CULTURE OF THE CAULIFLOWER AND CABBAGE. 23 



manure, plow, and prepare your ground for transplanting into, by 

 the middle of April, or as early as it can be well and thoroughly 

 done ; make large applications of manure — ten to twelve cords — 

 and fine and mix it well with the soil ; work the soil deeply and 

 thoroughly, making it mellow and fine with plow, cultivator, and 

 harrow. Thorough work here decreases after labor in cultivation. 

 Having accomplished this preliminary work lay off the rows, 

 according to the requirements of the variety to be planted, from 

 thirty to thirty-six inches apart, with the hills eighteen to thirty 

 inches apart in the row. Regard must be had to whether the 

 after culture is to be by horse or hand ; if by hand, the rows may 

 be nearer than if the horse and cultivator are to be used. Into 

 each hill drop about a table-spoonful of guano, chop it into the soil 

 well, and cover two to three inches deep with fine soil, and set 

 the plants over this. 



Transplanting . The reasons why we transplant may not properly 

 come within the scope of this essay, still they are worthy of the 

 careful study of intelligent cultivators. To perform the work to 

 the best satisfaction, with the least trouble, choose a cloudy time 

 when the soil is moist without being pasty. Carefully remove 

 the plants from the bed into a basket ; a trowel or pointed stick 

 is good to loosen the plant, when it is pulled out by the hand and 

 placed in a basket for dropping from. A careful boy can drop 

 these out, one to each hill, while a man follows and as carefully 

 sets the plants, making a hole sufficiently large and deep to hold 

 the roots well ; this hole may be made with the fingers, a trowel, 

 or dibble. Place the roots in this hole without doubling, draw the 

 earth over them, and gently firm it so as to press the roots ; when 

 set, the plant should stand a trifle lower than in the bed, and the 

 soil around it should be slightly dishing. If only a few plants are 

 to be set they can be watered out successfully by taking up only 

 a few at a time, making a hole so that the roots will go in, 

 holding by the stem with one hand while with the other water is 

 poured to fill the hole ; the soil settles around the roots as the 

 water soaks away, when the remainder is filled in and firmed 

 about the plant. 



After Culture. As soon as the plants take root they should be 

 carefully hoed, and once every week or ten days thereafter till 

 matured, or so large that it cannot be conveniently done ; a fresh, 

 .moist soil tends to early maturity. To obtain the best results 



