Vegetable Growing for Market 97 



When the plants get big enough to fill up the cloche, in April, the glass 

 is taken off, the four plants are pressed outwards, and a spadeful of earth 

 put into the middle to keep them apart. As soon as they have got a little 

 upright again they are moulded up around the outsides with the spade. 

 Just before this process of moulding up, a little stimulant, such as sulphate 

 of ammonia or nitrate of soda, may be sprinkled around the roots. 



The plants under the cloches come into cutting during the beginning 

 of June, and usually command good prices for the best, commencing 

 at 4s. per dozen and getting down to 2s. Great care has to be taken to 

 keep the "flowers" clean and white and close, discoloured or "buzzly" 

 ones being of little value. Those plants that are not put out under the 

 cloches remain in the frames till the middle of March, when they are 

 transplanted to the open ground, 2 ft. 6 in. by 2 ft. apart. 



As soon as they are half grown they are the better for being earthed 

 up with the earthing plough. They will come into cutting about Mid- 

 summer Day, and will not be long about it when they start. The difficulty 

 will be, especially in hot weather, to keep pace with the rapidity with 

 which they will " turn in ". In order to keep the heads from discolouring, 

 the leaves are broken over them before they are completely out. 



Many an early morning must be given to the Cauliflower cutting during 

 the fortnight that they are turning in, if they are to be got to market in 

 their perfection. The method of preparing for market is to "dock" the 

 long leaves with a docking knife to within 2 in. of the head, to grade into 

 three or four grades, and then dip in clean water and pack, using the cut- 

 off leaves, after being washed, as packing. 



The price varies according to the season. No one seems to know what 

 are the causes that rule it. Some seasons they sell well nearly all through, 

 and at others they are low in price and a dragging trade from almost the 

 commencement. Some people say the cheapness or otherwise of the Pea 

 crop affects the Cauliflower market. 



Apparently there must be on the one hand a number of growers who 

 chop about from crop to crop, at one season going in for Cauliflowers and 

 glutting the market, then leaving them and giving some other crop the 

 benefit of their attentions; on the other hand, there must be a section of 

 the public who one season must have Cauliflowers and another will not 

 have them. The price of "best" ranges from 2s. to Wd. per dozen. Seconds 

 from Is. to 6d. per dozen. For thirds, what you can get. Other varieties 

 of the Cauliflower to continue the season after Early London is finished 

 are the Maltese and the Hardy Paris (Dur de Paris) for summer, and 

 Veitch's Autumn Giant for early autumn work. 



A sowing of one of the first two can be made under lights in September, 

 the other sowings to be made under glass in January and February. The 

 seed bed for the Autumn Giant is made in March. The Maltese and Hardy 

 Paris can only be grown successfully where there are means of irrigation. 

 The heads will not come clean and white during July unless the land in 

 which the plants are growing is kept regularly watered. [w. G. L.] 



VOL. IV. 52 



