168 CAULIFLOWER. 



soft, take up a few of the plants with a trowel, so 

 as to lift with each a little ball of earth, and set 

 them on the warmest border ground, into which 

 plenty of rich and well decayed manure has been 

 dug before winter. A fortnight later, plant some 

 more in the same way. So transplanted, these take 

 root immediately, and bear the slight spring frosts 

 without injury. These advantages you have by 

 raising your own plants: they are at hand and you 

 can choose your time to a nicety; they are short- 

 necked and hardy, being not too crowded in the 

 frame, and are lifted with earth adhering to their 

 roots; whereas those reared for sale, besides cost- 

 ing five or seven shillings a hundred, are wiredrawn 

 and soft as grass, and half withered before you get 

 them. They can endure no frost ; they are long 

 in taking root; and in some sunny day you find 

 they have gone out of sight. 



A spring sowing of cauliflower comes in time to 

 succeed the crops raised from winter plants; and the 

 succession may be kept up till November or Decem- 

 ber. At any time when the flowering advances 

 too rapidly, the stocks may be retarded or pre- 

 served from frost in the manner recommended for 

 brocoli. Some have transplanted the latest por- 

 tion of the crop into earth deposited under the roof 

 of a shed ; and by sheltering, airing, watering, and 

 picking off withered leaves, the cauliflower season 

 may no doubt be prolonged ; but this trouble will 

 seldom be judged necessary, as other things come 

 instead and in better season, and what is lost by 



