ñ
will prove abortive. At the same time, to assist those remaining under tlie glasses, draw a little earth
¿ o u t the stem of each. To these continue the glasses tiil the period mentioned above, to forward them
in full growth for th e most early production; but as they expand in the herb, raise each glass upon three
props, 3 in. or 4 in. high, to admit air freely, and to give a larger scope of room above for the free growth
of the plants ; or, when farther advanced, you may draw a small ledge of earth round the bottom of each
glass, both to raise the props higher, for an additional upward space, and to contain water when occasionally
given m dry weather. Towards the end of April, or th e beginning of May. when the plants
will, m a manner, have filled th e glasses, remove these from the most forward, but continue the aid of
glass as long as practicable, to accelerate the plants into early heading in May. Thus the most early
crop will produce a supply of flower-heads for gathering in succession in May and Ju n e .”
3497. F ram e div isio n . “ The other plants of tlie same sowing, designed for wintering in frames, may,
in young growth, a t the end of September, or beginning of October, be either pricked a t once into the
winter beds, or be, a t th a t time, removed into a preparatory bed in the open garden, to have a month’s
growth ; m order to be transplanted into the frame-beds at the end of October or beginning of November
111 rows across the bed, 4 in. by 3 in. apart. Give a light watering, and put on the lights of th e frame
close till the plants have taken r o o t ; then prop up the lights behind, 2 in. or 3 in., or draw them ofl’
occasionally to the back of the frame in mild, dry days, but keep on when very cold, and in rain, snow,
frost, and always a t n ig h t; and in severe frost cover the glasses and round the frames with dry, long,
^ raw y litter and mats; but in all mild, dry weather, admit th e air fully, as in managing the hand-glasses.
1 hen m March or begmnmg of April, tran ralan t the whole into the open garden, in rows 24 ft. a su n d e r:
and they wili come into full production in July and August.”
3498. H a if-sh c lte r cd p o r tio n . “ In want of frames or hand-glasses, you may, in October, either prick
some plants into a warm south border, close under tlie fence, 3 in. apart, to be protected in rigorous
frosts with mats, dry litte r, or reed panels ; or you may prick some in a bed arched over with hoops, to
receive a covering ol mats during cold nights, or lieavy rain, snow, and frosts, in the daytime in winter
^ iv e the full air in all moderate weather, till March or A p ril: then all to be transplanted fmally as
3 4 9 9 . D rum m o n d , of the Cork botanic garden, protects cauliflowcr-plants during winter b y planting
them in excavations made m the common soil of th e garden, and covered with frames thatched with long
straight wheat-straw. He uncovers constantly in mild weather, whether nights or days. (H o r t. T ra n s .,
vol. V. p. 3 6 5 .)
3500. Secondary sow ing, o r f i r s t sp r in g raised-c rop. “ For iate succession summer cauliflowers, to succeed
the autumn-raised, early, and mam summer crops, or, if none were raised to stand th e winter, sow
in the spring, February, or beginning of March, in a moderate hotbed, or, where th a t cannot be had, in
a warm border under a frame or hand-glass; and when the young plants have leaves 1 in. broad, prick
them into other beds of the same description, 3 in. apart, to gain strength by three or four weeks’
growth 111 order to be planted out in the open garden, a t the end o f April or the beginning of M ay;
where th e y will produce tolerable heads in July or August. Sow also in the open garden during the last
fortnight m March, and the first in April, for a late succession, with small flower-heads in August and
throughout autumn. Plants of the last crop, removed as late as May, for fruiting the same vear should
be planted in a shady border.” ’
3501. Seco7id s p r in g -ra is ed c rop. “ The n ex t and last sowing is for the late autumn and winter crop,
commonly called th e Michaelmas c ro p ; to be made towards the 24th of May, in a bed of light earth.
Prick out the young plants in J une, to remain in the intermediate bed till about the middle of July •
t h / i to be transplanted 24 ft. asunder. Give occasional watering till they have taken good root. They
will begin to produce heads in October, but the fruit will be of superior size in November and December
if temperate weather follow.”
3.5¿. F in a l c u ltu r e o f the thre e crops. “ With respect to th e culture of the different crops after being
tinally transplanted, it is to hoe the ground occasionally, in order to cut down weeds, and as well to
loosen th e earth, and draw some round th e stems of th e plants. When the early crops are nearly
a¿_anced to full growth, in May and June, one or two good waterings to the roots will contribute to
th e ir producing large heads. In the dry weather of meridian summer, water those not in flower twice
a w ¿ k ; and those in flower, every second day. As the flower-heads show themselves, tu rn down some
oi the larger leaves, to defend them from sun and rain, and to preserve them white and close, in perfection.”
(A b e rc rom b ie .) ^
3503. Crop f o r w in te r u s e . Cockburn sows the seeds of early cauliflower in a south border in the beginning
ot July, thins to 12 m. or 14 in. apart, and in November finds heads produced from 10 in to 30 in
in circumference. He then removes them with balls, and plants them so as th e ir heads do not touch in
earth, m a shed which will keep out ten degrees of heat. All decayed leaves are taken off and when
severe frost occurs, th e plants are covered with dry short hay. “ I3y this management,” he says “ I
h ¿ e been able to send three dishes of the cauliflowers to table every week during the autumn and
wmter, and shall be able to continue to do so till February.” (H o r t. T r a n s ., vol. v. p. 281.)
3 ¿ 4 . P r e s e r v in g d u r in g w in te r . F or this purpose it is usual to pull up the plant entire, and hang it
up m a shed or cellar, or to lay the plants in sand in cellars or sheds, covering the flower w ith the leaves
and being careful to remove every decayed part as it appears — ' '
this p u rp o se , ’ ................. .
------i-x-........ - .. ..OT.. .. OT..OTOT OTA cellar is not at hand for
Caled. ' '
irpose, a mode may be resorted to which has been adopted by Smith, and described by him in the
H o rt. M em ., vol. i. p. 129., and which consists in burying the entire plant in a pit about 18 in.
deep, dug along th e bottom of a wall. On a dry day he takes up the plant, and. wrapping the leaves
round th e head of th e flower, deposits them in the trench, th e heads sloping downwards and the roots
extending upwards, so th a t th e roots of fhe one layer cover the tops of another. Next he covers up the
whole closely with earth, sloping it from the wall, and beating it smooth with tho back o fth e spade so
th a t rain may run off. In this way he preserves it in a good state from November to January. M'Intosh
keeps cauliflowers as long as he chooses by burying them in bog mould. He does this in the summer
season, as well as during winter; for sometimes, during long droughts, the supply from th e open garden
would otherwise be deficient. (G a rd . M a g ., vol. i. p. 240.) The best mode, however, of prolongm"' the
c ^ h flow e r season, is by raising th e plants with balls, and trench-planting them in frames, or the borders
^ peach or grape houses not in action, taking care to keep th e soil dry, and to remove decaying
leaves ; or, where frames are in suflicient quantity, to place a few over the plants as thev stand in the
compartment.
3505. T o save seed. “ Mark and leave some of th e prime plants of th e thoroughly-nurscd early and
mam crops m May and J une, when the flower-heads are in highest perfection ; as those of late production
Will not ripen seed offectuallv. T h e stools will afford ripe seed in September ; when be careful to
watch the chaffinches, green-birds, &c., and to gather the branches as the seed upon them ripens Lav
them elevated from the ground, in some sunny, airy situation, to dry and harden to full m a tu ritv after
which let th e seed be beaten and rubbed out, cleaned and sifted from th e husky parts, spread on à cloth
to dry the whole equally ; and then put up for sowing the following yea r.” (A b e rc rom b ie .)
3.506. In s e c ts . Cauliflowers, when first planted out, are frequently infested with slugs, or the larvæ of
different cabbage butterflies; to attra ct the former of which, it is not uncommon to sow a little radish-seed
on th e cauliflower ground a fortnight before transplanting ; the slugs preferring the tender leaves of the
radish to those of the cauliflower, th e la tte r are thus suffered to escape. Caterpillars can only be kept
under by picking them off by the hand.
Su b se ct. 7. Broccoli. — "Brássica olerácea, a variety of var. e Bótrytis, L. and Dec.
Broccoli, Fr. ; Italianische Kohl, Ger. ; Schotsche Kool, Dutch ; Broccoli, Ital. ; and
Broculi, SpaiL
3507. The few broccolis tliat were known in Miller’s time are supposed to have proceeded
from_ the cauliflower, which was originaUy imported from tlie Isle of Cyprus,
ahout the middle of the 16th century. MiUer mentions the white and purple broccoli
as coming from Italy ; and it is conjectured, that from these two sorts all the subsequent
kinds have arisen, either by accidental or premeditated impregnations.
3508. Use. The same as the cauliflower.
3509. Subvarie tie s. The common characteristic of broccoli, as distinguished from cauliflower, is colour
in the flower and leaves, and a comparatively hardy constitution to stand the winter. Maher observes
(H o r t. T ra n s ., vol. i. p. 116.), that as all plants of th e .Srássica tribe become less alkalescent and more
palatable in proportion as they approach to a pale or white colour, such varieties of broccoli will uii-
. doubtedly be preferable to purple ones, if they tu rn out equally hardy. H. Ronalds, of Brentford, has
given (I-Iort. T r a n s . , \ o \ . i n . ) a D e sc ription o f the diffe rent sorts o f Broccoli, w ith a n A c count o f the Method
o f cu ltiva tin g th em , from which we shall chiefly compose this article. Tho sorts which follow are placed
m th e order in which they come in perfection to table.
3510. P u r p le Cape o r a u tum n a l broccoli. This has a close, compact head, of a beautiful purple colour ;
th e leaves ave nearly entire, erect, concave, lobed at bottom, and much waved, short, and regularly surrounding
the head; the veins and m idrib are stained with purple, which stain is a test of its being true,;
th e head is exposed to the view in growing ; in general it is not very large ; as it enlarges, the projecting
parts of the flower show a greenish-white, m ixed with the purple colour. When boiled, the whole flower
becomes green. If th e season is showery, and this variety is planted in good ground, it becomes as large
as cauliflower.
3511. M a h e r 's m ode o f tr e a tin g the p u rp le broccoli is as follows :—“ Thre e crops are sown annually:
th e ^ r s i between the 12th and 18th of April ; a second between the 18th and 24th of May ; the th ird lieti
w««n thA thej.lO 9th fllíln and ílO 25th ííH in of f A Anrrilfo.ugust: fllthese «c« cnsuccessive «««cQiTr« r.crops vr.„a esupply «T\«lTr frV,th e « family i’n«-;!.. from September Ail till I AU the „ end
„..,1
’ ' n a border of ..................................
ery r ^____ ,
suffered to appear, and when th e young plants have from eight to ten leaves, which is in about a ni'
they are finally planted out, a t the distance of 2 ft. every way, in a piece of sandy loam, which has
well prepared for the purpose by digging, and enriching it with a large proportion of very rotten i
frequently turned over The ground is k e p t__
stantly clean by hoeing loose surface is drawn totwera
froi
/er;
ing
‘7 ■we<
OTOT OT.OT propo
to pick out every sort of grub or
insect deposited in it.
J whenever a seed-leaf of any weed springs up, and the
gether into a heap round the stem of each plant. The second crop
crop is treated exactly as the first, but the
weaker plants left in the seed-bed are permitted to remain eight or ten days longer, to gain more strength.
They are then transplanted into pots of the size called sixteens, filled with very rich compost, placing
them close to each other in the shade, and duly watering the plants, till they begin to grow freely. After
this, th e pots are plunged in the open ground at 2 ft. distance from each other every way, and about
3 in. under th e general level, leaving a hollow or basin round each plant, to retain any water given to
them when necessary. By the time the pots are filled with roots, and th a t autumnal rams render watering
unnecessary, th e basins are filled up by drawing the earth round each plant, at the same time pressing
it firmly down, to prevent the wind from shaking them. A few of these plants in pots sometimes
show fiowers too soon; and to guard them from early frost, a leaf or two is broken down over them. On
th e approach of settled frost in December and January, all the pots are taken up and removed to a frame,
pit, or shed, where they can be sheltered from the extreme severity o fth e winter, but have air when it is
milder ; und by this method a supply is preserved for th e table in the hardest w inters. To make broccoli
succeed in pots. I find, by experience, tb a t it should be potted immediately from the seed-bed. If it is
transplanted oftener, the head or flower is both less in size, and runs m uch sooner after it forms. For the
same reason, I never prick out or transplant the general c ro p s ; and as the temperature of our climate
does not suffer vegetation to go on briskly from October to March, by following this method, the heads
of flower will remain a long time in a state of rest after they are formed, without bursting, and heads
from 6 in. to 7 in. diameter are th e ordinary produce of our plants. The seeds of th e third crop are sown
in a frame, or under hand-glasses, and about the third week in October the plants become strong enough
to remove, as in the two former crops.”
3512. Green Cape, o r a u tum n a l broccoli. This sort differs but little from the preceding, except in
colour, and in the heads, as well as the plant, proving in general larger. The leaves are long and narrow,
much like those of a cauliflower ; they are very little waved, and, consequently', have a general appearance
of smoothness; the veins and midrib are green. The head, which has some resemblance to a cauliflower,
is of a greenish-white colour, and is usuaUy somewhat covered by th e leaves. These two sorts are very
sportive, running much into each other, and have a strong tendency to degenerate, yet are quite distinct,
and when so, very beautiful. The greatest care should be taken in saving the seeds from the plants
which are perfectly tru e. This remark applies generaUy to all the sorts.
3513. G ra n g e 's early cav lifiowe r broccoli. If this sort is sown a t three different times, from the beginning
of May until the end of June, it will bear its heads in succession from Michaelmas to Christmas, if
th e weather is not severe. The leaves covering the head, defend it from slight attacks of fro s t; they
have long naked foot-stalks, are wider and shorter than those of the green cape, are lobed a t bottom, but
not much waved; the veins and midrib are whitish g re e n ; the head is large, and quite white. It should
be planted at about 2 ft. apart.
3514. Lcgge 's JValcheren broccoli. “ T h e heads,” Mr. Thompson informs us, “ are large, firm, and
white, like a very fine cauliflower, which, in fact, it closely resembles in appearance, except th a t the
leaves are not so plain as those of th e cauliflower. T h e difference in constitution must, however, be
very considerable, for it not only stands the w inter cold, but also th e summer drought, m uch better than
cauliflowers usuaUy do.” (H o r t. J o u r ., vol. i. p. 309.) “ F or th e supply of a family,” says Mr. Legge,
in the same work, “ sow the third week in April, th e middle and end of May, June, and July. This will
give a regular supply till the end of th e year.” For th e purpose of saving seed, sow th e Walcheren
broccoli about the 27th of August, and tre a t the plants Uke cauliflowers.
3515. G re en close-headed w in te r broccoli. This is a new and good sort, apparently a seedling from the
green cape, which it closely succeeds in coming into use. The plants are dw a rf; leaves spreading, and
moderately indented; they are numerous, much waved, and la rg e ; the veins are w h ite ; the flower grows
exposed, nearly resembling that of the green cape in appearance, and does not attain a great size.
3516. Culture . The peculiarity of this variety is, th a t it continues to bear during all the winter, if the
weather is mild. A single plantation, from seeds sown in May, Ronalds found to yield heads fit for use
through th e months of November, December, January, and February. P la n t from ft. to 2 ft. distance.
3517. E a r ly p u rp le , or sp routing broccoli. This is a very excellent kind, of a deep purple colour ; if the
tm e sort, it is close-headed a t firs t; afterwards it branches, but it is apt to come green, and too much
branched, especially in rich ground. The plants are from 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, growing strong and t a l l ;
th e leaves are mucIi indented, of a pnrplish-green co lo u r; they spread out wide, but not long, though
th e stalks are so ; the head is quite open from the leaves; small leaves are sometimes intermixed with
the head: the plants produce sprouts of flowers from the also of the leaves.
, . J feto tal
ré. fe;