26 



HOW TO GROW 



roots, and in soils not rich in lime promotes the 

 thriftiness of the plants. Superphosphate of lime 

 and guano or poultry dung, soot and ashes are all 

 most excellent fertilizing substances. Watering 

 with fluid manure and lye after the plants are 

 well started will have a very beneficial effect; but 

 such fluid manuring should either be performed 

 after a rain or the ground should previously be 

 well watered with water from a pond, or such as 

 otherwise has been exposed to the sun for some 

 time, so as to be slightly warmed. 



The preparation of the soil and the treatment 

 of the crop, upon the whole, are much the same as 

 for early cabbages, of which we have already 

 treated. As the roots, however, run very near the 

 surface, the cultivation after transplanting must 

 be confined to a superficial breaking of the soil, 

 if it gets crusty, and to the keeping clean of weeds. 

 Some good, loose compost soil placed immediately 

 around each plant, when one-third or half grown, 

 will be of great benefit to the plants, especially 

 if the soil be very clayey and disposed to bake. If 

 artificial watering be resorted to, such surface 

 covering will help to retain a congenial moisture 

 about the roots, and do the same service to the 

 cauliflower that hoeing does to cabbages and other 

 plants. 



Intense heat and drouth being a great obstacle 

 to the growth and normal fine development of 

 the cauliflower, the best success is attained when 

 the crop is advanced ahead of the most dangerous 



