264 THE GARDENER. [June 



wintered in a cold pit or frame, and turned out into the glasses estab- 

 lished plants, either to make up blanks or replace the whole stock. 

 These will come away much earlier than transplanted plants, and in 

 cold localities it is always advisable to have a few in pots to make up 

 blanks in the glasses, if not for anything more important ; for if the 

 blanks are made up by transplanting, the plants so introduced do not 

 keep pace with the established plants, and eventually get smothered, 

 and of very little consequence. 



Returning to the stock of young plants in the seed-beds, the next 

 consideration is to take steps to winter a stock of plants for planting 

 out in good condition in spring, to succeed those under hand-glasses. 

 The means to this end are to a great extent regulated by the climate 

 of different parts of the country. Some localities are so favoured 

 with climate that the Cauliflower can be planted out in quarters like 

 Cabbage, and generally stand the winter so managed. In others less 

 mild it is necessary to prick them off under the shelter of a wall. In 

 the majority of cases it is wise not to trust them without some more 

 substantial means of protection, and it becomes necessary to put a quan- 

 tity into temporary pits, with some means of covering them up in 

 severe frost, and still better are they under glass in cold frames and pits. 

 For this purpose the latest sowing recommended generally supplies the 

 most suitable plants — the earliest being generally too large, and not in 

 such a good condition to stand the winter, and are more likely to but- 

 ton in spring than less plants. The middle of October is a good time 

 to transplant them into frames, which should stand dry and well 

 exposed. Any moderately-rich soil, such as common light garden soil, 

 answers very well. The most healthy, stubby, and short-necked plants 

 must be chosen, and planted in rows 4 inches apart each way. They 

 may stand wider if space be plentiful ; certainly not closer if fine plants 

 are to be produced. 



All the autumn and winter they must be freely exposed to light and 

 air in mild weather, by pulling off the lights every morning and tilting 

 them well up at night. Rain must be kept from them on all occa- 

 sions, as a superabundance of moisture makes them grow too much, 

 and more liable to suffer from frost. All decaying leaves must be 

 removed when they appear ; the surface of the soil kept stirred, and if 

 some charred soil is strewn amongst them, it keeps the surface of the 

 soil from becoming slimy and caked. In dull damp weather, when it 

 becomes necessary to cover them up from severe frosts, it must be borne 

 in mind that they are more likely to be killed by a sudden thaw than 

 by a smart bite of frost. Therefore they should be kept covered up 

 from light after the surface of the soil and plants have become frozen, 

 and not uncovered till they are completely thawed again ; and then the 



