50 VEGETABLE GROWING IN 3 EW SOUTH WALES. 



Tying. 



Owing to the difficulty of determining whether or not the plants are ready 

 for harvesting the practice of tying the outside leaves over the flower to 

 protect it from weather influences, is seldom adopted by commercial growers. 

 Some growers use a different coloured band each day, so that when examining 

 for fitness for market they can pick out the mature heads by the various 

 coloured bands. This method is a satisfactory one if the development of the 

 heads is even. 



It is very important that the flower should be kept clean and white. 

 While the head is small it is well protected by the young leaves surrounding 

 it, but when the coral head begins to grow rapidly it must be covered in 

 some manner to protect it from sun and frost. This is usually accomplished 

 by breaking off some of the largest outside leaves and placing them amongst 

 the other leaves so as to properly cover the head, or it may be done by 

 bending over some of the larger inner leaves. 



Cauliflowers in the field, cut and ready for carting. 



Harvesting. 



As soon as any of the plants become fit for harvesting examination of the 

 field must be made daily, and heads must be cut before they show signs of 

 the flower stalks breaking away, thus giving the head an uneven, loose 

 appearance. 



The cutting is usually done with a large knife, the plants being cut about 

 3 inches below the head, keeping all but the outside dirty leaves to avoid 

 damage in transit. The plants when cut, may be carried to convenient 

 heaps round the field, or, if the waggon or cart can be taken through the 

 crop without damaging the growing plants, they may be loaded direct. 



The weight of cauliflowers, as marketed, varies with the size, ranging from 

 fifteen to twenty dozen per ton. 



