VEGETABLE CROPS. <>(!:") 



For early varieties the planting is usually closer than for the later 

 varieties. Fur the former the distance is usually 3 feet x 2 feet 6 inches, 

 requiring about 5,800 plants per acre, and for the latter 3 feet x 3 feet, 

 requiring 4,840 plants per acre. 



Manuring. 



It is essential that soils for this crop should be well supplied with organic 

 matter. Unless frequent applications of organic manures are made, the 

 supply of this constituent is soon depleted, and the grower wonders why his 

 soil does not produce profitable crops. The tendency of European growers 

 is to grow these crops until the natural fertility of the soil has been consider- 

 ably reduced, and then abandon cauliflower cultivation. 



Must of the river tints are rich enough to grow several crops without the 

 application of farmyard manure, and where the land is subject to periodical 

 floods and benefits by flood deposit, there is scarcely any need for heavy 



manuring. 



Where the soil is not naturally rich and the crop requires stimulating, 

 the following application of artificial fertiliser will usually be found to be 

 productive of good returns. Apply a mixture of dried blood, bonedust, and 

 superphosphate in equal quantities at the rate of not less than G cwt. per 

 acre, and later (usually just before the heads begin to form) a top dressing 

 of sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda at the rate of 1 cwt. per acre. 

 Care should be exercised in making this top-dressing, and it i« advisable to 

 mix these nitrogenous manures with a bulk of earth or sand in order to 

 facilitate distribution. The application should be made to the soil between 

 the rows and contact of the manure with the plants avoided. 



Cultivation. 



Cultivation between the rows with horse cultivator should be continued at 

 short intervals, until the plants are too big to allow of it being carried on. 

 If plants are not planted on the check system, and do not allow of cross 

 cultivation, chipping-hoes will have to be used to keep down weeds, and 

 establish the earth mulch between the plants. 



Tying. 



This is the practice of tying the outside leaves over the plant to protect the 

 flower from weather influences. The system has its drawbacks, and is 

 seldom adopted in this State. The chief difficulty in adopting this method is 

 the trouble of determining whether the plants are ready to harvest. Some 

 growers use a different coloured band each day, so that when examining for 

 fitness for market they can pick out the mature heads by the various coloured 

 bands. This method is a satisfactory one, if the development of the heads is 

 even. 



It is very important that the flower should be kept clean and white. 

 While the head is small, it is well protected by the young leaves surrounding 

 it, but when the coral head begins to grow rapidly, it must be covered in 

 some manner to protect it from sun and frost. This is usually accomplished 

 by breaking off some of the largest outside leaves, and placing them amongst 

 the other leaves so as to properly cover the head, or it may be done by 

 bending over some of the larger inner leaves. 



