THE CAULIFLOWER. 167 



main, or shipping, spring crop, the early dwarf varieties, 

 which may be expected to mature before May, that is, 

 before the weather becomes dry and hot* are the kinds to 

 be selected. The ' ' Very Early Dwarf Erfurt," the "Short- 

 stemmed Lenormand," and "Early Paris," in the order 

 framed, are the choice varieties. 



The plants should, like cabbage and other plants, be 

 put out dripping wet, -about, or soon after, the first of 

 January, so as to escape the severest cold, which, in the 

 latitude of Savannah, may generally be looked for in the 

 latter part of December. The seed should therefore be 

 sown under glass in cold frames, from November 15th to 

 December 1st. In Florida, of course, it may be sown 

 earlier, and the plants be put out sooner, as there is little 

 danger to be anticipated from winter killing. 



CULTIVATION. 



The varieties are of such dwarfish habit (particularly 

 is this so with the Erfurt), that it is not advisable to sow 

 earlier in the open air, and to prick out under glass. 

 When of a sufficient age to " curd," if growth is retarded, 

 they may in the seed-bed form heads no larger than mar- 

 bles. It is, therefore, important with this vegetable, that 

 the plants suffer no hindrance or stunting in growth, but 

 be pushed forward from the start, without, however, al- 

 lowing them to become spindling or too delicate. From 

 eighteen to twenty-one inches in the rows, and these 

 three and a half feet apart (seven thousand one hundred 

 and eleven to eight thousand two hundred and ninety- 

 seven plants to the acre) is sufficient distance for the 

 early varieties. The manure, the depth and kind of 

 preparation of the soil, and the cultivation of the cauli- 

 flower, are identical with that of cabbage, with the only 

 difference, that the former perhaps requires a little more 

 care, and will certainly reward extra attention. 



