126 THE CAULIFLOWER. 



proper observation on the part of the writers 

 quoted, or from differences in the seeds sold under 

 the same name. This is necessarily somewhat con- 

 fusing to one who is looking up the merits of a 

 variety, but it will form a better basis for judg- 

 ment than would a mere descriptive list, without 

 reference to dates or authorities. It is practically 

 impossible to make a satisfactory classification 

 which will include all the varieties, and they have 

 therefore been arranged here in alphabetical order, 

 as being most convenient for reference. Nearly 

 all of the most popular varieties have, however, 

 characters sufficiently distinct so that they can be 

 easily recognized. Some have short stems, others 

 long ; some are early, others late ; some have 

 upright leaves, others drooping: their color varies 

 from grassy to bluish green; the heads vary from 

 snow-white to cream- colored, and in two or three 

 varieties classed with the cauliflowers they are 

 reddish or purple, as in some of the broccolis. 

 The form of the head varies from flat to conical. 



Most of our varieties have come from a few stocks 

 whose characters, as well as those of their descend- 

 ants, seem to have been largely determined by the 

 locality in which they originated or have long been 

 grown. The Algiers, Paris and Erfurt groups are 

 examples. In each of these groups there is a series 

 of varieties, differing mainly in size and earliness. 



