264 Mode of -preserving Caulijlonsoers. 



wood to about 2 in. from the spurs whereon the bunches of 

 fruit are formed, taking care not to pinch them off too close, in 

 which case the young fruit would wither. By this simple means, 

 the fruit, by receiving more light and air, as well as a greater 

 portion of assistance from the tree, will swell to the greatest 

 perfection. Should other superfluous branches shoot forth when 

 the fruit is in a more advanced state, they are removed in a 

 similar way, remembering, throughout the season, to keep the 

 bushes as clear as possible of unnecessary wood. The result of 

 this mode of treatment gained me the first prize last year at the 

 Cornwall Horticultural Show at Truro. I should imagine this 

 mode of treatment will answer well for gooseberries ; and I 

 should like to know if the Lancashire growers pursue, in any 

 way, a similar method to the above. 



The remarks in Vol. X. p. 41. first induced me to try the 

 effect of summer pruning upon the currant ; and I shall cer- 

 tainly now generally adopt it. I trust that others will follow the 

 example. 



Clowance, April 3. 1837. 



Art. XI. A Mode of preserving Caulifloiviers through the Winter. 

 By Peter Mackenzie, Gardener, West Plean. 



Cauliflowers are a great favourite with all ranks of society ; 

 and I believe that, ever since they have been cultivated, means 

 have been used to preserve them through the winter. I, like 

 the rest of my brethren, have tried various methods to effect 

 this ; such as burying them in the earth, hanging them up by 

 the roots, keeping them in frames, &c. But by none of these 

 methods have I succeeded so well as by the one I will presently 

 state, which I have not seen nor heard of being practised by any 

 one else. 



Towards the end of autumn, I make a bed, or beds, accord- 

 ing to circumstances, of moist sand, in any cool house that will 

 exclude the frost. The beds should be 4 in. deep. Having pre- 

 viously planted a greater number number of cauliflower plants 

 than would be required at the time they are to come into use, I 

 take the surplus, when in a good condition, and cut off their 

 roots, leaving a stalk about 3 in. or 4 in. long ; I then cut off all 

 the leaves, except the innermost row ; and, after shortening 

 these, I insert the stalk into the sand-bed, and cover the cau- 

 liflower with a flower-pot. In this manner a large quantity 

 maybe contained in a small space: for example, a bed 12ft. 

 square will hold 288 heads, allowing 6 square inches to each 

 head. Again, by taking those plants that are not in flower 

 when the frost sets in, and preserving them, in a growing state, 



