88 Mode of growing early Cauliflowers. 



tacks of some minute insect, a coccus, an aphis, or, perhaps, the 

 ^'carus telarius (red spider). If this suspicion be correct, then 

 a too low or a too high degree of temperature, a dry or moist 

 state of the atmosphere of the house, a more or less effective 

 ventilation, may favour or prevent the developement of the insect 

 or fungus. My suspicion is confirmed by the fact, that, at least 

 as far as my experience goes, grapes in the open air are not in- 

 fected by the disease ; although they are as much subjected to 

 friction, irregular expansion of the flowers, and many of the 

 other causes supposed to produce shriveling, as are grapes under 

 glass ; but then they are not, perhaps, subjected to the atmo- 

 sphere or temperature necessary to the developement of the 

 peculiar species of fungus or insect supposed. Vines under 

 glass are sometimes infested with the mealy bug, and frequently 

 with the red spider, but never> I believe, with either in the open 

 air. 



I do not pretend to assert that I have discovered the nature of 

 this evil, much less its prevention, but have here merely stated 

 inferences drawn from a consideration of the peculiar characters 

 of the disease. I trust, however, that I may be in some degree 

 instrumental in drawing the attention of practical men to this 

 obscure subject, but one so important to the gardener ; and that 

 they will not cease to anxiously investigate it, until both cause 

 and prevention are distinctly known. 



Brixton i December 15. 1837. 



Art. IX. A Mode of groxmng early Cauli/lotvers. By John Cut- 

 hill, Gardener at Dyrham Park. 



The plan which I have practised with cauliflowers these two 

 years past is as follows : — After the cucumbers upon a ridge are 

 done with, I put four inches of peat mould all over, from either 

 side of the ridge, and plant in it my cauliflower plants. The 

 peat mould is to keep the roots from the rich mould and dung 

 below, until the spring, so that the plants may stand no chance 

 of buttoning ; but, when they do begin to grow, they grow more 

 in one month than in two with the old practice ; and we thus get 

 cauliflowers very early in this strong cold ground. It matters 

 not whether the ridge runs east and west, or north and south, as 

 I keep one corner of the hand-light on the edge of the bed, upon 

 either side. Of course, I have double rows of hand-lights upon 

 the same bed alternately ; which throws one side of the light to 

 the s. w., where all the heavy rains come from, and the opposite, 

 where the cold east winds come from ; so that we tilt accordingly. 

 I never allow one drop of rain to fall upon a frame or hand-light 

 cauliflower until March ; and, in order to make sure, the lights 

 are on at all times, giving air. Those who allow their plants to get 



