just accomplish the j 
point we must aim at. 
We will next bring our ever-craving cook up to the 1 
middle of February, and we must see how to carry on a i 
supply until the early Cauliflowers come in, which will 
be about the third week in May in general; and those, 
of course, from under hand-lights or extra protection of 
some kind. Here we enter on a host of competitors for 
the distinction; but before venturing on the late spring 
Brocolis, let me advert to a sort of intermediate 
Brocoli, which, when pure, is very valuable; I mean, 
the “ protecting Brocolis,” so called, I presume, from 
their singular habit—they protect themselves. I do not 
vouch, of course, for the products of every paper with 
“Protecting Brocoli” written on it; but for such as I 
have occasionally received, albeit, in the form of angel’s 
visits. This Brocoli, when true, and sown about the 
beginning of April, will produce beautiful white heads, 
buried in a canopy of leaves; the latter point inwards 
so as to form a complete cap, which must be forced by 
violence, occasionally, to get at the cleverly-protected 
head. From a tolerably early sowing, such may be 
obtained a good while before the ordinary spring 
Brocoli, and are invaluable. 
As to those for March, April, and May, the lists are 
so extensive that I really cannot undertake to say any¬ 
thing as to the character expected from the fino names 
therein contained; indeed, it would be almost useless, 
for every season brings out some new name; not, of 
necessity, new kind. It is the fashion now to append 
the name of the seller to them, and, in some cases, this 
may be genuine, if the seedsman has set his “ stock 
grower ” to work. I see no chance for the grower, at 
present, but to trust to the high encomiums given to 
them, unless he can procure a new and generally- 
esteemed kind from the grower and originator. It re¬ 
mains to observe, that those who require a supply of 
spring Brocoli through March, April, and May, should 
November 24. 
sow approved kinds at three periods: say, the middle of 
March, and the first and third weeks in April, Now, 
this is not alone in order to obtain a long succession, 
but to provide against contingencies; for one sowing 
may be lost, clubbed, or subjected to other casualties. 
In concluding this subject, let me advert to one point, 
and that is, the best mode of preserving late Cauliflowers 
and autumn Brocoli during the early frosts of Novem¬ 
ber and December; for this is an important feature in 
securing a continuous supply. It has been a custom, 
with some of our continental neighbours, and even in 
Britain, at some periods, to bury the heads in peat stacks ; 
at least, so I have been informed; and it has been stated 
to be effectual. This 1 have never proved; but the well- 
known antiseptic properties of peat would seem to offer 
one chance, in the extremity of matters, to accomplish 
this end. I should fear, however, that they would either 
become somewhat insipid, or, what would be as bad, 
imbibe a flavour by no means desirable in so delicate an 
esculent. 
The pitting of Apples lias been highly recommended 
by some, in order to prolong them much beyond their 
season; but, although it assuredly has accomplished such 
an end, it has, I believe, ever been accompanied by dete¬ 
rioration of flavour. I do not, however, mean to infer 
that precisely the same must take place with Cauliflowers 
and Brocoli, but merely offer the facts to our readers. 
The following, however, is good practice, as I have 
proved for many years. When the autumn frosts 
threaten, which will generally be in the early part of 
November, we at once tie up the foliage, after the manner 
of blanching Endive or Lettuce; that is to say, we draw 
up all the fresh outer leaves, and force them to protect 
the crown. This will save them from ordinary frosts; 
but if the weather threaten to become severe, this alone 
must not be relied on. The next best plan would be, of 
course, to introduce them to cold pits, or frame-work; 
but who can spare such, at that period, but princes and 
dukes? 
Our off-hand practice has been to excavate a trench 
on a dry bottom and in a sheltered situation; a trench 
about half-a-yard in depth, staking down a slab on each 
side to support the soil. This trench is about forty 
inches wide, and in thi^ we “ heel ” the plants “ in 
head,” removing them with balls of earth. Some have 
been tied, some not; those which have been tied have 
their bands cut, or they are placed tolerably close 
together. Over the trench, crosswise, are placed sundry 
earners, such as stout stakes, at about two feet apart, 
and a strong hook, cut from coarse shrubs or trees, 
secures them at each end, and saves the expense of nails 
and carpenters. Henceforth, then, these sunken pits 
are attended as carefully as a bed of early Radishes: 
mats are thrown over the trench every night, frost or 
not; and if the ice-king shows in earnest, lots of coarse 
litter are strewed over the whole. As to thawing, if they 
do become frozen, why they are managed just as 
gardeners manage their frozen plants: a very slow 
thaw, with as slow an inurement to light, are the points 
aimed at. 
Some gardeners hang them up by their heels, in a 
shed or outhouse, but they soon become leathery, and 
possess too much of the mummy character; yet they 
are really Cauliflowers. I have, I fancy, now shown 
how a continuous supply may be kept up, with the 
exception of the hand-glass Cauliflowers: everybody, 
however, who grows these, needs little information. 
R. Errington. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
