68 FAMILY RECEIPTS. 



ter a little before transplanting, if the weather be dry, 

 and raise each plant with a ball of earth, which you 

 must take great care not to break, as it is of great im- 

 portance to the success of the cauliflower that its growth 

 should not be checked at this period. Plant two feet 

 or two feet and a half apart each way. "Should any 

 of the plants be attacked by the black grub-worm, exa- 

 mine them every morning for ten or twelve days; and 

 when any of them are cut off, search for the worm near 

 the plant, and kill it, as it will be found within two oi 

 three inches of the stem, and half an inch below the 

 surface; then replace the plant. If you suffer them 

 to escape, they will gather strength and quickly destroy 

 a whole planting." 



This vegetable is extremely delicate, and is esteemed 

 equal to young peas and the Lima bean. However, a 

 great deal depends upon the cooking, and its excellence 

 may be destroyed by an ignorant or careless manner of 

 preparing it for the table. Cut when close and white, 

 and of the middle size; trim otf some of the outside 

 leaves; cut the stalk off flat at the bottom, and let it 

 lie in salt and water a little while. Put it into boiling 

 water with a handful of salt in it; have plenty of water, 

 and keep the vessel uncovered; skim the water well; a 

 small cauliflower will take about fifteen minutes and a 

 large one twenty: take it up as soon as a fork will enter 

 the stem easily, a minute or two longer boiling will 

 spoil it. Eat it with the gravy from the meat, or with 

 melted butter. 



CUCUMBER — Coucomhre. 



The best kinds for early planting are the early frame, 

 green cluster, and long prickly. Plant in the open 

 ground, about the first week of May, in hills four feet 

 apart, both for the general crop and for the pickling 

 sorts; make the ground rich with vegetable mould and 

 rotted cow dung, and leave only one good plant in each 

 hill. If the provoking yellow fly attacks your plants, 

 examine them frequently, and throw tobacco dust or 

 soot round the vines. Some recommend to nip oflf the 



