1434 Tue VeceraBLe Inpustry 1n New York State 
Cauliflower men on Long Island, through the cauliflower ex- 
change, import direct and sell their seed to the members of the 
association at a very low price. 
VARIETIES 
The varieties used mostly are Dwarf Erfurt and Snowball; 
about 90 per cent. of the latter. 
In Buffalo and other sections of New York State the Snowball 
is the common variety used, although the Dwarf Erfurt is used 
to some extent. It is impossible to overemphasize the import- 
ance of good seed. Poor seed obtained from carelessly selected 
strains are sure to produce a loose, leafy, branching head of low 
value. The desired characteristic to obtain from seed should be 
a plant of medium to large size, producing in an ordinary season 
a head, the flower of which is from six to eight inches in diameter, 
heavy, symmetrical and solid. Dwarf Erfurt and Early Snow- 
ball will both give these characteristics, although the Erfurt 
makes a larger head than the Snowball under Long Island 
conditions. 
The amount of seed necessary to plant an acre varies according 
to the care of the seed bed, number of plants required per acre, 
whether conditions and many other factors. An ounce of seed may 
ordinarily produce 2,500 to 3,000 plants, although the ounce may 
really contain over 10,000 seeds. On an average about 6,000 
plants are required per acre. It would, therefore, require about 
two to two and one-half ounces of seed to plant an acre. Generally 
speaking, in planting it is best to allowed three ounces per acre, in 
order to be sure that enough plants will be available. The seed of 
cauliflower does not deteriorate quickly. It has been found that 
it is as good at two years or three years of age as at one, although a 
little thicker sowing is advisable with three-year-old seed. Beyond 
this point, the germinating power begins to decline rapidly. 
RAISING EARLY PLANTS 
In order to obtain an early product, it would be necessary to 
start the seed of cauliflower similar to the way in which early cab- 
bage is produced. It is necessary, however, to exercise great 
care in the growing of early cauliflower plants. This increased 
