Broccoli, Sprouting

This is one of the most valuable of vegetables; but to make a good return it must have a long season of growth, and for this reason it should be sown in the open ground as early in March as a nice dry seed-bed can be got in readiness. In planting out for autumn supplies, allow three feet, or thereabouts, every way; but in planting out to stand the winter, two-thirds of that distance in every direction will be sufficient, as, when rather thick, the plants help to protect one another. They are liable to "the club" - a kind of disease supposed to be the result of scanty manuring and shallow digging, which promotes premature development of the plant before the head appears. This must be carefully guarded against even in the seed-bed, which should be rather fresh soil, not too rich, and may be heavily dressed with the charred material from the rubbish heap. In planting them out it is my practice to dip their roots in a puddle composed of the same charred material and some very adhesive loam, adding a handful or two of quick lime and soot, which I find prevents the mischief.

Brussels Sprouts (Brassica Oleracea, Bullata Gemmifera)

A most useful green, and adapted to either large or small gardens. It is also one of the hardiest greens we possess. Not only its flavour, tenderness, and hardiness recommend it, but it makes a peculiar and important-looking dish. It can only be grown to perfection in a generous soil, and with the aid of a long season to complete its growth. The seed should be sown in March or April on a well-prepared seed-bed, and as soon as the plants are large enough to handle, a first plantation should be made in well-manured ground, two feet apart every way. As fast as a quarter can be got ready the planting-out should continue, and, when necessary, the plants should be watered and shaded for a week or ten days, to give them a fair start. It produces a small neat head, like a small and late savoy, and in due time the stem becomes studded with little knobs, which, indeed, is the principal aim in its culture. The head should not be cut until most of the side sprouts are removed, as it is a protector to them, and keeps the root in action.

If extra fine buttons or miniature cabbages are required, seed should be sown in August, and the plants wintered on a dry sheltered bank, or in frames.

Cabbage (Brassica Oleracea Capitata)

This vegetable is so universally known as to require little description. I may, however, point to its culture.

If properly managed these are very productive, at far less cost of land and labour than most other crops.

They may be sown in heat in February, and nursed on in frames for planting out; but the experienced and prudent cultivator will be able to secure plenty of good plants without taking all that trouble; and will, consequently, save his frames and his time for crops less hardy than the one we are now speaking of. A very fair cabbage may be obtained from almost any kind of soil, but a better one from a good loam resting on clay, assisted by a plentiful supply of manure. Seed should be sown occasionally from March to August, so as to ensure a supply of nice stocky stuff for planting out whenever and wherever you have room. The March and July sowings are generally the most important, as on these chiefly depend the supplies during winter and spring, when they are most in request. The distances at which cabbages are planted will greatly depend on the season and sort. Coleworts planted in autumn may be from six to nine inches asunder, but large cabbages must not be put out nearer to each other than a foot or eighteen inches each way.

Capsicum And Chili (Capsicum Annum)

The former (or common cultivated capsicum) is an annual requiring to be raised in heat in February or March, pricked out as soon as large enough in pans of light and rich soil six inches apart in every direction, and finally transplanted for the warmer months of summer on a sheltered border, or at the foot of a sunny wall or fence; the latter (or true bird-pepper or Chili) should be sown in heat about the same time, pricked off singly into small pots, and as soon as these pots become filled with roots, shifted into forty-eight sized pots containing rich compost, and removed to the stove to fruit and ripen.

Cardoon (Cynara Cardunculus)

This is a hardy biennial, very much resembling the artichoke, but attains a greater height. The best soil for it is one that is light, deep, and dry, but not over rich. Seed should be sown for a small early crop about the latter end of March; for a late or main crop, early in April; for a still later supply, the latter end of June. In either case the seed must be sown in a bed of light earth, moderately thin, and raked in evenly; as soon as the plants are well up, thin them out to five or six inches apart, in order to allow them room to strengthen for transplanting. In a couple of months from the time of sowing, select a piece of land that has been well dug, in an open situation; then take up the plants, trim the roots and tops, and insert them either in drills or on the level ground, in rows not less than five feet apart, and four and a half feet asunder in the rows. Water them well as soon as planted, and continue to supply them with moisture until such time as they have made fresh root. Hoe between them frequently, in order to keep down weeds, and loosen the 6oil at the same time.

By August the plants will have grown to the height of four feet, when they must have their first earthing up for blanching, which should be continued until they have their final one in October. The tender stalks of the under leaves are the parts to be used, either for stewing, or in soups and salads, in the autumn and winter months.