62 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



frosty weather prevail, they should be kept as close 

 down as possible ; and for their more certain pro- 

 tection (especially in private and small gardens, 

 where there is not a large quantity of glasses), on 

 the approach of such severe weather as was expe- 

 rienced in the last winter of 1838, and which de- 

 stroyed nearly all the cauliflowers in the country, 

 some dry litter or fern laid down as close as pos- 

 sible about the lower part of each glass, and raised 

 higher as occasion may require, would do much 

 towards the effectual preservation of the plants. 



Any further attention the plants will require till 

 spring consists principally in giving air at all such 

 times as the weather will admit of the picking off 

 the decayed leaves ; and a little lime and soot mixed, 

 occasionally strewed, lightly upon the surface, under 

 the glasses, will greatly protect the plants from the 

 depredation of caterpillars and slugs, &c. 



With respect to the plants which remain in the 

 frames, nothing more is necessary than to give 

 them plenty of air in favourable weather ; to pro- 

 tect them with additional coverings of garden mats 

 when the frost is very severe, and to look them 

 over occasionally, to pick off any decayed leaves, 

 insects, &c. The author must caution the horticul- 

 turist against allowing the plants to be drawn up, 

 as by so doing he runs the hazard of losing the 

 crop by the plants becoming button-headed, or pro- 

 ducing very small heads, while in the frames. This 

 arises in general from over-nursing ; therefore, the 

 more hardy the plants are brought up the better. 



When there is a want of frames, cauliflowers may 

 be protected by planting them in three or four foot' 



