434 VILLA GARDEXIXG part V 



harden off, ami plant out as seems necessary. The Autumn Giant 

 should be sown at this time for late summer and autumn use. 

 This is a very valuable Cauliflower for hot seasons. It is very 

 difficult with any other sort to secure close firm hearts in August 

 and September ; but the cross of the Broccoli, which is so apparent, 

 and gives this kind its hardiness, almost makes it heat and drought 

 proof — hence its gi-eat value, not only in the late autumn, but also 

 through the season from August till Christmas. Sow the Walcheren 

 in April, and again in May and Jime for autumn. This, with 

 the Autumn Giant, Avill furnish a supply till the winter Broccoli 

 turn in. In difficult situations Cauliflowers are very uncertain ; 

 they must have plenty of rich manure. In an emergency, to 

 get them good I have opened a trench 4 feet wide all across a 

 quarter, worked in plenty of manure, then drawn three drills at 

 equal distances apart in tlie trench, ami sown seeds of the Walcheren 

 tlunly. If it is necessary 



To Sow IN Trenches, this is a better plan than having single 

 rows, as the better soil and manure, being in bulk, retain the 

 moisture longer, and the plants do better. When the seedlings 

 are strong enough to transplant, single them out, leaving the 

 strongest ; and for this crop they may with advantage be left much 

 thicker than we shoidd plant them generally. In hot weather 

 small white close hearts are more useful than large ones, which 

 nearly always develop a tendency to open. Some of the plants 

 thinned out may be usefid if planted under a north wall in rather 

 deep drills. This is acting on the principle of never throwing 

 a chance away. The crop in the trench had better be started 

 about the first or second week in June. If well attended to, and 

 grown without a severe check, it will be siure to produce nice 

 useful hearts at a very small expense. It is worth something 

 to feel that, under all circumstances, we may rely upon any 

 particular crop turning out right. 



Watering and Mulching. — Midching with manui-e in hot 

 summers is invaluable to this crop, and, except in extreme cases, 

 will obviate the necessity for much watering, though, of course, a 

 good soaking of liquid manure in a dry season will never come 

 amiss. The three sowings in the open air in Apiil, May, and 

 June, with the previous sowings under glass, will, if planted 

 out in the usual order when the plants are large enough, furnish a 

 supply from June till Christmas, if need be ; indeed I have 

 had both Walcheren and Autumn Giant till after Christma.s in 

 good condition in a cold pit. The distances between the rows, as 

 weU as those between the plants in the rows, will vary according 

 to the situations and seasons, but 2 feet between the rows, 



