86 



Cole Crops 



crop, transplants to coldframes and sets in field late in 

 April; seed for late crop sown in the open May 10 to 14, 

 plants set in field June 20 to July 1; rows 30 inches 

 apart, plants 18 inches in row. 



The head of cauliflower is usually protected from the sun 

 and whitened by tying the outer leaves over it. Plenty of 

 room for ventilation should be allowed under the leaf- 

 canopy, otherwise moisture may collect and the head may 

 decay. The heads are harvested by cutting off, as are cab- 

 bages; the leaves are then trimmed to form a border or 

 cup, as in Fig. 31. The crop is harvested in barrels or 

 crates. Heads should be wrapped and handled with much 

 care. They cannot be stored any great length of time. A 

 good head has a regular "curd'^ or substance, without 

 breaks, uneven growths, or "buttons." 



Probably no other vegetable so quickly runs down from 

 poor seed as the cauliflower. It is therefore exceedingly 

 important that the choicest strain of seed be secured if the 

 best results are to be attained. The best cauliflower seed 

 is expensive, running as high as five to eight dollars an 

 ounce; but cheap seed gives a smaller percentage of head- 

 ing plants and the heads are usually irregular and broken. 

 The cauliflower has a tendency to " button" or to throw 

 up irregular growths from the head. This is due to poor 

 seed, dry soil and too great heat, and also to allowing the 

 plants to become checked and then starting them into 

 growth by renewed tillage. The cauliflower seed of the 

 market is grown in the Old World, the best of it coming 

 from Denmark ; but the Puget Sound country is attracting 

 attention as a region for the growing of cauliflower seed. 

 Good seeds may be grown under glass. 



