CAULIFLOWER. 43 



CAULIFLOWER. 



Brdssica okracea, var. Chou-fleur, Fr. Blumtnkohl, Ger. 



THIS very delicate vegetable was first introduced into England 

 from the island of Cypress, about a century and a half ago. 

 Since then it has been greatly improved by the skill of the 

 gardener. We are inclined to believe that there are only two 

 varieties of the Cauliflower, though there are several sorts sold 

 in the seed-shops. The early and the late are the two, and 

 even these have frequently very little distinctive character, where 

 they are under the same culture ; and it is somewhat curious that 

 the Dutch prefer the English seed, and the English prefer the 

 Dutch. We have therefore to import the seeds from both 

 countries every year, to meet the ideas of the purchasers. 



CULTURE. The proper seasons for sowing the seeds are, for 

 the early Spring or Summer crop, between the eighth and 

 twentieth of September ; and for the late Autumn crop, about 

 the first of April. The plants, as soon as they are two inches 

 high, should be planted out in a bed of rich, light earth, three 

 inches apart each way, so as to grow firm and stocky to remove 

 to their final place of growth. 



For the purpose of growing them in perfection, a bed of the 

 richest light earth, two feet deep, and one-third of it well de- 

 composed manure, in an open exposure, sheltered from the 

 north-west, is requisite the whole to be surrounded with a 

 close frame, and covered with glass or shutters. It may bo 

 prepared about the first of October, to receive the plants after 

 the ground has fully settled, which will take two weeks. Lift 

 the plants carefully with a trowel from where they were trans- 

 planted, and plant them eighteen inches apart each way, into 

 the pit or frame prepared for them. Give a gentle watering 

 to the soil round the plant ; press it down firmly, and little or 



