CHAP. VI.] CAULIFLOWER. 133 



the heat of the day, and thinned out, so as to 

 leave the plants a little distance apart. In Sep- 

 tember they are pricked out into beds of rich 

 earth, and watered and shaded ; and about the 

 end of October, or the beginning of November, 

 they are transplanted into frames, or into beds 

 richly manured with rotten dung, spread over 

 the ground three or four inches thick, and 

 trenched in a spade deep; after which, they 

 are watered and covered with hand-glasses. 

 During the whole winter they require constant 

 attention ; slightly watering them, and raising 

 the glasses to sive them air in fine weather; 

 and covering up the glasses closely with mats 

 or straw in severe frosts, and durins; the con- 

 tinuance of sharp winds. They must also be 

 frequentlv looked at, to pick off decayed leaves, 

 kc, which mio-ht rot the stem ; and the ground 

 in which they grow must be strewed with a 

 mixture of lime and soot, to protect them from 

 the attacks of caterpillars and slugs. Care 

 must also be taken, by giving air, ice, to pre- 

 vent them from beino- drawn up, or running to 

 flower too soon. At length spring arrives, and 

 the plants which have safely survived the winter 

 must be looked over, and thinned out so that 

 only one or two may be left to each glass ; the 

 earth is then loosened, the plants are regularly 

 watered, and the glasses taken off in the middle 

 of the day, but carefully replaced at night. 

 At last, towards the end of April, the glasses 

 are removed altogether, and in May some of 

 the plants will begin to make heads ; but even 

 then the care bestowed on them must not cease. 

 The plants must be examined daily, and some 



