A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

B RO 100 B RO
except that the work of sowing is done
more expeditiously. Subsequently, the
saving is all on the side of the drill sys-
case choose a spot shaded from the
mid-day sun, and cover the bed with
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straw litter, lightly spread over the siirtem.
See Drilling. I know of no face, which suifer to remain until the
sowing where the broadcast mode is seeds sprout, when it should be immepreferable,
except in the case of grass diately removed. Bass mats or cloths
seeds upon lawns. Loudon thus do
scribes the operation of broadcast sowing:—"The
seed is taken up in portions
in the hand, and dispersed by a
horizontal movement of the arm to the
are sometimes used for this purpose;
they should be removed every evening,
and replaced in the morning, etse the
seed loses the benefit of the dew.
" A few observations only are neces-
extent of a semicircle, opening the hand sary as to the progressive culture of
at the same time, and scattering the the l)roccoli. Having, in the first place,
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seeds in the air, so as they may fall as selected a deeply dug, rich piece of
equally as possible over the breadth ground, and planted them therein as
taken in by the sower at once, and you would cabbage plants, allowing
which is generally six feet, that being them rather more room, do not neglect
the diameter of the circle in which his to hoe and stir the
hand moves through half the circum- perfectly clean and
ground, keeping it
free from weeds;
ference. In sowing broadcast on the when they are six or eight inches high,
surface of his beds, and in narrow strips land them up, that is, with the hoe
or borders, the seeds are dispersed draw around the base of the plants
between the thumb and fingers by hori- some of the loose soil, forming it like a
zontal movements of the hand in seg- basin, the stock of the plant being the
ments of smaller circles."
centre. If dry weather ensue, give an
BROCCOLI. The same in Eng., Fr., occasional watering, which will greatly
and Ital. Italienische Kohl, Ger. Bro- facilitate their growth.
culi. Span. " This exquisite vegetable " The earlier sowings will commence
resembles the cauliflower in growth, ap- heading early in the autumn 1 ; the latter
pearance, and flavour, and is supposed sown plants, many of them will show no
to have originated from it. Some of the appearance of heading before winter,
varieties produce white heads, others On the approach of black fro^ they are
purple, sulphur coloured, &c. It is cultivated
with less trouble than the cauliflower,
and heads with more certainty.
The autumn is the season in which it is
generally perfected, but with proper
management may frequently be had
throughout the winter and spring.
" The varieties are extensive, and
differ in the time of ripening, as well as
hardiness. Those we have cultivated
to be removed to some sheltered situation,
and " laid in," after the manner of
winter cabbage ; that is, burying the
stalk entirely up to the lower leaves,
the crown projecting at an angle of
45 degrees. Thny are more tender
than the cabbage, and require to be
protected against severe frost, which
may readily be done by setting over
them frames, such as are placed on hot-
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with most success are the purple cape beds, and cover with shutters, or by
sulphur coloured, and early cauliflower setting boards on edge around them, the
broccoli. There are also several other
autumnal kinds, such as the green cape,
back the highest, on which lay a covering
of boards similar to a roof. Thus
early purple, early white, cream-coloured,
or Portsmouth, &c. ; but the
purple cape is much the most certain
they are sheltered from frost, and undue
quantities of rain. As the winter advances,
and the frost becomes more se-
to head, indeed the only one to be revere, give an additional covering, of
lied on in this climate. Our plan of, straw scattered loosely immediately
cultivation has been, to sow the seed over the plants inside the board cover-
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from the middle to latter end of spring; ing. In this situation they will remain
secure, some of them heading from time
transplanting them when they attain the I
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size at which cabbage plants are gene- to time during the winter, and most of
rally put out. them_ producing fine heads in spring.
"Should the weather prove very dry Care should be observed to remove the
at tbfi periods in which it is proper to straw covering on the arrival of spring,
BOW, some difliculty may be found in and to raise the shutters or boards in
fine weather, that air may be freely ad-
getting the seed to vegetate ; in that !