316 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [Amu. 



moist loam, and agree exceedingly well with large quantities of 

 manure. 



You should be provided with hand-glasses, garden-pots, or covers 

 made of two boards, each a loot Ions;, and nailed together at right 

 angles, to cover every plant at night and in very severe weather 

 for two or three weeks after planting: observing to take them oft' 

 early each morning, except the weather is desperate, and never to 

 keep a dark covering over the plants longer than necessity requires. 



This occasional protection is necessary to keep them in a con- 

 stant and uninterrupted state of vegetation, for if stunted, at this 

 period, by frost or too much cold, many will button, and very few 

 produce large flowers. 



The early cauliflower plants, under hand-glasses, should have 

 earth drawn up to their stems. This will be of a great service in 

 promoting a strong forward growth. 



The hand or bell-glasses may still be continued over these plants 

 at night, and cold wet weather; but in warm days, and when there 

 are mild rains, let them be exposed to the free air; when the plants 

 are considerably advanced in growth, the glasses should be raised 

 proportionably high on props; first drawing a border of earth, two 

 or three inches high or more, round each plant; then place the 

 props upon that, and set the glasses thereon; but towards the end 

 of this month, or beginning of next, they should be taken entirely 

 away. 



The above instructions will suit any part of the Union, except 

 as to time of planting, which should, in every place, be on the eve 

 of the first brisk spring vegetation, when no danger can be appre- 

 hended from subsequent frosts; and where this can be done in De- 

 cember, January, or February with safety, so much the better. 



Young cauliflower plants, raised from seed sown last month, 

 should now be pricked out into nursery beds, or some in a hot-bed, 

 to forward them for final transplanting. See page 183. 



Sowing Cauliflower Seed. 



Cauliflower seed may be sown, any time this month, in the open 

 ground, to raise plants for heading in October, &c. 

 For the further treatment of cauliflowers, see May. 



Cabbages. 



As early in this month as possible plant out your general crops 

 of cabbage plants, observing to set all the early heading kinds at the 

 distance of two feet and a half every way, and all the late sorts at 

 that of three feet. 



As to soil and preparation, the nearer you approach in both to 

 that directed for cauliflowers, the larger cabbages you will have: 

 but where they are desired very early, you must adapt the soil and 

 situation to that purpose. 



Some of the cabbage and savoy plants which were sown in March, 

 for a succession of young summer and autumn cabbages, and a for 



