VEGETABLE CROPS. 



663 



The members of the Cauliflower Association of Long Island (TJnited 

 States of America) placed so much importance on the selection of seed that 



they sent a representative to Denmark to select a crop from which seed was 

 saved and purehased for the Association. The price charged for seed by the 

 Association before the war was £3 6s. 8d. per lb. 



Good seed should give a 90 per cent, germination, and should not be kept 

 for more than three years after harvesting. As there is little difference 

 between one and two-year-old seed, it is advisable for the grower to buy his 

 supply of seed one year in advance. This allows of a small portion being 

 planted, so that its relative value may be gauged one year in advance. 



1 



Cauliflowers at Campbell's River Lagoon. 



Raising the Plants. 



In small gardens, cauliflowers can be grown over a longer season than is 

 possible on large areas. The small gardeners are prepared to take risks that 

 it is not advisable for larger growers to take. 



For main crop sowings, the plants are put out from the end of December 

 to the end of February, the seed being sown about six weeks prior to the 

 time of transplanting. 



Make the seed-beds where they will be constantly under observation, and 

 where every care can be bestowed upon them. The beds should be wire- 

 netted, as it does not take long for a rabbit or fowls to cause almost 

 irreparable damage. 



The beds should not be too wide ; they should allow of half being weeded 

 from each side. A suitable width would be about 4 feet. A bed large 

 enough to produce plants for one acre "when seed is broadcasted would be 

 20 feet long and 4 feet wide. It is always advisable to put in sufficient seed 

 to raise more plants than ai^e actually needed. This allows for loss by pests, 

 faulty germination, and the transplanting of healthy plants only. 



Two or three ounces of seed is more than sufficient to supply plants for 

 one acre. 



