CHAPTER XX. 



CULTURE OF CAULIFLOWER AND CABBAGE. 



REAT care must be taken in the selection of the 

 seed of cauliflower. Many unscrupulous deal- 

 ers place an inferior article upon the market, 

 and, by selling it at a lower price, induce the 

 grower to invest therein. He will invariably 

 find that he has encountered great loss before 

 the season is over. Above all things, cauli- 

 " flower seed must be well selected. Seed which 



is grown in France or Germany is preferable. The varieties 

 known as the Early Erfert or Snow Ball are considered the best. 

 The seed is sown rather thinly, about one-half the amount 

 being used over a given area that would ordinarily be sown to 

 cabbage seed. It should be covered lightly and kept well mois- 

 tened. On account of there being considerable danger of the 

 young plants "damping off," it is preferable to sow light applica- 

 tions of flowers of sulphur over the field at the time of planting 

 the seed. The seed-bed for these plants should be prepared simi- 

 larly to that for cabbage. If the weather is inclined to be cold at 

 the time of sowing the seed, it is best to apply a light application 

 of compost, working it in shallow. The same directions that apply 

 to cabbage, as to setting out and cultivation, apply to cauliflower, 

 taking even greater care to nurse the plants throughout the 

 season and to protect them from any vermin. The little worm men- 

 tioned in connection with cabbage is very destructive also in the 

 heads of cauliflower. Should the heart of the cauliflower be muti- 

 lated in the least, the result will be that the entire head will be 

 defective. For this reason, great care must be exercised. 



To grow cauliflower successfully, the plants should be thor- 

 oughly irrigated when about half grown. Then, if the condition 

 of the soil is otherwise favorable, it will invariably make a fine 



