108 MUCK CROPS 



Insects and Diseases. The insects and 

 diseases common to cabbage are also troub- 

 lesome pests on the cauliflower. Spraying 

 with poison should cease when the coral 

 forms. 



Harvesting. Watch the growing heads 

 of coral very closely after they have been 

 tied up, as they sometimes spoil or grow too 

 large. Heads 6 to 9 inches sell the best. 

 The head is severed from the plant with 

 most of the leaves. That means cutting the 

 stem 3 to 4 inches below the coral formation. 

 The leaves are then trimmed off just below 

 the widest part of the coral, leaving a most 

 attractive vegetable with the white coral 

 centre and a fringe of green all around its 

 edge. 



In cutting the leaves, the knife is not held 

 at right angles to the coral but at more of an 

 obtuse angle, with the point of the blade 

 below the coral and cutting the outside leaves 

 farther up on the blade. Hold th.e head 

 in the crook of the arm and insert the knife, 

 moving the head as needed. Practice will 

 soon help one to acquire the knack. Cauli- 

 flower is a tender vegetable and should be 

 handled carefully. 



