This section is from "The Domestic Encyclopaedia Vol1", by A. F. M. Willich. Amazon: The Domestic Encyclopaedia.
Broccoli, a species of the Brassica, or Cabbage-plant, cultivate, d for the use of the table. There are' several kinds of this plant, particularly the purple, the white, and the black broccoli, etc. but the Roman, or purple species, is preferablo able to all others. The seeds of this vegetable should be sown about the latter end of May, or beginning of June, and when the young plants have germinated eight leaves, they should be transplanted into beds.
By this management, towards the latter end of July they will be fit to be planted out in some well sheltered piece of ground, at the distance of a foot and a half in the rows, and two feet between each row.
The soil proper for broccoli is rather light than heavy. or black species, though interior to the Roman, is much hardier . It should be sown in the middle of ., and planted about two feet and has a white head similar to cauliflower, and is sacrely distinguishable from it in flaw cording to Dr. Darwin, the cultivation of brocdoli and cauliflower must be very similar, except as to the seasons of the year; they are varieties of the same species The following din for fee culture of this plant were- transmitted to the Doctor by Mr. TIGHE of Ireland; which, for their practi-cal utility, we shall lay before our readers.
Broccoli may be so managed, as to supply the table with a delicious and salutary vegetable during sewn months of the year, namely, from the beginning of November till the end of May. For this purpose, procure prime seed from Rome or Naples, both for early and late sowing. Sow at the cessation of the vernal snows, and repeat it once a month till the end of May, or longer. When three leaves appear, transplant them; and when six leaves appear, transplant them . secondtime. Afterwards in June, July, and August, transplant them again two or three feet asunder, and let them remain. During September and October, the ground must be loosened, repeatedly clear-ed frrom weeds and stones, and the plants earthed up, to preserve their roots from the frost, and to pre their being injured by the equinoc tial winds. Sprinkle t hem occasionally with water impregnated with dung. C shoe : to sow and plan them at a distance from hedges and walls. The head of the broccoli is rally completed in five from its first appearance, and should remain . the stalk may be boiled with the flower, but should be peeled before it is brought to the table some kinds of Italian broccoli . to produce bulbs at their roots, which are supposed to be the purpose of supporting other stems. stalks appear, they could be broken off when the principal stem is transplanted. In order to obtain good seed' of the Naples broccoli, a few of the largest heads of the earliest growth must be reserved to run up to seed. All the under shoots should be taken off from time to time as they sprout, leaving only the principal stem to produce flowers and seed. By this management, if no other species of cabbage be permitted to seed near the broccoli, its seeds will be as good as those imported, and the propagation of the plant may thus be continued for many years.
 
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