PROTECTING FROM FROST. 41 



also to cause them to grow larger and remain solid 

 longer than they otherwise would, particularly 

 early in the season. 



PROTECTING FROM FROST. 



Another object, late in the season, in covering 

 the heads, is to protect them from frost. A frosted 

 cauliflower is practically worthless for market, as it 

 is nearly certain to turn black on the surface after 

 one or two days' exposure. Freezing, in fact, is 

 one of the most frequent sources of loss on cauli- 

 flowers late in the season, and as this is the most 

 favorable time of the year for them to head, it is 

 necessary to take particular care to guard agains^ 

 loss from this cause. We frequently have a few 

 hard frosts early in October, which spoil such heads 

 as are nearly mature, unless they have been pro- 

 tected. After this there may be a month or more 

 of good weather, during which the bulk of the crop 

 may come to maturity. The heads are protected 

 from frost in the same manner as from the sun, 

 but it is best not to have the leaves lie directly on 

 the head. Protection is particularly needed as the 

 heads approach maturity, as they are then more 

 easily injured than while small. Heads which are 

 well covered will usually stand eight or ten degrees 

 of frost without injury, depending on the amount 

 of cloudiness and moisture present. In cool, moist, 

 cloudy weather, frosted heads will sometimes re- 



