116 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. 



injured by being planted out too early. It must be borne 

 in mind that the plant is nearly hardy, and that 10 or 15 

 degrees of frost will not injure it, provided it has been 

 treated as its hardy nature requires, by having been ex- 

 posed to the air previous to setting out in the open gar- 

 den. I know that the general practice with amateur hor- 

 ticulturists is very different from this, and that their usual 

 time of planting Cauliflower is when they plant Tomatoes, 

 and in consequence, failure is almost universal. The plant, 

 set out in May, hardly gets root before hot weather sets 

 in, and if the flower head is developed at all, it is merely 

 an abortion of what it should be. With me, for the past 

 four or five years, Cauliflowers have been one of my most 

 profitable crops. I have during that time grown about 

 one acre each year, which has certainly averaged $1500. 

 On one occasion the crop proved almost an entire failure, 

 owing to unusual drouth in May ; while on another oc- 

 casion, with- an unusually favorable season, it sold at nearly 

 $3000 per acre. 



The average price for all planted is about $15 per 100, 

 and as from 10,000 to 12,000 are grown to the acre, it will 

 result in nearly the average before named — $1500 per 

 acre. Unlike Cabbages, however, only a limited number 

 is yet sold, and I have found that an acre of them has 

 been quite as much as could be profitably grown in one 

 garden. Cauliflowers require careful handling to be mar- 

 keted in good shape ; after being trimmed of all surplus 

 leaves, they are packed in boxes holding about 100 each, 

 and are generally sold to retailers in this shape, without 

 being removed from the packages. This early crop is al- 

 ways sold by the first week of July, allowing plenty time to 



