64? THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



dry, moderate waterings will be of utility in pro- 

 moting the progress of the plants to maturity. 

 Towards the latter end of May some of the for- 

 wardest plants will begin to show flower, at which 

 time they should be examined daily ; and whenever 

 a flower appears to be advanced in growth, turn 

 down some of the inward leaves over the head, to 

 screen it from the sun's rays and from rain, in order 

 to preserve it more white and close, as the excellence 

 of the cauliflower consists not only in size, but in 

 the whiteness, and compact growth of the head. 



In gathering or cutting cauliflowers, the flower 

 head should mostly be cut off with some inches of 

 the stalk, together with most of the surrounding 

 leaves, which should be trimmed down nearly equal 

 to the circumference of the head, especially when 

 for present use ; but those required to be kept a few 

 days, or intended for market, should have the full 

 leaves to continue, and be trimmed off as they are 

 wanted. As the stalks of these plants never pro- 

 duce sprouts, as in those of the cabbage kind, they 

 should be moved as soon as the head is cut. In 

 regard to the plants which were wintered in the 

 frames, as the spring approaches they should be 

 inured by degrees to the full air, by taking the 

 glasses off entirely every day, and gradually leav- 

 ing them fully exposed at night, to harden them for 

 their removal into the places where they are to re- 

 main. From the middle of March till about the 

 same time in April is the best time for transplant- 

 ing all the plants wintered in frames or elsewhere,^ 

 as well as the superfluous plants^ taken from under 

 the hand-glasses. For this purpose an open spot 



