316 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



unless these were lifted or pushed aside, and f 

 from this time it increases in size until it at- 

 tains its maximum. The usual size is about 

 as large as cocoanuts, though they are occa- 

 sionally grown double that size. }Ve have 

 raised some which measured fourteen inches 

 across, weighing several pounds. They are 

 fit to be eaten when they measure from four to 

 six inches across. 



The development of this bud or flower may 

 be considerably accelerated by stunting the 

 plftnt, which may be effected in two ways. 

 One is by running a plough moderately deep 

 within six or eight inches of the plant on two 

 sides, and throwing the earth from the plant. 

 The other by taking a spade and chopping 

 down into the earth, all round the plant, at a 

 distance of from ten to twelve inches, so as to 

 cut the roots of the plant at that point. 

 Neither process however should be resorted to 

 earlier than September or October, and when it 

 is judiciously done, an early crop may be se- 

 cured. At all stages of growth, this bud must 

 be carefully protected from sunshine and rain, 

 as either causes it to grow dark, and makes it 

 tough. An effectual screen can be formed by 

 bending over it some of the leaves nearest it. 



Many, if not most of the plants, will either 

 not bud, or very slightly, until the approach of 

 cold weather. As they are delicate, they must 

 be put away two or three weeks earlier than 

 cabbage, and if this be properly done, the 

 growth of the bud will continue during the win- 

 ter. The best method of keeping them is that 

 very generally adopted with cabbage, which is 

 to take them up and ridge them, burying the 

 roots and stalk up to the lower leaves of the 

 plant, taking care however to gather all the 

 leaves closely together, so that they will per- 

 fectly cover and protect the bud. This method 

 of preserving plants is well known in Virginia, 

 and needs not be particularly described. The 

 plants must not be removed and put away thus 

 in wet weather. A dry season should be 

 chosen. 



To shield them effectually from the frost, 

 after they have been thus put away, cover 

 them with dry oak leaves, five or six inches 

 deep, and to keep these in place, cover with 

 pine or any other kind of brush. In a few 

 weeks all will begin to bud, and will soon be 

 sufficiently matured for use. 



We have been careful to give these minute di- 



rections for the cultivation of this vegetable, 

 because it is esteemed a great delicacy, as in- 

 deed it is, as all will testify who have tried it. 

 Housewives will find ample instructions for 

 cooking, &c, in any popular cookery book 

 which they may choose to consult. Besides 

 being esteemed for the table, cauliflowers are 

 valuable for pickling and as a seasoning for 

 soup. 



' . The Irish Potatoe Crop. 



According to the census of 1850, the annual 

 product of Irish potatoes in the State of Vir- 

 ginia, is 1,316,933, bushels. This may strike 

 some minds as being a very large amount, but 

 it will be seen to be very small, when we com- 

 pare it with other authentic facts. Thus Maine 

 raises 3,436,040 bushels of Irish potatoes, New 

 Hampshire 4,304,919 bushels, Vermont 4,951,_ 

 014 bushels, Massachusetts 3,585,384 bushels, 

 Connecticut 2,689,725 bushels, New York 15,- 

 398,362, bushels, New Jersey 3,207,236 bushels, 

 Pennsylvania 5,980,732 bushels, Ohio 5,057,769 

 bushels, Michigan 2,359,897 bushels, Indiana 

 2,083,337 bushels, Illinois 2,514,861 bushels, 

 and the only States which raise so few, or less 

 than Virginia, are Rhode Island, Delaware, 

 Maryland, North and South Carolina, Geor- 

 gia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, 

 Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mis- 

 souri and some of the partially settled territo- 

 ries and the District of Columbia. 



From this it will be seen that there are 

 twelve States of the Union, which raise from 

 two to fifteen times as many Irish potatoes an- 

 nually, as are raised in this State, and when we 

 consider the fact that none of these have so 

 many acres of land capable of tillage as Vir- 

 ginia, it will clearly appear that an annual 

 crop is in reality inconsiderable and far below 

 what it ought to be. 



It may be supposed by some, that the 

 crop at present made is amply sufficient to 

 supply the demand, and this is the true reason 

 why no more are raised in this State. Such is 

 not the fact, however, as all persons residents 

 in our cities may well know. Immense quan- 

 ties are brought into Virginia from the 

 Northern States every year, and judging 

 from what we know are brought into Rich- 

 mond, we should estimate the annual importa- 

 tion at much more than double the annual 

 crop raised in this State. When it is considered 

 that these potatoes are sold to dealers here at 



