VAEIETIES. 137 



the most popular early variety grown. It is simi- 

 lar in habit to its parent, the Early Erfurt, but 

 more dwarf, and the leaves smaller and more up- 

 right, allowing the plants to be set closer together. 

 The heads are close and well formed, but do not 

 remain solid long, owing largely to the hot weather 

 in which they are generally formed. The best seed 

 comes from Erfurt, Germany, but as the variety 

 rapidly deteriorates, there is great difference be- 

 tween the selected and ordinary stocks. 



Johnson k Stokes say, in their catalogue for 

 1890, that their extra selected Early Dwarf Erfurt is 

 distinct from the Early Dwarf Eriurt. Burpee 

 calls his Extra Early Dwarf Erfurt "the finest of 

 all early cauliflowers." He, as well as some other 

 seedsmen, sell different qualities, '* extra selected,"' 

 '• true,*' numbers " one " and " two," etc. French- 

 grown seed sells for about half the price of German 

 seed. 



At the Chiswick trials, in 1876, where all known 

 varieties were grown, the Early Dwarf Erfurt 

 proved to be the earliest variety grown. It is best 

 grown as a summer variety, being rather tender for 

 a late crop, though sometimes used. 



M. May, in the Revue Horticole, for 1880, 

 describes this variety as follows: "Early Dwarf 

 Erfurt. Very early, with light-colored, short, up- 

 right, spoon- shaped leaves, which surround the head 

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