CAULIFLOWER 



267 



Germination may be hastened by soaking the seed for a time 

 in warm water. Seed should be planted in light, rich loam. The 

 drills should be far enough apart to allow horse tillage. The 

 dwarf varieties do not need so much room. They are dropped one 

 or two inches apart in the drills, and covered one or two inches 

 in depth. 



This crop is grown by the acre in localities where canneries 

 are situated. In this case the seed is sown with grain drills and 

 no further care is given. Varieties which mature their pods uni- 

 formly are used for this purpose, and when the peas have reached 

 the desired stage, the whole crop is cut with a mowing machine. 



FIG. 181 



Fio. 182 



FIG. 181. Head of cauliflower poorly developed because of hot, dry weather. (Productive 



Vegetable Growing.) 

 FIG. 182. A typical head of early cauliflower developed in a favorable season. (Productive 



Vegetable Growing.) 



At the factory the peas are hulled by machinery, silage is made 

 of the vines, and the peas are canned. 



Cauliflower. This crop somewhat resembles the cabbage, 

 requiring similar treatment and cultivation, but is not as hardy. 

 The soil should be rich in fertilizer and kept well watered during 

 the summer (Figs. 181 and 182), and the young plants should be 

 protected during extreme cold weather. The seed should be sown 

 in a hotbed in January or February for an early crop, and the 

 transplanting done when freezing weather is past. Sow in late 

 spring or early summer for a late crop. The plants can be set 

 about fifteen or eighteen inches apart in rows three feet apart and 

 cultivated frequently, keeping them in moist condition. As soon 



