258 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 



make its growth during the spring months ; as a late 

 crop it may make most of its growth during the fall 

 months. 



The heads of cauliflower must be protected from the sun. 

 This is accomplished by tying some of the leaves above 

 the heads while the plants are dry and free from insects. 



Soil. The soil must be rich and moist. Land that has 

 been made by overflowing streams will produce large 

 heads. Spade or plow the soil to a depth of at least 

 eight inches. In the spring give it a very heavy coating 

 of stable manure. 



Starting plants. For the early crop start seeds in win- 

 dow boxes or hotbeds a month before the plants are 

 needed. For late varieties sow seeds in seed beds in 

 May or June. 



Transplanting. When the second leaf appears, seed- 

 lings that have been started in boxes should be trans- 

 planted to other boxes. Set them two inches apart each 

 way. Plants that have been started in outdoor seed beds 

 may be set in a permanent place in the garden. Trans- 

 plant the same as cabbage. Set the plants from eighteen 

 inches to two feet apart, depending upon the variety, 

 in rows two feet apart. 



Culture. Keep stirring the surface soil, to retain mois- 

 ture. One or two dressings of nitrate of soda raked in 

 while the plants are young will increase the yield. When 

 the plants are ready to form heads, a coating of about 

 two inches of coarse stable manure will help to keep the 

 soil moist. 



