281. Common coleworts, (or Dorsetshire kale), being in tended chiefly for winter And spring use, are commonly sown in July, and planted out in August. They are set pretty close together, perhaps not more than eight or ten inches apart every way. They withstand completely the usual frosts of our winters. But young plants of the com mon cabbages, particularly of the large sugar loaf variety, are now generally used as coleworts, and sold in the mar kets, under that name, from December to April. So com pletely, indeed, have these cabbage coleworts supplanted the true kind, which is more hardy, but at the same time coarser, that one of the most popular modern books of gardening (Abercrombie's Practical Gardener) describes only the former sort under the title of coleworts.
282. The principal kinds of kale are German greens, Scots kale, Buda, Red curled, and Milan.
Of the German Greens, a tall growing light coloured kind is preferred, as producing a large quantity of small tufts or loose heads of delicate leaves on the stalk in the spring months, when coleworts are getting scarce. Ger man greens are sown in May, and planted out in June, at eighteen or twenty inches asunder every way. Some are also sown in June, and planted out in August, to be ready for use late in the following spring.
The seed of the Scots kale, (Siberian borecole, or pancalier), is sown in the beginning of July ; and in the course of August the young plants arc set out in rows a foot anil a half wide, and ten inches distant in the rows. This green bears the severest cold without injury, and in deed is not reckoned good for use till it has endured some sharp frosts.
The Milan kale cultivated in this country has a thick stem, the leaves of a dark green colour, and much curled or fimbriated. Milan greens are greatly prized in France, and different varieties are there cultivated. The Anjou kale grows to a large size ; as does likewise a sort called Cesarean kale. Neither of these is so tender as the other kinds ; but the produce being great, they might probably be found useful in the feeding of cows.
A very tall variety of open kale is described by the late Mr Delaunay, in the last edition of "Le Bon Jardinier" published by himself. It is called Choux palmier. It frequently rises to the height of six feet, with a straight bare stem, the leaves displaying themselves only at top, and thus producing the appearance of a little palm tree.
The leaves are much puckered, and so much rolled back at the edges, that they appear narrow, while at the same time they hang in a curved manner ; thus aiding the illu sion. This variety is evidently to be considered merely as a curiosity. It was first raised in Italy, and is not very hardy. Another tall sort, sometimes rising nearly to the same height, is described by the same author under the name of Capousta, or Russian kale. The leaves are of a fine purple colour, much cut and fringed. This variety is represented as extremely hardy, resisting the utmost severity of a Russian winter.
283. The Borecoles, properly so called, are of two kinds, the tall purple and the dwarf purple. But all the curled and cut-leaved kale or colewort plants, are commonly called Borecoles. There is a variegated sort, which is very ornamental when growing, but not so good for the table as those of more ordinary appearance.
All kinds of kale seeds are sown in the beginning of April ; the young plants are generally pricked into a nursery bed for a few weeks, to enable them to gain strength ; and they are finally transplanted in June or July, in rows three feet asunder, and two feet apart in the rows, giving water, if the weather be dry. A few are generally not planted out till September, that they may afford a supply late in the following spring. The only other attention requisite, is the drawing of earth to their stems before winter, in order to support them in times of snow or storm.
Brussels Sprouts.
284. The variety called Brussels sprouts may be classed with the kale plants. The leaves come out in small crowns or sprouts all along the stem, and are very deli cate when boiled. The culture is nearly the same as that of coleworts in general. The seed is sown in March or April, and the seedlings are planted out in June, prefer ring showery weather, or watering carefully at root. They grow upright and pyramidal, and may therefore be placed nearer to each other than more spreading kinds. They are earthed up in October, are ready for use by mid winter, and continue good till March or April. Brus sels sprouts are much used in London during the spring months ; but they seldom appear in the Edinburgh mar ket, nor is the plant so much cultivated in Scotland as it deserves.