VARIETIES. 171 



employed for the latest crop in open air culture by 

 being sown in April or May." 



In 1884 Yincent Berthault gave the following 

 account of this variety in the Revue Horticole: 

 " This variety is still rare and little known in 

 France. I planted it last year for trial and ob- 

 tained results which were the admiration of all who 

 saw them. It was from my small crop that I took 

 the four which I had the honor to present to the 

 Central Horticultural Society of France at its meet- 

 ing on August 25, 1883. Some of these cauli- 

 flowers were 35 to 38 centimeters [more than a 

 foot] in diameter, and weighed, including stem and 

 leaves, 12 to 13 kilograms [nearly 30 pounds] 

 which is extraordinary for this time of the year, 

 when it is difficult to obtain cauliflowers of even 

 ordinary size. At one time I feared that their size 

 was to the detriment of their quality, but it has 

 proved otherwise, and in all respects they are ex- 

 cellent, and as good as beautiful. In fact they are 

 perfect. 



"The general characters of the Autumn Giant 

 differ materially from those of other varieties. 



" The young seedlings become at once very tall 

 and upright, and even after being set out and 

 planted as deep as the first leaves they quickly 

 assume their usual stellate appearance, and for 

 about six weeks they are simply furnished with 



