FEB.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN". 



When those coming up in the open ground, happen to be at* 

 tacked with morning hoar-frosts, and likely to be a sunny mild clay, 

 if before the sun rises full upon them, you water them with fresh 

 pump or well water poured out of a watering-pot, with the head on, to 

 wash off the frosty rime, it will prevent their changing black and 

 going off. 



Cauliflower Plants, 



Continue to take particular care of your early cauliflower plants, 

 as directed in January, page 12, which see. Those early autumnal 

 sown plants, which you have in frames, and that you are endea- 

 vouring to protect with a covering of boards and mats, &c. without 

 the assistance of glass, should never have powerful sun-shine ad- 

 mitted to them while in a frozen state ; for its sudden action upon 

 these tender plants, whilst in that condition, would prove their total 

 destruction ; therefore admit it only at intervals, when weak, until 

 the plants and ground round them are completely thawed. 



The cauliflower plants which were raised from seed sown last 

 month, should as soon in this, as they may arrive at a sufficient 

 size, which is about four or five inches, be transplanted into a new 

 moderate hot-bed, which will greatly strenghten and forward their 

 growth. 



Make the bed two feet and a half high, arid put a frame on, lay on 

 six inches deep of rich earth, when this is warm, prick the plants 

 therein two or three inches apart, and give them a little water ; as 

 soon as they have taken root, give them plenty of air ; and in mild 

 warm days, take the glasses totally off, but let them be carefully 

 covered every night, and the glasses only raised a little behind in 

 cold weather. 



Plants thus treated will become strong and well rooted, bear 

 transplanting much better than if left in the seed-bed, and produce 

 larger and better heads ; for by transplanting, the tap-roots are 

 checked, and the plants push a number of lateral roots, which afford 

 them nourishment and strength ; they become short-stemmed and 

 stout, and consequently more fit for a final and successful tranplan- 

 tation than if suffered to remain in the seed-bed. 



Were these to be transplanted again early in March, into another 

 bed, it would be aa additional advantage ; it is by the neglect of this 

 necessary treatment, that we have so few good flowers, for the plants 

 when continued in the seed-bed till finally transplanted, become 

 long and spindling, tender and unfurnished with roots or fibres ; 

 when planted out, for want of a sufficiency of roots, they are not 

 able immediately to extract the necessary supply of nourishment 

 from the earth, consequently become stunted, and either button, or 

 grow so miserably, as never to produce a good head. 



When transplanted and furnished as above, and that the proper 

 season arrives for planting them out in the open ground, they are 

 to be taken up separately, with a hollow trowel or transplanter, 

 preserving as much earth as possible about the roots of each plant, 

 and deposited where they are to flower ; thus treated they will 

 scarcely be sensible of the removal, will continue in a constant and 



