[ 404 ] 



LXXXIII. On tlieMuuagemcnt of CaulifloiKer Plants,to secure 

 good Produce during the Winter. By Mr. George Cock- 

 burn, Gardener to W. S. Poyntz, Esq.* 



T HAVE the honour to send herewith a head of Cauli- 

 ■*- flower, which I shall be hajjpy to have laid before the 

 Horticultural Society, as I believe it has seldom been ex- 

 ceeded in size and beauty at this season of the year ; and at 

 the same time I trouble you with a brief account of my mode 

 of cultivation, which, if you think proper, may accompany it. 



I sow the seeds of the Early Cauliflower in a south border, 

 in the beginning of July; and as soon as the plants come up, 

 I thin them out to twelve or fourteen inches apart, where I 

 suffer them to remain, keeping them clean, and watering 

 them occasionally, till about the middle of November, by 

 which time they all produce heads from ten to thirty inches 

 in circumference. As they are not hardy enough to bear 

 more than three or four degrees of frost, I remove them at 

 that time into a shed which will keep out ten degrees of frost, 

 taking care to retain as much mould about their roots as 

 possible, and to remove all their decayed leaves. In the shed 

 they are planted in mould, keeping a space of about an inch 

 between each head. In this state they are frequently looked 

 over with care, their dead leaves removed, and those heads 

 cut for present use which show any disposition to decay. 

 When severe frost occurs, the plants are covered with dry 

 short hay. By this management I have been able to send 

 three dishes of Cauliflowers to the table every week during 

 the autumn and winter, till the present time, and shall be able 

 to continue to do so until February. 



I am 



Your most obedient servant, 



Cowdray Lodge, Sussex, GeoRGE CockbURN. 



Jan. 13, 1823. 



Note by the Secretary. — The head of Cauliflower above al- 

 luded to, was sent to the house of the Society the day afi;er 

 the meeting of the 14th of January. It was nearly thirty 

 inches in circumference, very compact, and of good colour. 

 It boiled tender, nnd was of excellent flavour. 



• From the Transactions of the Horticultural Society, vol. v. Part III. 



LXXXIV. Dc 



