CABBAGES AND CAULIFLOWERS 



27 



hot weather ; or, again, put in late, when the in- 

 tense heat is past. At the latter period, unless it 

 be very late in the season, the soil will be liable to 

 be rather dry, and it will then especially be neces- 

 sary to be prepared for artificial watering, at least 

 until the plants have got a good start. With a 

 proper understanding of the wants of this delicious 

 and valuable vegetable, it will in most cases be 

 possible at least to grow a small patch of cauli- 

 flowers for one's own family use, and perhaps a 

 few for special friends, if we should not desire to 

 make a business with what can be spared from 

 our own table. 



If a full success, few if any vegetables grown for 

 the market on a large scale will yield as high a 

 net profit as the cauliflower, but it would not be 

 safe to expect a complete success unless the requi- 

 site conditions are at command. To make experi- 

 ments on a small scale, trying to make the best 

 of one's private circumstances, is quite a different 

 thing. 



For the earliest forcing of cauliflowers the seed is 

 sown in September, not too thickly, in a well-pre- 

 pared, not too heavy nor too rich soil, in a shel- 

 tered situation. Sowing in drills about two inches 

 apart is recommended. It may be a good plan to 

 sow in boxes, as these can be easily removed to a 

 shady or cooler place and kept dry or wet as need 

 may be, the object being to keep the plant healthy, 

 stocky and slowly growing. An admixture of 

 coarse sand to the soil will induce the formation 



