72 



CATERPILLAR. CAULIFLOWER. 



ton. They are excellent in soups, stews, and haricots, and 

 boiled whole with salt beef. 



" The diseases of carrots are only such as are common 

 to most plants, such as mildew, insects, &c. The mildew 

 and worms at the root frequently injure crops, and are to be 

 guarded against, as far as practicable, by a proper choice, 

 soil, season of sowing, and after-culture." — Loudon. 



CATERPILLAR — an insect on fruit trees. — See In- 

 sects. 



CAULIFLOWER. — Brassica oleracea. var. botrytis. — 

 The cauliflower is one of the most delicate and curious of 

 the whole of the brassica tribe ; the flower buds forming a 

 close, firm cluster or head, white and delicate, for the sake 

 of which the plant is cultivated. 



Varieties. — Earlv; {for the firsts early crops.) — Later, or large, (for principal 

 crops.) 



Propagation and soil, — The cauliflower is raised from 

 seed, of which half an ounce is suflicient for a seed-bed four 

 feet and a half wide, by ten in length. The soil for the seed- 

 bed may be light, but, for final transplanting, it can hardly 

 be too rich, the cauliflower, like the vine, being reputed a 

 * rough feeder.' Cleanings of streets, sesspools, &c., ought, 

 therefore, to be liberally supplied during the growth of the 

 plants, when very large heads are desired. 



" Times of sowing. — The early and main superior crop, 

 brought to fruit by the longest nursery attendance ; the late 

 summer succession crop, raised by the shortest course ; and 

 the Michaelmas (29th of Sept.^) crop, obtained at the least 

 expense, are sown, respectively, at three difl'erent seasons. 

 The principal sowing is made about the end of the third 

 week in August, or a day or two before or after the 21st, to 

 raise plants to stand over winter, under frames, hand-glasses, 

 or half-sheltered warm borders, for the early and main supe- 

 rior crops next summer. A secondary sowing in February or 

 March, for succession, and late inferior crops the same year 

 in summer and autumn. A final sowing, near the close of 

 May, for ordinary crops, to yield fruit the following autumn 

 and winter. The seedlings, protected with glass frames, 

 generally grow too gross in the stems, which become partly 

 blackened, and the plants, being thus unhealthy, are not fit 

 for planting out. Late-raised seedlings, which spend the 

 winter in the open border, uniformly become the large and 



