APPENDIX. 147 



liable to ''button," or form small sections interspersed with leaves, 

 worthless for market purposes. 



Frequent cultivation is necessary and it is probable that in case 

 of very dry weather about the time of heading, irrigation would be 

 a profitable means of securing a crop, at least for home use. When 

 the heads are about three inches across, the outer leaves should be 

 brought together and held in place by means of a piece of twine or 

 raflSa, that the heads may be well bleached. 



2. Influence of Early Treatment of Plants. — The question as to 

 the value of handling the plants in pots previous to setting in the 

 open field, was considered with reference to the number of heads 

 produced. Four varieties were used in the test with the following 

 results : 



In two instances there was a difference of twenty per cent, in 

 favor of the plants grown in pots. One variety gave the same 

 number of heads in each case, but the plants from pots were two 

 or three weeks earlier than the others. The fourth variety gave a 

 slight difference — about seven per cent. — in favor of the box 

 treatment. Doubtless any benefit that might arise from handling 

 plants in pots would lie in the more uniform rate of growth 

 secured. 



Conclusion. — Indications point to an increased percentage of 

 marketable heads as a result of handling cauliflower plants in pots 

 during the early stages of growth. 



3. Effects of Trimming. — The practice of reducing the amount 

 of foliage at the time of removal to the field received attention 

 the past season. The foliage of one lot of each of five varieties 

 was reduced by one-half, while duplicate lots were left without 

 trimming. 



As a rule, the per cent, of heads formed was greater from plants 

 not trimmed. There was practically no difference in the earliness 

 of the two lots, nor was there a marked dift'erence in the size of 

 the heads. 



Conclusion. — Results obtained will not warrant us in commend- 

 ing the practice of trimming cauliflower plants severely at time of 

 setting in the field. 



4. Varieties. — Nearly all of the more important varieties of 

 cauliflower were grown in our gardens the past season for purposes 

 of comparison. As was expected, great variation was fouud in 

 the different varieties and strains of the same type, as reo^ards 



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