General Notices. 411 



into head, before frosts set in ; either hanging or laying it in sheds for pro- 

 tection, which, when required for the table, after having been hung or laid 

 in for some time, can only be rendered palatable by cutting them off from 

 the stalks on the previous day, and throwing them into cold water, fre- 

 quently changing it, until they are wanted; in this way, the heads, by 

 absorbing much of the water, become plumped up, and the strong disagree- 

 able smell and taste they acquire in the shed is in some degree taken off. 

 But even under the most careful treatment, by this practice, they lose their 

 fine white cauliflower bloom, and, when brought to the table, their appear- 

 ance is dark and unsightly, and often disgusting, so that any hardy branch- 

 ing winter broccoli is far preferable. 



The following method succeeded so well, that, by practising it, I had 

 plenty of cauliflower for the whole family, and it became such a favorite 

 that I declined growing so much broccoli, but just to supply any deficiency 

 which might arise between the going off of the winter, and the coming in 

 of the hand-glass crops, and lest the drought of spring and early summer 

 should spoil the first planted out crop. This is often the case, and then 

 the seedsmen are blamed for sending bad seed, notwithstanding that it is a 

 consequence of the season, and cannot be avoided by all the care and atten- 

 tion the gardener can bestow. In this case, in large establishments, it is 

 quite necessary to be prepared with a supply of a tolerable substitute in 

 broccoli. 



My method is to sow the seed in successional small sowings, according 

 to the requirements of the family, from the end of June on to the end of 

 July, and to get all my plants as strong and vigorous as I can before frost 

 sets in. It is better that none of these should show heads when taken up 

 for protection. Those of the May and early June sowing, if planted out 

 upon rich north borders, become fine, strong, stocky plants, without many 

 showing heads previous to frost setting in ; but they will be the first to head 

 after being laid in the protection ground. As soon as frosty nights are 

 apprehended, I select a spot for laying them into, in beds four or five feet 

 wide, and with alleys about two or three feet, to retain the litter for cover- 

 ing in frosty nights, as well as for the convenience of covering, uncovering, 

 and getting in the crop. They are laid in the ground with their tops 

 towards the sun, if that can be done conveniently, leaving very little be- 

 sides their leafy tops above the soil, which is made close and tolerably firm 

 about the roots and stems, to keep out mice and rats from them, during the 

 severity of frost, while necessary to retain the coverings for any length of 

 time. Every care must be taken to keep slugs from them, or else they 

 soon spoil their beauty, by eating all over the flowery tops, and bark all 

 their branches ; and for the convenience of inspection, the tops must not 

 overlay each other. It is of the utmost importance to the success of this 

 method that the litter (which is placed in readiness in the alleys,) is never 

 resorted to but when found necessary ; if put over at night when suspicious 

 of frost, take it off with a rake in the morning, if all appearance of frost 

 has disappeared. The thickness of the covering is to be increased or 



