The Field and Garden Vegetables of America Part 41

Chou Caulet de Flanders. _Vil._

This is a sub-variety of the Tree-cabbage, from which it is distinguished by the purplish color of its foliage. Its height is nearly the same, and the plant has the same general appearance. It is, however, considered somewhat hardier.

GREEN MARROW-STEM BORECOLE.

Chou Moellier. _Vil._

Stem green, about five feet high, clavate, or club-formed; thickest at the top, where it measures nearly two inches, and a half in diameter.

This stem, or stalk, is filled with a succulent pith, or marrow, which is much relished by cattle; and, for this quality, the plant is sometimes cultivated. The leaves are large, and nearly entire on the edges; the leaf-stems are thick, short, white, and fleshy.

It is not so hardy as most of the other varieties. The plants should be grown about three feet apart in one direction, by two feet or two feet and a half in the opposite.

LANNILIS BORECOLE.

Chou de Lannilis. _Vil._ Lannilis Tree-cabbage.

Stem five feet high, thicker and shorter than that of the Cow or Tree Cabbage; leaves long, entire on the borders, pale-green, and very thick and fleshy. The leaf-stems are also thicker and shorter than those of the last-named varieties.

The stalk is largest towards the top, and has the form of that of the Marrow-stem. It sometimes approaches so near that variety, as to be scarcely distinguishable from it.

NEAPOLITAN BORECOLE. _Trans._

Neapolitan Curled Kale. Chou frise de Naples. _Vil._

The Neapolitan Borecole is remarkable for its peculiar manner of growth, but is hardly worthy of cultivation as a table vegetable, or even for stock. The stem is short and thick, and terminates in an oval bulb, somewhat in the manner of the Kohl Rabi. From all parts of this bulb are put forth numerous erect, small leaves, finely curled on their edges.

The whole plant does not exceed twenty inches in height. The leaves are attached to footstalks six or seven inches long. They are obovate, smooth on the surface, with an extraordinary number of white veins, nearly covering the whole leaf. The fringed edges are irregularly cut and finely curled, and so extended as nearly to conceal the other parts of the leaf. As the plant gets old, it throws out numerous small branches from the axils of the leaves on the sides of the bulb.

The swollen portion of the stem is of a fleshy, succulent character, and is used in the manner of Kohl Rabi; between which and the Cabbage it appears to be intermediate.

PALM KALE.

Palm Borecole. Chou Palmier. _Vil._

Stalk six feet in height, terminating at the top in a cl.u.s.ter of leaves, which are nearly entire on the borders, blistered on the surface like those of the Savoys, and which sometimes measure three feet in length by four or five inches in width.

As grown in France, the plant is remarkable for its fine appearance, and is considered quite ornamental; though, as an article of food, it is of little value. In England, it is said to have a tall, rambling habit, and to be little esteemed.

The plants should be set three feet and a half apart in each direction.

PURPLE BORECOLE.

Red Borecole. Tall Purple Kale. Curled Brown Kale. Chou frise Rouge Grand. _Vil._

With the exception of its color, the Purple Borecole much resembles the Tall Green Curled. As the leaves increase in size, they often change to green; but the veins still retain their purple hue. When cooked, the color nearly or quite disappears.

It is remarkably hardy, and is much cultivated in Germany.

RED MARROW-STEM BORECOLE.

Red-stalked Kale.

Stalk purplish-red, four and a half or five feet high, and surmounted by a cl.u.s.ter of large, fleshy leaves, on short, thick stems. The stalk is much larger than that of the Green Marrow-stem, and sometimes measures more than three inches in diameter. It is cultivated in the same manner, and used for the same purposes, as the last-named variety.

TALL GREEN CURLED. _Thomp._

Tall Scotch Kale. Tall Green Borecole. Tall German Greens. Chou frise grand du Nord. _Vil._

This variety, if unmixed, may be known by its bright-green, deeply lobed, and curled leaves. Its height is two feet and a half and upwards.

Very hardy and productive.

The parts used are the crowns of the plants; and also the tender side-shoots, which are produced in great abundance. These boil well, and are sweet and delicate, especially after frost; though the quality is impaired by protracted, dry, freezing weather.

THOUSAND-HEADED BORECOLE. _Thomp._

Chou branchu du Poitou. _Vil._ Chou a Mille Tetes.

The Thousand-headed Borecole much resembles the Tree or Cow Cabbage, but is not so tall-growing. It sends out numerous side-shoots from the main stem, and is perhaps preferable to the last-named sort. It is chiefly valuable as an agricultural plant, but may occasionally be grown in gardens on account of its great hardiness; but its flavor is inferior to all other winter greens.

VARIEGATED BORECOLE. _Thomp._

Variegated Kale. Variegated Canadian Kale. Chou frise panache. _Vil._

This is a sub-variety of the Purple Borecole, growing about a foot and a half high. The leaves vary much in size, and are lobed and finely curled. They are also beautifully variegated, sometimes with green and yellowish-white or green and purple, and sometimes with bright-red and green.

It is frequently grown as an ornamental plant, is occasionally employed for garnishing, and is sometimes put into bouquets. It is very good cooked after frost, but is not quite so hardy as the Purple Borecole.

VARIEGATED c.o.c.k'S-COMB KALE.

A variety of the Common c.o.c.k's-comb Kale, with the leaves more or less variegated with purple and white. It is not of much value as an esculent.

WOBURN PERENNIAL KALE. _Thomp._

This is a tall variety of the Purple Borecole, with foliage very finely divided or fringed. The plant lasts many years, and may be propagated by cuttings, as it neither flowers readily nor perfects well its seeds. Its produce is stated to have been more than four times greater than that of either the Green or Purple Borecole on the same extent of ground. The weight of produce from ten square yards was a hundred and forty-four pounds ten ounces; but some of the large kinds of cabbages and savoys will exceed this considerably, and prove of better quality. The Woburn Perennial Kale can therefore only be recommended where the climate is too severe for the more tender kinds of the Cabbage tribe.

BROCCOLI.