106 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



A good cauliflower, well cooked, requires little additional flavor 

 beside salt and good butter. Some, however, prefer the addition of 

 grated cheese. The cauliflower may also be served as a garnish for 

 meats, in sauces, soups and is excellent cold as a salad. Many- 

 prefer it with a thick cream sauce. 



"Cold boiled cauliflower is very good fried plain in butter, or 

 breaded and fried, or mashed and fried like oyster plant, with the 

 addition of an egg and a palatable seasoning of salt aDd pepper.'* 



The last paragraph is from Miss Carson's Practical American 

 Cookery. Many other hints may be obtained from this and other 

 leading guides to cookery. 



2. Culture : In a general way the culture is the same as for cab- 

 bages. Early varieties should be started in the house or hot-bed as 

 soon as the first of April. Handle as needed, and set in the open 

 field as early as possible. The best soil is a rich, moist loam, but it 

 should be well drained. Like the cabbage, the cauliflower is a gross 

 feeder and demands intense culture. If growth is stopped from any 

 cause, the heads are likely to "button" or form small sections inter- 

 spersed with leaves, worthless for market purposes. Frequent cul- 

 tivation 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 for home use at least. 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 twirie or raffia, 

 that the heads may be well bleached. 



3. Influence of Early Treatment'. The relative influence of pot 

 and of box culture of young plants was considered with reference 

 to the number of heads produced : Seed was sown April 3d ; the 

 young plants were transferred to two and one-half inch pots April 

 24th; to four inch pots May 10th, and to the field May 29th. A 

 duplicate lot was handled in boxes at the same dates. At the last 

 handling in the house, May 10th, the leaf surface was reduced about 

 one-half. A tabular view of the results is given below : 



