THE GAP J) EX. m 



I more compact form, if desired. Probably the beat way would be to adopt 

 the course which is sometimes employed of setting out the plants in summer 

 on the level surface of deep, rich soil, eight or ten inches or a foot apart each 

 way, in order that their close growth may tend to give them a more upright 

 form. They are merely kept clean by hoeing through the season. 



Canliflo'wer. — The growing of cauliflowers is receiving more attenti|^ 

 ban formerly, particularly so the earlier varieties. The crops of Dwan 

 Erfurt and Snowball begin to come forward in June, and these, with the 

 later sorts, are in market almost without intermission until November. 

 Cauliflowers require very high cultivation, even more so than cabbages, and 

 plenty of moisture. Whether grown in the kitchen garden or upon a large 

 ^•cale, the crop is a paying one. The demand is evidently rapidly increasing, 

 and there is no more dehcions vegetable grown. 



Cold-frame plants are probably the best and hardiest for early crops; the 

 frames, however, need rather more protection during cold nights than is re- 

 quired for cabbage plants. Seeds sown in hot-beds in February will pro- 

 duce plants that are not much, if any, inferior to cold-frame plants. They 

 should be transplanted out once t)efore setting in the open ground, and also 

 should be gradually hardened by exposure; in this way they may be in con- 

 dition to set out as early in April as the ground will permit Set the early 

 sorts about two feet by fifteen inches, and cultivate- the same as cabbages. 

 Where irrigation is practicable, great advantage is thus obtained during a 

 drought. 



For late cauliflowers, sow seed in open ground, fixim the middle of May 

 till the middle of June, in hills, the same as directed for late cabbages. 

 Thin to one plant in each hill; this avoids the drawbacks resulting from 

 transplanting in a dry time. When the plants first appear, they are liable to 

 the attacks of a small black fly; guard against this by frequent dusting with 

 plaster, which apply in the morning, while the dew is on. When the beads 

 are forming, tie the leaves together at the top, thus avoiding discoloration by 

 exposure to the sun. 



Tomato Cnltnre. — Perhaps no other garden vegetable, says a com- 

 petent authority, has grown more or faster in public fevor than the tomato. 

 It is one of the most profitable garden crops, if cultivated right and got into 

 the market early. I have made tomato culture a special study for the last 

 six or seven years, endeavoring to grow the best and earliest tomatoes. 

 I would get all the new varieties I could to test, cultivating them in the best 

 way according to my knowledge and judgment to make the vines produce 

 the earliest and nearest perfect fruit. I will give the mode of cultivating 

 that I have found to be the best and most profitable way as yet. 



Start the plants in a hot-bed; sow the seeds in a box large enough to hold 

 the required number of plants wanted; sow in this box in rows one or two 

 inches apart the seeds thick, and insert in the hot-bed up to the top. When 

 the plants have four or six leaves, transplant in another hot-bed four inches 

 apart. Notice that the beds are the same or near the same temperature. 

 The transplanting is done to give the plants more room and give them abun- 

 dance of roots. The plants should be hardened by taking oflf all cover, or 

 if sash is used raise them of a warm, clear day. When all danger of frost is 

 past, transplant to the open ground. Break the ground deep and work it 

 mellow, mixing with the soil all the manure that can be spared from other 

 crops, for the richer the soU, if it is warm, the better. 3Iark oflf the rows 

 five feet apart; put one or two shovelfuls of rich, well-rotted manure every 



