io8 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



When the seeds are sown under cloches or lights, 

 air must be given more or less freely, according to 

 the state of the weather, when the young plants are 

 well through the soil. This will keep them strong 

 and sturdy, otherwise they are apt to become weak 

 and lanky. 



Pricking out and Transplanting. When the seedlings 

 have made two leaves beyond the seed-leaves or 

 cotyledons, they are ready for pricking out. This 

 is done under lights or cloches, under which they are 

 kept until ready for the final planting. 



Some growers transfer the young Cauliflowers 

 direct from the seed-bed to the ground on which 

 the plants are to mature, and do not go to the trouble 

 of moving them twice. But in this case they sow the 

 seeds thinly, so that the young plants may not be 

 too close, and may thus remain longer in the seed-bed 

 if necessary. 



Having marked out as much ground as is necessary, 

 it is dug and prepared for the reception of the frames, 

 which are to slope towards the south. The interior 

 is filled up within 6 in. of the top with fine rich 

 mould evenly spread over the surface and gently 

 trodden down for the reception of the young plants. 

 These should be well watered an hour or two previous 

 to lifting, so as to have a good ball of soil to the roots. 

 They are best taken up with a spade, great care being 

 taken when separating the plants to retain as much 

 soil as possible round the roots of each. The planting 

 is done either with the finger or a small dibber, taking 

 care to bury the young plants up to the seed-leaves, 

 as this encourages adventitious roots to spring from 

 the stems beneath the surface of the soil. About 



