CULTIVATION. 37 



The plants to be set should not be too large or 

 they will be liable to button, especially if the con- 

 ditions are in any way unfavorable for growth. If 

 large plants must be used extra pains should be 

 taken in setting, in order that there may be as little 

 check in their growth as possible. With cauli- 

 flowers, as with cabbages, large plants are the 

 easiest to make live, but. for the reason stated, it is 

 less desirable to use them. 



Setting the plants in shallow trenches, after the 

 manner of celery, is sometimes practised in garden 

 culture. This places the roots where the soil is 

 cool and moist and enables the plants to be watered 

 to good advantage. This method is mainly used in 

 early spring planting, when, besides its convenience 

 in irrigation, it also serves to protect the plants 

 from cold winds. Planting between ridges, as else- 

 where described, serves the same purpose of pro- 

 tection. In either case the surface is gradually 

 brought to a level as the plants are cultivated. 



CULTIVATION. 



In cultivation everything depends on keeping up 

 a steady, vigorous growth, for if the plants are 

 checked in their growth, they are liable either to 

 form small heads prematurely, or to continue their 

 growth so late as to fail to head at all. Level cul- 

 tivation is usually practiced, the same as in ordin- 

 ary field crops. Drawing the earth to the stems, 



