The Field and Garden Vegetables of America Part 44

This has a close, compact head, of a purple color, and, in favorable seasons, comes as large as a cauliflower. The plants grow from a foot to a foot and a half in height, with short, erect, concave leaves, regularly surrounding the head. The veins and midribs are stained with purple. The head is exposed to view in growing; and, as it enlarges, the projecting parts of the flower show a greenish-white mixed with the purple color. When boiled, the whole flower becomes green.

Excellent for general culture, as it is not only one of the finest varieties for the table, but the plants form their heads much more generally than many other kinds. It is the earliest of the purple broccolis.

The seed should not be sown before the middle or last of May, and the plants will require a s.p.a.ce of two feet and a half in each direction.

SNOW'S SUPERB WHITE WINTER. _Thomp._

Gill's Yarmouth White.

This variety is of dwarfish habit. The leaves are broad, with short stems; the heads are large, white, very compact, well protected by the incurved leaves, and equal in quality to those of the Cauliflower. By many it is considered superior to Grange's Early Cauliflower Broccoli.

SNOW'S SPRING WHITE OR CAULIFLOWER BROCCOLI. _Trans._

Naples White. Early White. Adam's Early White. Neapolitan White.

Imperial Early White. Grange's Cauliflower. Covent-Garden Market.

Plant about two feet high, robust, and a strong grower. The leaves are large, thick-veined, flat, and narrow; and generally compress the head, so as to render it invisible when ready for cutting, and thus protect it from rain and the effects of frost. Head large, perfectly white.

SULPHUR OR BRIMSTONE BROCCOLI. _Trans._

Late Brimstone. Fine Late Sulphur. Edinburgh Sulphur.

Leaves with long stems; heads large, compact, somewhat conical, sulphur-colored, sometimes tinged with purple. Hardy.

WALCHEREN BROCCOLI. _M'Int._

Comparatively new, and so closely resembling a cauliflower as to be scarcely distinguishable from it. The leaves, however, are more curled, and its const.i.tution is of a hardier nature, enduring the cold, and also withstanding heat and drought better. Much esteemed in England, where, by successive sowings, it is brought to the table at every season of the year.

WARD'S SUPERB. _R. Hogg._

This is a form of Knight's Protecting, but is from two to three weeks later. It is of a dwarfish habit of growth, closely protected by the spirally compressed leaves, with a good-sized and perfectly white head.

One of the best of the late White Broccolis.

WHITE CAPE. _Thomp._

Heads of medium size, white, and compact.

WILLCOVE. _R. Hogg._

Late Willcove.

The true Willcove is a variety perfectly distinct from every other of its season. The heads are very large, firm, even, and fine, and of a pure whiteness. They are fully exposed, and not protected by the leaves as most other broccolis are. On this account, the variety is more liable to be injured by the weather than any other late sort; and therefore, in severe seasons, it must be regarded as deficient in hardiness.

"It derives its name from a small village near Devonport, Eng.; where it originated, and where the Broccoli is said to be grown in great perfection."

BRUSSELS SPROUTS.

Thousand-headed Cabbage. Bra.s.sica oleracea var.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Brussels Sprouts.]

In its general character, this vegetable is not unlike some of the varieties of Kale or Borecole. Its stem is from a foot to four feet in height, and from an inch and a half to upwards of two inches in diameter. It is remarkable for the production of numerous small axillary heads, or sprouts, which are arranged somewhat in a spiral manner, and which are often so closely set together as entirely to cover the sides of the stem. "These small heads are firm and compact like little cabbages, or rather like hearted savoys in miniature. A small head, resembling an open savoy, surmounts the stem of the plant, and maintains a circulation of sap to the extremity. Most of the original side-leaves drop off as these small buds, or heads, enlarge."--_Thomp._

_Culture._--The plant is always raised from seeds, which, in size, form, or color, are scarcely distinguishable from the seeds of the Common Cabbage. These should be sown at the time and in the manner of the Cabbage, either in hot-beds in March or April, or in the open ground in April or May. When three or four inches high, transplant two feet apart in each direction, and cultivate as directed for cabbages and cauliflowers. In September, the early plantings will be fit for gathering; whilst the later plants will afford a succession that will supply the table during the winter. For the latter purpose, they should be harvested before severe freezing weather, and preserved in the cellar as cauliflowers and broccolis. They are quite hardy, easily grown, thrive well in New England or in the Middle States, and deserve more general cultivation.

_To raise Seeds._--In the autumn, select two or three of the finest plants; keep them in the cellar, or out of the reach of frost, during winter; and in the spring set them in the open ground, two feet apart, and as far as possible from all flowering plants of the Cabbage family.

Cut off the top shoot, and save the branches of pods that proceed from the finest of the small heads on the sides of the main stem.

_Use._--The small heads are boiled and served in the manner of cabbages.

They are also often used in the form of the cauliflower, boiled until soft, then drained, and afterwards stewed with milk, cream, or b.u.t.ter.

_Varieties._--Two varieties are enumerated by gardeners and seedsmen; viz.:--

DWARF BRUSSELS SPROUTS.

A low-growing sort, usually from eighteen inches to two feet in height.

It differs from the following variety princ.i.p.ally in size, though it is somewhat earlier. The dwarf stems are said to produce heads which are more tender and succulent when cooked than those obtained from taller plants.

TALL OR GIANT BRUSSELS SPROUTS.

Stem nearly four feet in height; plant healthy and vigorous, producing the small heads peculiar to its cla.s.s in great abundance. It is somewhat hardier than the foregoing variety; and, on account of its greater length of stalk, much more productive.

There is, however, very little permanency to these sorts. Much of the seed found in the market will not only produce plants corresponding with both of the varieties described, but also numerous intermediate kinds.

THE CABBAGE.

Bra.s.sica oleracea capitata.

The Cabbage is a biennial plant; and, though comparatively hardy,--growing at all seasons unprotected in England,--will not withstand the winters of the Northern States in the open ground.

When fully developed, it is from four to five feet in height. The flowers are cruciform, generally yellow, but sometimes white or yellowish-white. The seeds, which ripen in July and August of the second year, are round, reddish-brown or blackish-brown, and retain their vitality five years. About ten thousand are contained in an ounce.

_Soil and Situation._--"Though not particularly nice as to soil or situation, cabbages do best when grown in well-manured ground. In such soil, they are generally earlier than when raised in cold and stiff ground. But manure need not be profusely applied, if the ground is naturally of a fertile and open kind; for the flavor is generally better in such soil than where a great quant.i.ty of fertilizer is used."

_Propagation._--All of the varieties are propagated from seed sown annually. For early use, a sowing may be made in a hot-bed in February or March; and, for winter use, the seed may be sown in a nursery-bed in the open ground in May or June. When five or six inches high, transplant to the distance directed in the description of the variety. In the hot-bed or nursery-bed, the plants should not be allowed to stand too thickly together, as this causes them to draw up weak and feeble.