162 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 1. 
Dwarf, both of which come into use all at once, while 
Bowles's are more in the character of the general spring 
Brocoli, which come on irregularly, as the weather 
and other circumstances influence them. But as many 
cultivators have “ a kind of their own,” which is often 
better than the named trade varieties, it is needless 
hero advising them to retain it, for it will probably turn 
out to be of more use than any other kind they can grow; 
and in my individual case, I find the home-saved variety 
produce the best heads, and then coming into use at 
the latest periods. However, I may say, that Jloirlcs's 
is the most certain variety, when true, to produce a nice 
lot of uniform, useful heads, not so large, certainly, as 
the Southampton, Portsmouth, and some others, which 
come into use a little sooner, but it is more hardy than 
these, and on that account more certain to become 
useful. However, as it is not advisable to depend on 
one kind alone, although I by no means advise a 
formidable array of names, still, as there is some 
uncertainty hanging over this article, it is not prudent 
to depend on any kind for the sole supply ; and the fact 
of a kind having been good one season is no reason for 
insuring it being so, unless the seed be from the same 
parcel, for the liability it has to be contaminated by 
what may be in contact with it is such as to render it 
unsafe to be depended upon alone. 
The seed of this vegetable, like many things else, 
differs a little in the variety, the same as Turnips 
do, but cannot be distinguished from Turnips or 
Cabbage, whose seed resembles it; and, like these, its 
seed is not capable of retaining vitality many years, 
like the cereals and many other seeds, whence arises 
the necessity for having it fresh. Neither are the 
plants raised from seed of a great age endowed with 
that vigour necessary to enable them to overcome the 
many enemies they have to encounter in their progress 
while young; it is, therefore, highly necessary to have 
new seed, and it is equally so to sow it on ground that is 
in a nice mellow state to receive it; rough, hard, or 
tough, cloddy lumps, that will not break without much 
force, are to be avoided, and a piece which lias been 
lying some time exposed to the air, and become 
mellow, ought to be divided into as many beds as 
wanted, and the seeds sown, each kind by itself, notifying 
the same on a stick, or tally, sufficiently long to reach 
above the heads of the plants when they are large 
enough to plant out, covering the seeds lightly with 
the same description of soil, and over that laying 
some loose boughs, netting, or other shading material, 
if the weather be hot and dry, but these must be 
removed immediately the seeds vegetate, the object 
being to prevent the rays of the sun scorching the 
ground too much. The varieties of Brocoli intended 
for late spring supply ought to be sown as early in the 
spring as the state of the ground out-of-doors will allow, 
other things being taken into consideration as well. 
Earlier varieties, as the Cape , Walcheren, and Snow’s 
Winter, to be sown later, some as late as the second 
week in June, but the bulk before that time; while 
the beginning of May is a very good time for such as 
Chappel's, Oranges, and many others, whose names 
being more modern need not be mentioned, as they are 
often little else than repetitions, and our seed-lists are 
prolific enough that way. 
Like all the members of the Cabbagcworts, the young 
plants of this species are much subjected to the attacks 
of the Turnip-fly, which, in some seasons, destroys them 
wholesale ; the remedy is to employ vigorous good seed, 
and the ground being good also, the plants, or rather 
the ground, must be strewed over every morning with 
lime, wood-ashes, or soot, so as completely to cover the 
young seed-loaves; this will check the depredations of 
this pest until, the plant has time to make its third 
leaf, after which it is not likely to suffer so much from 
| this plague. The slug, wire-worm, and other enemies, 
are also less likely to do mischief in the presence of this 
caustic substance. Weeding, and other routine work, 
we suppose needless mentioning; so that the next im- 
j portant duty is the selection of a suitable site for its final 
planting-out, which, however, cannot always be done, 
for many a square intended to be Brocoli is, at this 
period, under crop with something else that it is prudent 
not to meddle with; and as stern necessity induces us to 
make the most of our ground, Brocoli is so accommodating 
as to be able to shift for itself with but indifferent treat¬ 
ment for a time, and after all, to make considerable 
I amends for the lost time, when justice is atlength done it; 
! but as-the many “ make shifts ” to which it is subjected to 
form an important feature in the management of a 
kitchen-garden, 1 will leave to another week what 1 
have not space allowed me to explain in this; desiring, 
however, our young friends, who may have beds of 
seedlings crowding and spoiling each other, to have a 
quantity pricked-out on some open piece of good ground 
at once, and they will easily see, hereafter, of what use 
these may be put to; and the sooner after a plant 
becomes fit size to handle that this pricking-out takes 
place, the better, in order that they may attain that 
sturdy habit so essential to their after-success. 
J. Robson. 
EXETER POULTRY EXHIBITION. 
This annual show of Poultry took place on Thursday and 
' Friday, the 18th and 19th of May, and quite fulfilled the 
hopes of its promoters; nearly three hundred pens of 
poultry were exhibited; and the attendance included almo.->t 
every family of distinction in the immediate neighbourhood. 
The local advantages of the southern counties for the pro¬ 
duction of poultry is generally acknowledged; and the 
situation of Norlhernliay (the spot on which the exhibition 
is held) is all the most ardent lover of rural scenery could 
desire. The annoyances that by possibility may arise from 
unfavourable weather, here, however, were too manifest, for 
the daybreak of Thursday ushered in continuous and heavy 
rain, to the terrible discomfiture of the committee, the 
judges, and also the imprisoned poultry. For several hours 
were the judges fulfilling their arduous duties, (for the 
competition in some of the classes was very good,) exposed j 
to the pitiless, and, apparently, never-ending shower; the. 
exceedingly wetted state of most of the fowls greatly 
increasing the difficulties of their allotted task; more j 
especially as, here and there, a few pens, shadowed by some 
lofty over-hanging elm, enjoyed many advantages of which 
the majority were deprived. This leads to the conviction, 
that exhibitions conducted within doors are always the most 
to he depended upon, as to the general receipts, and also the 
comforts of all parties interested in their well doing; we 
may truly add, the fowls themselves, under such arrange¬ 
ment, do not incur anything like the same danger from 
mishaps, for, should any escape, they are easily retaken, 
and it is universally known, that fowls, if compelled to remain 
inactive, exposed to heavy rains, are always, more or less, the 
sufferers. 
Most unexpectedly, however, about mid day, the weather 
altered, the heavy and dreary-looking clou is were soon 
dispelled, the sun shone most brightly, the poultry, ex- j 
hilirated by the happy change, preened lustily at their 
feathers, and by the time of opening to the public, the 
refreshed gardens were all that could be desired; still, the 
committee were aware that “their escape, at the last moment, ' 
from severe loss was really miraculous.” The poultry were 
exhibited on three terraces—the larger varieties on the lower 
one; the Hamburghs and l’olands on the second ; whilst the 
upper one afforded good accommodation for the Lilliput 
Bantams, Pigeons, and extra class. On the extensive green 
beneath these terraces, the regimental band from the j 
adjacent barracks occupied a most prominent position, aud, 
by well-executed martial and other airs, much enlivened the j 
proceedings of the day, being so far removed from the | 
poultry, as to prevent the annoyances sometimes complained j 
