IS72. ] 
BROCCOLI : ITS CULTURE AND VARIETIES. 
7 
Lettuces we have also in the Kingsholm Cos. In Radishes we have a welcome 
addition to our winter salads in the Large White Californian , no doubt of 
Japanese or Chinese extraction, introduced by Mr. Robinson, which grows to a 
large size, resembles a great white Sablons turnip, and is of good quality. 
Lastly, amongst Potatos, we have so many to choose from, that we are at a loss 
which to select: Lee's Hammersmith Early Kidney is very fine in appearance, but 
it would be invidious to name others from amongst so many. It is satisfactory 
to know, and highly gratifying to feel, that the past season, although an unpro- 
pitious one for gardening generally, does not show any falling-off of energy 
amongst gardeners, but a quiet progressive improvement.—A. F. B. 
BROCCOLI : ITS CULTURE AND VARIETIES. 
[N penning a few notes on this esteemed vegetable, I have little new to offer, 
but merely purpose to describe a practical method of treatment, which if 
carried out, cannot fail to give satisfactory results. I may mention that 
Broccoli in some shape, and Mushrooms in plenty, are two things indispens¬ 
able at Burgliley. Just now (December) we have a good stock of Walcheren 
Broccoli, well covered with fern—the best of all protectors for outside things, 
to be followed by Snow’s Broccoli, also covered up. 
For my first crop of Walcheren, I sow the seed about the middle of August, 
and plant (under hand-lights) in the first week of October all the larger plants, 
reserving the small ones for three-light boxes, which gives me a succession from 
the first week in June, until the last in July. These are followed by a pinch of 
seed sown inside in February, which comes into use in August. In March we 
make a sowing on a south border, and another the first week in May; and by 
picking out all the best plants first, leaving the smaller fry for the last batch, we 
are enabled to keep well on until Christmas. 
The land cannot be too highly tilled for Cauliflowers, trenching and manuring 
being the order of the day ; but for Spring Broccoli the case is different. We 
want good stocky plants. They are the following crop after the early potatos are 
cleared, and the firmer the land the better. We strike the lines 3 ft. apart, and 
plant 2 ft. 6 in. apart in the row, one man making the holes with a crowbar, and 
another dropping in the plants. The only planting required is to well wash the 
dry earth into the holes, filling them level with the ground; and they seldom 
require any more water. We never lift or lay in our Broccoli, the plants being 
sturdy and hardy, but in severe weather we cover the whole with fern, the wind, 
rain, &c., washing it down to the fatal spot, the neck, and thus preserving them. 
The following varieties keep us supplied with Broccoli nearly the whole year 
round :—Snow’s Winter White ; Osborn’s, a really good thing ; Early Malta ; Frog- 
more Improved, for early spring, say January to April, when we have Elletson’s, 
White Protecting, Hibbie’s Royal Alfred; and for latest of all, Cattell’s Eclipse, 
the best of all Broccolis for late work. 
As an illustration of Broccoli, growing in firm land, I may mention that when 
