104 THE CAULIFLOWEK. 



extent, by permitting a more free circulation of the 

 air, thus drying up the moisture on the plants and 

 thereby lessening the opportunity for the germina- 

 tion of the spores. The increased distance may 

 also diminish the chance of the spread of the spores 

 from plant to plant. When this disease appears 

 upon the early crop in hot-beds or cold frames it 

 may be kept somewhat in check by giving as much 

 air as possible, and taking care not to apply water 

 to the leaves. 



DAMPING OFF. This is usually due to a species 

 of Pythium (a fungus closely related to that which 

 causes the potato rot), which attacks the young 

 plants soon after they germinate. The remedy is, 

 to give the plants plenty of air until their stems 

 become strong enough to resist its attacks. An 



the ground, not to speak of the other expenses which 

 have been entailed. Through the Hamptnos careful 

 observations failed to reveal scarcely a single successful 

 crop. 



" Last Saturday Henry T. Osborn, of East Moriches, 

 tied up 2,000 heads and on Monday he cut enough to fill 

 30 barrels. He let them lie in his barn over night, and 

 the next day not a barrel of them was fit for shipment 

 to market. 



" George Cooper, of Mattituck, planted seven acres of 

 cauliflower which he thinks will prove a total loss. And 

 so on the reports come from many East End farmers. 

 The recent heavy rains are generally assigned as th& 

 cause of the failure." 



