44 I CIST'S FAMILY KITCHEN GARDENER. 



no more water will be required till the Spring. Between eacl 

 of these, plant a Lettuce of the early Butter or Royal Cabbage 

 sorts, that will head in February and March, and be used before 

 the Cauliflower makes much leaf to cover the ground. It will 

 be necessary to surround the frame with dry litter to keep out 

 the frost, and to cover the glass or shutters with dry straw or 

 mats in time of severe weather, observing to give plenty of 

 air, in clear, mild days, to prevent the plants from drawing or 

 damping off at the neck. With such treatment we have seen 

 Cauliflowers eighteen inches in diameter, and nearly as white as 

 snow. When they are in a growing state, they should never 

 suffer with drought. Allow a copious supply of water if en- 

 riched, so much the better. Soap-suds is an excellent nutri- 

 tive for the growth of vegetables. In the Southern States very 

 little protection is required. Surround the roots with dry litter, 

 and cover the plants in severe nights with mats or branches 

 of evergreens. Be careful to supply moisture whenever the 

 plants demand it, which is readily observed by the drooping, of 

 the leaves. 



As many of my readers may not have seen a Cauliflower, nor 

 know from the above what it looks like, to such we say, it is a 

 kind of Cabbage that produces within its long, pale-green leaves, 

 a white head, very similar to a basin rounded full of the curd 

 which is commonly called Cottage Cheese. This is about as 

 plain a description of the appearance of this vegetable as we 

 can give. In cutting Cauliflowers, the head should be cut off 

 with some inches of the stalk, together with most of the sur- 

 rounding leaves, which should be trimmed down nearly to the 

 circumference of the head, when for present use ; but the 

 leaves of those required to be kept a few days, or intended for 

 market, should be retained in their full length. If the flowcra 

 are opening more rapidly than demand requires, they can be, 

 retarded a few d.iys, by folding the leaves over the heads. By 

 this process, the flower is kept of a purer white, being defended 

 from the sun. 



