CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 297 



island and many small but highly intensive ones near 

 Brooklyn at the west end. Its cultivation has been ex- 

 tended to most of the states, but the crop is especially 

 important in California, Florida, the Great Lake district 

 and in other sections providing suitable climatic conditions. 



Except in the most favored sections, it is a difficult 

 crop to grow. Many uncertainties attend its production. 

 The young plants are very susceptible to damping-off 

 fungi. A hard frost may stunt the growth of the young 

 plants, causing the heads to "bolt" or "button" ; that is, 

 the heads may break or send up their flowering parts 

 before they have attained a marketable size. Poor seed 

 or dry weather at the time of heading may cause the 

 same trouble. Because of the uncertainty thousands 

 of growers do not attempt cauliflower culture. Although 

 the supply is liberal at times in some of our large mar- 

 kets, most cities are only fairly well supplied, and there 

 is usually a good demand for large, white heads. 



382. Climate. Proper climatic conditions are univer- 

 sally regarded as more important than a congenial soil. 

 This vegetable has become accustomed to a cool, moist 

 climate ; it rebels against heat, dry weather and low 

 humidity. Regions near large bodies of water, as on 

 Long Island, along the Atlantic Coast, in the Great 

 Lake district and at Puget Sound, furnish ideal condi- 

 tions. Some inland sections, however, have produced 

 fairly good results. Growers in Garrett County, Md., 

 have had splendid success. They are located about 

 3,000 feet above sea level, where the air is cool, and 

 where there are fogs or a moist atmosphere most of the 

 time. High temperatures, low humidity and lack of soil 

 moisture tend to check growth, and therefore, reduce the 

 size of the heads, which are thus probably caused to "but- 

 ton." Overhead irrigation is especially valuable for this crop. 



The plants are much less hardy than cabbage. This 

 fact must be taken into account when planting in the 



