172 THE CAULIFLOWER. 



eight or ten long narrow leaves borne on a long 

 stem. So up to this time the plants are not very- 

 promising, and one is tempted to pull them up; but 

 after this the plants rapidly change in appearance; 

 a dozen new leaves are quickly developed, and the 

 plants take on a half- upright form which recalls 

 that of the Half Early Paris variety. As to the 

 head, it is more conical than flat. The leaves 

 sometimes attain a length of 90 centimeters [nearly 

 three feet], by 40 centimeters broad. It is then 

 that extra care should be given. The waterings 

 ought to be copious and frequent, especially at the 

 time of the formation of the heads, when I apply 

 about 10 to 15 litres of water to each head every 

 other day. This, which certainly contributed to 

 the good result, is how I grew my plants. I chose 

 good soil, which 1 prepared during the winter, 

 placing in the bottom of the furrow a good thick- 

 ness of manure, and a month before planting, or 

 even at the time of doing so, I spread on the sur- 

 face a covering of decomposed manure, which I in- 

 corporated with the soil by means of ordinary 

 tillage. I visited the plantation every day, 

 not only to destroy the caterpillars, but to cover the 

 heads with leaves, which it was necessary to look 

 after at least every other day in order to preserve 

 the whiteness of the heads. These attentions are 

 indispensable if one would secure a product of first 



