CARROT — CAULIFLOWER 



All 



Carrot. — While essentially a farm crop in this country, the carrot 

 is nevertheless a most acceptable garden vege- 

 table. It is hardy and easily grown. The extra- 

 early varieties may be forced in a hotbed, or 

 seed may be sown as soon as the ground is fit 

 to work in the spring. The stump-rooted, or 

 half-long varieties (Fig. 300), are sown for the 

 general garden crop. 



Well-enriched, mellow loam, deeply dug or 

 plowed, is best suited to the requirements of 

 carrots. The seed for the main crop may be 

 sown as late as July 1. Sow thickly, thinning 

 to 3 to 4 inches in the row. The rows, if in a 

 garden that is hand-worked, may be 12 inches 

 apart. If the cultivation is performed with a 

 horse, the rows should be from 2 to 3 feet apart. 

 One ounce will sow 100 feet of drill. 



Cauliflower. — This is the choicest of all 

 vegetables of the cabbage group, and its culture 

 is much the most difficult. While the special 

 requirements are few, they must be fully met if 

 good results are to be expected. 



The general culture of cauliflower is much like that of cabbage, 

 except that the cauliflower, being more tender, should be more thor- 

 oughly hardened off before setting out, the heads must be protected 

 from hot suns, the plants must never suffer for moisture, and the 

 greatest care must be taken to secure only highly bred seeds. 



It is essential that the plants be set out as early as possible, as the 

 warm weather of June causes them to make imperfect heads unless the 

 soil is filled with moisture. No garden crop will so well repay the cost 

 and time of thorough irrigation, either by running the water between 

 the rows or applying it directly to the plants. When it is impossible 

 to furnish water and there is danger of losing the soil moisture, it is a 

 good plan to mulch heavily with straw or some other substance. This 

 mulch, if put on just after a heavy rain, will hold the moisture for a 

 long time. Cauliflower prospers best in a cool cUmate. 



300. A half-long 

 carrot. 



