Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Boorcole

BOORCOLE, is a species of the Brassica, L. and generally cultivated in the open fields like turnips, cabbages, or the turnip-rooted cabbage.

It is one of those hardy plants, the leaves of which may be cut without detriment to its growth, and will produce a new crop in the course of a month or six weeks.

According to an experiment made by Mr. Baker in the year 1763, an Irish acre of fallow ground, which was planted with boorcole, at the distance of two feet, and hoed in the Tullian method, produced plants which weighed about five pounds ten ounces each on an average, and the whole produce of an Irish acre was 40,096 pounds.

It should be observed, that the land must be well manured, and in a high state of tillage, for the cultivation of this plant, which, if kept constantly hoed, will grow very luxuriantly, and, in the hottest weather, be infinitely more brittle in the leaves than any other cultivated in gardens; which is a certain indication of its being a healthy plant. It is worthy of the attention of the farmer or grazier, on account of the rapidity of its growth, and the property of withstanding the effect of severe frosts, while it affords an excellent vegetable for the table, and may be used with advantage for feeding sheep.

Mr. Baker farther observes, that sheep should not be suffered to depasture so long upon a crop of boorcole, as to injure the stalks; because its future growth will be checked by depriving it of the sprouting leaves.