CAULIFLOWER. 93 



and thoroughly rotted before using it in cold frames. 

 Make drills three or four inches apart and three quar- 

 ters of an inch deep. Sow the seed in by hand. A 

 convenient aid may be made by punching a nail hole 

 in the bottom of an old fruit-can. The size of the hole 

 should be tested by sowing on some canvas or plant- 

 cloth. A seeder may be used with profit if one has 

 much seed to sow. The seed when sown should be cov- 

 ered with about three quarters of an inch of soil. 



The soil should be kept moist by frequent applica- 

 tions of water never use enough to soak the bed, and 

 on the other hand, do not allow the soil to become 

 dry. As soon as the seedlings appear, watering may 

 be less frequent and heavier. The surface of the cold 

 frame should become dry so as to prevent damping off. 

 If, at any time, it is noticed that some plants are falling 

 over, as if cut off, and yet are not cut off, it is very 

 suspicious. An application of dust or dry sand will 

 often be found of advantage. 



As soon as the seedlings are an inch or an inch and 

 a half high, they should be transplanted to rows four 

 inches apart and about an inch in the row. Use only 

 the finest seedlings and destroy the poorer ones. This 

 transplanting discards the poorer seedlings, and gives 

 the stronger ones greater advantage, and at the same 

 time it reduces the danger from damping off. From 

 the time that the seedlings begin to appear, dust the 

 surface of the bed with tobacco dust. The dusting 

 should be most liberal along the drill, and should be 

 done an hour or two after watering ; repeat it every 

 three or four days. 



As soon as the plants begin to crowd in the rows, 

 they should be transplanted again. This time set the 

 plants four by four inches. In six or eight weeks, the 

 plants are ready to go to the field. Care must be ex- 



