2oo Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



KITCHEN GARDEN continued. 



sand with paraffin oil and sprinkle it among the plants. Lift in 

 October and store similarly to Beetroot. Good varieties 



Short. 

 Early Gem 

 Guerande 



Long. 



James's Intermediate 

 St. Valery 



For forcing or frame culture the Parisian may be selected. See 

 French Gardening. 



Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis cauliflora). One of the 

 most delicious and esteemed of all Green vegetables, Cauliflowers are 

 in season from June to November inclusive, but crops can be got in 

 early summer by sowing the previous autumn, or in heat in winter. 

 Autumn crops may be secured by sowing thinly in a reserve bed out 

 of doors in April, covering with half an inch of soil, screening with 

 tanned fish netting to keep off birds, and transplanting after rain 

 during June or July. It is important that young Cauliflowers 

 should not be crowded in the seed bed, and if they get too thick in 

 spite of thinning it is wise to set them out 9 ins. apart in a reserve 

 bed until their permanent quarters are ready. Small varieties 

 should be planted 2 ft. apart ultimately, and large ones 2% ft. 

 asunder. The ground should be dug deeply and manured liberally. 

 Decayed farmyard manure is good, and light dressings of nitrogen- 

 ous fertilisers (see Cabbage) may be given when the plants are in 

 full growth. It is often convenient to plant autumn Cauliflowers 

 between Potatoes, but they should not be overgrown by the latter. 

 With respect to autumn sowing, it is best done in a frame at the end 

 of September, although in the absence of glass a sowing out of 

 doors early in that month may be tried. Frame-raised plants 

 should be put out in April. By sowing seed in heat in January, 

 pricking out the seedlings in boxes, and hardening in an unheated 

 frame in March, Cauliflowers may be got ready for planting in 

 April. All classes of Cauliflowers do badly in poor, dry, shallow 

 soil. They like moist, fertile ground. The following varieties are 

 good : 



Early. 



Early Erfurt 

 Early London 



Late. 



Autumn Giant 

 Pearl 



Purity 



For enemies, see under Broccoli. 



Celery (Apium graveolens). Delicious as a relish, excellent when 

 cooked, and with the property of relieving rheumatic sufferers, 

 Celery is a valuable crop. It benefits the whole garden indirectly, 

 as the deep cultivation and thorough tillage entailed in its culture 

 are good for succeeding crops. The trench system is convenient, 

 as it allows of abundant watering and liquid manuring, and pro- 

 vides plenty of earth for blanching, but it is not indispensable. 

 Nice crops of Celery may be had by planting between Potatoes. 

 For early crops the seed should be sown in heat in February, for later 

 rows in a cool house in March. The plant grows very slowly in its 



