14 THE CATTLIFLOWER. 



lar«^ely exported from England into Holland, Ger- 

 many and France; but soon after this it came to be 

 more generally grown in those countries and was no 

 longer imported, though English seed was still used. 



The numerous varieties of cauliflower now culti- 

 vated are of comparatively recent origin. Although 

 some of the earliest writers on this vegetable men- 

 tion two or more varieties, these were in some cases 

 merely different crops produced by sowing the 

 seed at different periods. In 1796, Marshall, in 

 his English work on gardening, says that "cauli- 

 flower is sometimes distinguished into an early and 

 late sort; though in fact there is no difference, only 

 as the seed of that called 'early' is saved from the 

 foremost plants." Phillips, in 1822, said: "Our 

 gardeners furnish us with an early and a late variety, 

 both of which are much esteemed." 



In 1831, Don, of England, in his work on boiany 

 and gardening ( "History of Dichlamydeous Plants" ) 

 describes fifteen varieties of broccoli and three of 

 cauliflower. The latter were known as Early, 

 Later or Large, and Red, the last being the most 

 hardy. These three kinds differed but little in 

 general character, and were all inclined to sport 

 into inferior varieties. 



In 1832 there was still a discussion in England 

 as to whether the early and late cauliflowers were 

 really distinct, or diff'ered only in time of sowing. 



