890 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, March 10, 1887. 
is seen rising through the surface remove the saucer, 
aud set the plants again to drain. 
The same directions may be followed in planting these 
j Ferns in a rockery or Fernery, placing the pieces of 
rock or stone firmly round the base of the plant, so as 
to keep the soil firm to the roots. The plants may he 
increased by division, which will require great care 
and nicety. They may also be increased by the true- I 
tificatiou. They succeed remarkably well in the close, 
warm temperature of a stove, but will do quite as well, 
and perhaps better, in a greenhouse. 
BROCCOL1S, THEIR PAST HISTORY ANI) 
PRESENT POSITION. 
Every observing and experienced gardener knows full 
well that a great change has come over the Broccoli seed l 
trade during the past twenty years. Formerly seeds 
were packed in brown paper, devoid of all decora¬ 
tion, with the name in plain English written thereon: 
the “superbs” and “splendids” of the present day were 
then unknown. Forty years since we had such as 
Early Purple s, Late Purples, Late Whiles, Siberian, 
Portsmouth, the Sulphurs, &c., and few other names 
could be found in the shops: about eight names would 
comprise the whole stock. Now, if we were to search 
all our noted catalogues, we should, perhaps, be able 
to count three score of kinds. The worst of it is, that 
we have few names at this period by which a person 
ignorant of the Broccoli family could guess at their 
character and merits. Such names as “ Protecting,” 
“Particular Late White,” “Winter Broccoli,” &c., we j 
can understand very well—they at once convey their 
meaning; but who that does not know this numerous 
family could guess at the character of a “Dilcock’s 
Bride,” a “ Waterloo” White, &c.? 
The first great change in the Broccoli family took 
place, as far as I can remember, about tbe year 1817, 
or about that period when the late Mr. Grange, of 
Kingston or Hackney, made a great noise amongst the 
Broccoli growers by that famous kind known then as i 
“ Oranges Impregnated Broccoli." This Broccoli, could j 
we obtain it pure as it came then from Grange’s hand, j 
would, with the Cauliflower, Capes, Snow’s Winter White, 
and another or two I could name at this period, without 
the assistance of all the boasted new kinds, enable a 
good gardener to keep up a supply the whole year, or 
nearly so; yet the new lists of superbs, &c., boast this 
feat as a thing of modern invention. 
As to Cauliflowers, strange to say, they never seem to 
vary—certainly not to improve. In my opinion good 
Cauliflowers were more easily obtainable forty years 
since than at the present period. At that period I was 
engaged at tbe seed counter, and we used to get our 
Cauliflower stock from some celebrated growers at Mil- 
bank, persons who grew it for the trade. 
The introduction of Grange’s Impregnated seemed to 
form a new era in Broccoli culture. How this variety 
was produced I know not, but imagine it must have 
been a cross between a good Late White and a Cauli¬ 
flower. The Capes had been introduced some time 
previously, but how or from whence I have never been 
able to ascertain, and should feel obliged to any one 
who could instruct me on this head. They differ so 
much in habit and general character from ail the other 
Broecolis, that they might almost be taken as a species. 
Judging from their name, we might infer that they came 
from one of the great Capes, but surely not from Cape 
Horn or the Cape of Good Hope. 
The introduction of the latter class proved a great 
boon to gardeners, as they readily produced a supply 
during part of August and through September, which 
period had hitherto proved most difficult to the old 
gardeners; in fact, they served at once to connect the 
Cauliflowers of the past summer with those of tbe 
approaching Michaelmas, and thus a supply of one kind 
or other could be secured the whole year round. 
One thing, however, was wanting; there existed a 
i blank of about three weeks between the latest spring 
Broccoli and the earliest Cauliflower under glasses, and 
this was at last filled by the introduction of a kind 
called “ Particular Late White." About twenty years 
since I received a packet from the late Mr. Knight, of 
the Exotic Nursery, now Mr. Veitch’s, in the King’s 
Road: this packet was labelled “ Somers Particular 
Late White,” and a most excellent Broccoli it was; but 
I have never been able to get the same since, albeit I 
have received a paper with the same name repeatedly, 
but the contents were generally “ particular bad." This 
was a singular Broccoli; it scarcely seemed to be excited 
by the rising spring temperature uutil April, when all 
of a sudden it began to produce abundance of small 
leaves in the centre, yet with scarcely any appearance 
of a head. To be sure a green knob might be felt in 
the centre, but nobody would liave fancied such could 
beconre a good head. Yet this was the case, only 
it required a long time in which to develope it, and this 
fact constituted its peculiarity and its merits. This 
Broccoli came to hand in the first three weeks of May, 
and was succeeded by the early Cauliflowers under 
glasses, not leaving a day blank. 
The Protecting class were also a boon to the gardener, 
and originated under Lliat name more thau a score years 
since. These, when true, are valuable; for, if sown 
about the first week in April, they will form heads early 
in February if the spring be anyways mild; aud as 
their leaves all converge into a kind of cupola, they, as 
their name imports, protect themselves, and if anything 
suffers it is the foliage which so surely encases the 
head. 
Beyond the kinds here described, as far as I am 
acquainted with their history, I am not aware that we 
have anything really new. There are numerous syno- 
nymes existing amongst these, as among other things, 
and people should be cautious how they select. 
One reason exists, as I think, for purchasing a new 
kiud or two every season. When a raiser brings out a 
new sort he of course intends to charge a good price 
for it, aud if he has been at the pains to select a good 
stock he deserves extra remuneration. Now, when 
Broccoli seed of new kinds will bring Is. 6d. per packet, 
or say about 8s. to 10s. per ounce, it pays well to look 
sharp after it; but in due time, be it what kind it may, 
it comes down to Is. or Is. Gd. per ounce, and no longer 
constitutes an object of so much concern. The name 
still appears in the catalogues, but it is no longer the 
same material, aud, after a few re-appearances, finally 
disappears altogether, and gives place to the novelties 
of the day. Now, this is a point which all purchasers 
should bear in mind, and I believe it will be found 
correct. 
The difficulty of saving Broccoli seed true is ac 
knowledged on all sides. I suppose it is not possible 
to obtain a pure stock if two kinds are in blossom at 
the same tirpe in the same garden. How far Cabbages, 
Turnips, and other greens may influence the stock it is 
impossible to say; but certain it is that, being so closely 
allied, they are all to be regarded with suspicion. 
Hence the Broccoli question will always have its 
difficulties. 11 is a pity but some arrangement could be 
entered into by which our market gardeners could be 
induced to grow one kind each, and thus accommodate 
each other, as well as make a respectable profit in the 
stock being recognised by the public. 
