330 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [APRIL 



were managed as directed in the preceding month, with a transplanter 

 or hollow trowel, one by one, preserving as much earth as possible 

 about their roots, and plant them down to their leaves in rows three 

 feet asunder, and the same distance plant from plant, in the rows, 

 forming a little hollow (basin like) about eight inches over, and two 

 deep, round every plant to receive water occasionally, till fit for earth- 

 ing up; and which, immediately previous to landing the plants, 

 should be filled with good compost earth, if convenient. Then give 

 each a little water, which repeat at intervals of three or four days, 

 till in a vigorous growing state, and afterwards occasionally. Or, 

 after having first manured and dug the ground, you may make 

 trenches as if for celery, in the direction of north and south ; and 

 in the bottom of each lay four inches deep of well rotted cow-dung, 

 cast thereon five or six inches of earth, and point over the whole with 

 a spade, mixing the earth and dung effectually : in these trenches 

 plant your cauliflower plants at the above distances, and give occa- 

 sional waterings as before. 



To attempt planting cauliflowers in poor ground would be labor 

 in vain; they love, nay, they require a deep, very rich, and moist 

 loam, and agree exceedingly well with large quantities of manure. 



You should be provided with hand-glasses, garden-pots, or covers 

 made of two boards, each a foot long, and nailed together at right 

 angles, to cover every plant at night and in very severe weather for 

 two or three weeks after planting ; observing to take them off early 

 each morning, except the weather is desperate, and never to keep a 

 dark covering over the plants longer than necessity requires. 



This occasional protection is necessary to keep them in a constant 

 and uninterrupted state of vegetation, for if stunted, at this period, 

 by frost or too much cold, many will button, and very few produce 

 large flowers. 



The early cauliflower plants, under hand-glass, should have earth 

 drawn up to their stems. This will be of a great service in promot- 

 ing a strong forward growth. 



The hand or bell-glasses may still be continued over these plants 

 at night, and in cold wet weather; but in warm days, and when there 

 are mild rains, let them be exposed to the free air ; when the plants 

 are considerably advanced in growth, the glasses should be raised pro- 

 portionably high on props; first drawing a border of earth, two or 

 three inches high or more, round each plant; then place the props 

 upon that, and set the glasses thereon; but towards the end of this 

 month, or beginning of next, they should be taken entirely away. 



The above instructions will suit any part of the Union, except as 

 to time of planting, which should, in every place, be on the eve of 

 the first brisk spring vegetation, when no danger can be apprehended 

 from subsequent frosts ; and where this can be done in December, 

 January, or February with safety, so much the better. 



Young cauliflower plants, raised from seed sown last month, should 

 now be pricked out into nursery beds, or some in a hot-bed, to for- 

 ward them for final transplanting. (See page 192.) 



