CAULIFLOWER. 



85 



along with them, about the middle of March ; and, in those rows, 

 give them good cultivation, and earth them up in the manner 

 directed for the broccoli. But greater pains than this is gene- 

 rally taken ; for, in the month of November (not later than the 

 1 5th), they are generally put out in clumps of three, four, five, or 

 six in a clump, and there stand the winter, covered by hand-glasses, 

 or bell-glasses, which are taken off when the weather is fine, and 

 raised up at the bottom by the means of bricks, to prevent a draw- 

 ing up of the plants. Towards spring, that is to say in the 

 month of March, the weakest of the plants in each clump are 

 taken up and planted elsewhere, and the glasses are continued to 

 be put over the other plants, and to be raised higher and higher at 

 the bottom according to the season and state of the weather. At 

 last, the plants become too big for the glasses, and the weather 

 too warm for any covering to be required. The glasses are then 

 wholly taken away, and the plants are left to produce their heads. 

 As the dry weather approaches, the earth is drawn round the 

 clomps so as to form a dish for each ; and, when the heads begin 

 to appear, it is the practice to pour water into these dishes. If 

 the ground be very rich, this watering is certainly unnecessary ; 

 but the earth should be very frequently moved round the stems of 

 the plants, and, as the intervals ought to be not less than five feet 

 wide, a good and clean digging of those intervals ought to take 

 place in the month of April. This would probably prevent the 

 necessity of watering, in ail cases ; and I am disposed to recom- 

 mend it, being of opinion that it would be more efficacious for the 

 purpose intended. Cauliflowers begin to have good heads in the 

 m )nth of May ; sometimes earlier and sometimes later, according 

 to the season ; and, in their commencement, as well as in their 

 duration, they are the formidable rivals of green peas. To have 

 cauliflowers in the autumn, you must sow early in the month of 

 March, in a hot-bed of no very great heat ; and to which a great 

 deal of air should be given ; these plants should be pricked out in 

 April, in the manner before directed, and planted out in rows 

 when they attain the proper size ; that is to say, when they be- 

 come strong and bold plants. To have this vegetable very late in 

 the fall, and even in December, sow in the open ground, in the 

 first week in May : prick out and plant out as directed in the last 

 instance. If no hard frosts come early, these will have tolerable 

 heads in the month of November, and then, if there be some of 



