36 



THE CAULIFLOWER. 



dinary cases, but where land is cheap, and little 

 manure used, except sod turned under, four by four 

 feet is none too much room for the large varieties. 

 The early crop, on the other hand, which is always 

 heavily manured, is sometimes set with the rows as 

 close as two feet apart, and the plants twenty 

 inches apart in the rows. The small size of the 

 heads resulting from close planting is no actual 

 loss, for small heads, if of good quality, are more 

 popular than large ones, and bring a higher price 

 in proportion to their size. The greatest danger 

 from too close setting of the main crop is that the 

 plants may fail to head at all. It is for this reason 

 that cauliflowers are usually set farther apart than 

 cabbages. 



The best time to set the plants is just before or 

 after a rain, but they may be set at any time if the 

 soil has been kept damp by frequent cultivation. 

 In dry, clear weather the planting should be done 

 only toward the close of the day. If it should be 

 necessary to apply water at the time of setting, it 

 should be thoroughly done, not less than a quart 

 being placed in each hole which is to receive a 

 plant. Water should never be applied after the 

 plant is set unless loose earth is afterwards thrown 

 over the place, for the compact surface left after 

 the water has been absorbed dries out more rapidly 

 than before. 



