CAULIFLOWER. 



CAULIFLOWER. 



covering the bed with the soil removed, 

 raking it, and patting it smooth with the 

 back of the spade. On this bed sow the 

 seed, raking it in, or sifting fine soil over 

 it, and covering it with hand-glasses, and 

 otherwise protecting it when necessary. 

 Early in April a second and larger sowing 

 should be made in the open ground, and 

 a third and last sowing about the middle 

 of August to stand through the winter. 



Cultivation, Transplanting^ &c. All 

 sowings should be made on beds of rich 

 light soil, thoroughly pulverised by digging, 

 and neither too dry nor too moist, 4^ feet 

 wide, and long in proportion to the re- 

 quirements of the garden, half an ounce of 

 s^ed being sufficient for a lo-foot bed. In 

 very dry weather the seed-beds should 

 receive a copious watering the night before 

 sowing. When the plants are large enough 

 to be handled, transplant them to nursery- 

 beds of rich soil, well manured, pricking 

 them out four inches apart each way. 

 Some authorities recommend a second 

 removal when the roots have formed a 

 compact mass, in order to check the 

 growth of stem and promote balling. In 

 June the April sowings will be fit to plant 

 out where they are to grow ; in September 

 they will be heading, and will continue to 

 improve up to the frosts of early winter. 



Like all the Brassicas, the cauliflower 

 requires a rich, deep soil and an open 

 spot, but sheltered from the north. An 

 old celery- or asparagus-bed, from which 

 the plants have been lifted for forcing, is 

 excellent. If none such is at liberty, let 

 the ground be well trenched three feet 

 deep, and manured with good rotten dung, 

 thoroughly incorporated with the soil in 

 digging, bearing in mind that the delicacy 

 and freshness of the vegetable depend on 

 its rapid and vigorous growth when once 

 started. On the ground thus prepared 

 plant the young seedlings 2 feet apart 

 each way. 



The after - cultivation is very simple ; 

 careful weeding, stirring the soil from time 

 to time with the hoe, and drawing the 

 earth about their roots, and copious water- 

 ing at the roots in dry weather, include the 

 necessary routine. 



Cauliflower, Autumn Sown, 

 Treatment of. 



The autumn-sown plants are usually 

 pricked out under frames for protection 

 during winter, keeping them clear of 

 weeds and decaying leaves, stirring the 

 soil occasionally, and giving plenty of air 

 in fine weather, protecting them from 

 frost and rain. As they advance, and 

 begin to head under hand or bell-glasses, 

 every opportunity should be taken of 

 giving air ; in severe weather protect the 

 frames and hand-glasses by packing litter 

 round them. 



When the heads begin to appear, shade 

 them from sun and rain by breaking down 

 some of the larger leaves, so as to cover 

 them. Water in dry weather, previously 

 forming the earth into a basin round the 

 stern, and pour the water into the roots, 

 choosing the evening in mild weather for 

 so doing, and the morning when the air is 

 frosty. 



Transplanting, &c. Some gardeners 

 advocate the transplanting of autumn 

 seedlings as soon as they have made a 

 few roots, into oo-sized pots, which are 

 placed in an open airy frame, or other 

 sheltered place having facilities for protect- 

 ing them from frost. As they fill the 

 smaller pots with their roots, they are 

 transplanted into larger ones, taking care 

 that the roots never get matted in their 

 pots ; and early in February the first crop 

 is placed out on a south border, the holes 

 prepared for them having received a 

 barrowful of thoroughly rotten dung, over 

 which the mould is replaced, forming a 

 little hillock on which the cauliflowers are 



