662 THE farmers' handbook. 



Cauliflowers. 



Although belonging to the same family as the cabbage, the cauliflower is 

 not grown to nearly the same extent. This is due chiefly to the necessity for 

 more favourable conditions during the growth of the plant than are required 

 by other members of the same order. 



Extent of the Industry. 



The district in which the greatest area in this State is devoted to 

 cauliflowers is in the vicinity of Bathurst, including Esrom, Orton Park, 

 Perthville, Campbell's River, and White Rock. The crop is also grown 

 fairly extensively in the Hunter River Valley, chiefly in the vicinity of 

 Bolwarra, Louth Park, Oakhampton, Miller's Forest, Raymond Terrace, 

 Nelson's Plains, and Raworth, mainly to supply the Maitland and Newcastle 

 markets. 



Good cauliflowers are produced in many other districts, but their 

 cultivation is not so extensive as in the districts named. One of the chief 

 limiting factors in the success of the crop is the need of a quick train 

 service to market. It is essential, if best prices are to be obtained, that the 

 produce should be placed on the market within twenty-four hours of 

 harvesting. 



Climate. 



It is preferable to grow this crop so that the flowers form in the cool 

 months. The ideal climate is one in which the days are fairly warm and 

 the nights cool, such as is experienced in the tableland districts. 



The Soil and its Preparation. 



The soils most suitable for their cultivation are alluvial flats that are fairly 

 rich in organic matter, due to periodical flood deposits. These soils are 

 usually fairly loose in texture, and, being situated on the banks of rivers and 

 creeks, are generally well drained. As a rule the rental value of land of 

 this character ranges from £2 to <£4 per acre. 



The land should be well prepared, and this is best effected by working a 

 rotation on the farm. A crop such as early potatoes could be harvested in 

 time to allow of cauliflowers being planted out. Again, the cultivation during 

 the growth of potatoes reduces the soil to a suitable tilth, and renders it free 

 from weeds. By employing such a rotation, the land is in use during the 

 spring and early summer months. On account of the risk of reducing the 

 amount of available moisture in the soil by the growing of a crop during the 

 spring months, the practice is not recommended in districts where irrigation 

 cannot be carried out and the rainfall is scanty. If it is desired to 

 bare fallow the land before planting, the soil should be ploughed in spring 

 and cultivated during the summer months to kill weeds and conserve 

 moisture. If it is intended to supply farmyard manure, this should be 

 ploughed under when the spring ploughing is carried out. 



Seed. 



Good seed is of the utmost importance, and most growers are fully aware 

 of this fact. Bad seed is dear at any price, because, no matter what 

 attention is paid to the crop during growth, there will always be a large 

 proportion of useless plants. 



