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does not spread wide, and the large side leaves generally drop off to make room for the sprouts. It is advisable to sow the seed as early as the weather will permit in April, so as to forward the plants for transplanting to the beds. In saving the seed of this variety and every other of the brassica tribe, care should be taken that the plants of each sort be kept distinct, so that the farina may not get intermixed; otherwise they are apt to sport and rob each other of their best qualities.

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In Miller's Dictionary, under the article BRASSICA, the few brocolis then known are supposed to have proceeded from the cauliflower, which was originally imported from the island of Cyprus, about the middle of the sixteenth century. Miller mentions the white and purple brocoli as coming from Italy; and it is conjectured, that from these two sorts all the subsequent kinds have arisen, either by accidental or premeditated impregnation. There is no culinary plant so apt to sport as brocoli; hence new varieties are continually coming into notice. In their growth, habit, and eatable parts, they greatly resemble the cauliflower, all of them forming roundish heads in the centre of their leaves, composed entirely of a compact collection of numerous buds or ends of advancing shoots.

The brocoli is cultivated principally for autumn, winter, and spring use, these being the seasons of its production in the greatest perfection. They are very hardy and resist the cold of an ordinary

winter, but very severe frosts will affect and sometimes kill them, as was the case in the extraordinary winter of 1838.

The chief sorts and varieties in general cultivation are as follow:

1. Early Purple Sprouting. This sort grows to a moderate height, and produces smallish purple heads, and comes a fortnight or more earlier than the others. It is proper for the first crop, which, if sown the latter end of March or beginning of April, and again in May, and planted out in June and July, comes in for use from Michaelmas till Christmas.

2. Large Late Purple is a robust and growing sort, and produces a large purplish head like a cluster of buds, and is very delicate eating; but as it grows tall, and is more likely to be injured by the frost, it is now generally superseded by the

3. Dwarf Late Purple, which seldom rises above a foot in height, and is an excellent late and hardy variety, being in perfection throughout April and the greatest part of May. When the heads of the above three varieties are gathered, the stalks produce plenty of fine sprouts terminated by small heads, which are as sweet and tender to the taste as the principal ones.

4. Early Cape is a very useful variety. It produces rather large heads with many shades of colour, but principally a reddish brown. As this sort comes very early, it is an acquisition; the heads, if genuine, are close, firm, and compact, but in general they are not of first-rate quality, though a considerable improvement has been made in them

within the last forty years, at which time this variety was first introduced.

5. Early White. The author recollects seeing this variety very fine above sixty years ago. The heads are white and of a close texture; the plants are hardy, and grow about two feet high. This sort has of late been greatly improved, especially by Mr. Grange, of Piccadilly and Covent-garden, who introduced the following variety, now extensively cultivated:

6. Grange's Early Cauliflower Brocoli, which produces large, fine, compact, white heads, of a conical shape. The leaves nearly cover the heads, and thus afford protection in frosty weather. This sort is, without exception, one of the very best both in colour, size, and flavour; if the seed is sown at three different times, from the beginning of May until the end of June, the plants will produce in succession from Michaelmas to Christmas.

7. Invisible, or Cup-leaved, derives its name from the long hollow leaves which cross each other on the top of the head and render it invisible, and greatly protect it from the severity of the weather. As it is a late sort, this natural protection renders it a great acquisition. The heads are of middling size and a beautiful white colour.

8. Sulphur-coloured or Portsmouth Brocoli. There are many other names attached to this fine variety in the seedsmen's catalogues, but from twenty years' practice and observation, the author pronounces them to be derived from that stock, which for a nunber of years has been largely eultivated in the vicinity of Portsmouth, the Isle

of Wight, and Southampton, where perhaps they are produced larger and finer than in any place in the world. This variety is grown also by the London market-gardeners, but not with such success. The late Mr. Matyear, of Fulham, who had above 100 acres of land under spade cultivation, obtained from Mr. W. Rogers some of the genuine seed from Portsmouth for trial, but after two or three seasons, the heads greatly decreased in size and quality. The author considers the soil near London as too rich and light for growing this sort in perfection the soil round Portsmouth is not so highly manured, and is rather of a strong loamy kind; the climate, too, is perhaps more genial. It is a valuable sort, being hardy and exceeding all others in size. The heads are a buff or cream colour, and very firm and compact; they come in principally from the end of April to the beginning of June.

9. Late Dwarf Tartarian. This sort approaches nearest to the cauliflower than any other; it is quite as delicate and very white. It has but lately been introduced, and is a valuable acquisition; the plants can be planted at the distance of eighteen inches each way, as they do not grow to a large size, and seldom more than one foot in height; they are very hardy and the latest variety of brocoli in cultivation. Many gardeners who have plenty of spare ground grow them for early spring cabbages or borecole; and they are found very delicate and wholesome winter greens after Christmas. The author would strongly recommend the cultivation of this sort in every garden as a superior and delicate vegetable.

10. Early Malta White is a good sort, and pro

duces heads of a middling size and white; it is not unlike the Tartarian, but it comes much earlier.

11. Green-headed Winter Brocoli is a variety from the purple cape, and closely succeeds it in coming into use. The plants are dwarf; the heads grow exposed and do not obtain a large size. The greatest care should be taken in saving the seeds of this variety, as they are apt to sport and degenerate. This remark applies generally to all the sorts.

12. Miller's Late Dwarf White is also an excellent variety; it comes late, and is of great delicacy. There are also many other white sorts, but they greatly resemble one another; the best and most distinct are named in the above list, and these will be found quite sufficient for cultivation in any garden.

Culture. All the different sorts and varieties are raised from seed sown in the open ground at various times. Brocoli in general succeeds best in a fresh rich loamy soil, where it comes more true and hardy; but if this cannot be procured, deep digging, with plenty of manure, is the only alternative to obtain good crops.

The principal seasons for sowing the main crops are March and April for the autumn and winter productions, and May and the beginning of June for the principal successive crops to come in for the spring supplies: some may occasionally be sown as early as February, or the beginning of March in a warm situation. But if the weather should prove very severe, some protection will be necessary, such as a spare frame, or (what is very good) some dried fern, as this is of a light nature, admits of a circulation

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