SECT. XV. 



OF ESCULENTS. 



and always allowing what ait they will bear, efpecially 

 towards fpring, otherwife thev may be difpofed to run, 

 or wiil be weak and fickly. Keep them free from deal 

 leaves, and ftir the furface of the earth about them. 

 As the feafon advances, let them be wholly uncovered 

 on fair days, and when they are got forward in March, 

 draw the fpare ones to plant out, leaving only a fingle 

 plant under a fmall hand-glafs, and two under a large 

 one ; or a few may be drawn out at the end of February t 

 if the glaffes are crowded. Continue the glaffes on as 

 long as they will contain the plants, raijing them upon 

 brick?. The number generally put under hand-glaffes 

 for the winter, is from three to five; and if the glaffes 

 are on chjc for a few days, it will help them to itrike. 

 Thofe drawn from thefe, make a good fuccefTion crop : 

 But do not prick out, or plant, thofe that have blaci 

 [hanks, for they will come to nothing : Cauliflowers 

 are liable to this defect chiefly in wet feafons. Slugs 

 are apt to harbour about them, for feeding on the leaves, 

 which fee to A efpecially thofe in frames, and now and 

 then ftir the mould about them. The diftance which 

 they fhould be planted is from two and a half to three 

 feet, according to the richnefs of the foil. 



If the autumn fown plants are cut off, the earlieft 

 opportunity muff be taken in the new year to fow . 

 iome feed on a gintle heat, as in February, covering 

 \ T ith glaffes, or only with hoops and mats. From this 

 bed, when it is cold, they fhould be pricked upon 

 another, where let them grow till planted out to bear. 

 And if thofe weak ones, that have itood all the winter, 

 were pricked out early in the fpring upon a little heat, 

 covered with good mould, it would ftren£then and for- 

 ward thern much. In default of dung, ibw under hand- 

 glaffes in a warm border. 



^To have dLjucccjfJicn of cauliflowers till winter, fow 

 on a flight heat, or under glafs, in March, for plants to 

 follow the firft crop ; and again in open ground*, about 

 9 ' * the 



