104 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE CAULIFLOWER. 



enough they are transplanted (in the phraseology of gardeners, 

 " pricked down ") ; and as soon after this as they have made a 

 few roots, they are again transplanted into small pots, called 

 " sixties;" they are then placed in any open, airy situation (either 

 a frame, vinery, or peach-house, which is dormant), simply re- 

 quiring protection from severe frosts ; as they fill the pots with 

 roots larger ones are provided, and early in February the first 

 crop, or handlight division, is planted out in a south border ; the 

 holes for their reception having received a barrow-full of rotten 

 dung, the mould is returned, forming a little hillock, on which 

 three plants are placed, and covered with the glass till they begin 

 to be established. The smaller plants are reserved for a succes- 

 sional crop, potted into larger-sized pots, and placed in temporary 

 frames covered with mats in severe nights, but fully exposed in 

 mild, genial weather. This crop is generally planted out in the 

 alleys of the asparagus beds, completes its growth before the tops 

 of the asparagus become too high, and then has its duration pro- 

 longed by the shade of its branches. 



For the next crop in succession I sow in pots about the middle 

 of February, subjecting the plants to the same routine of potting, 

 &c. Other sowings are made at intervals between this and the 

 20th of May, when the last crop is sown, which should be planted 

 on a south border for autumn use, extending up to Christmas with 

 protection. For the February supply an early White Broccoli, 

 grown by Mr. Wilmot, of Isleworth, is invaluable. It is sown 

 the end of May, and should be taken up and protected in a cool 

 vinery, as our winters will not admit of the production of cauli- 

 flowers at that season as the fine climate of Naples does. 



The roots should never be allowed to get matted in the pots, 

 or the plants to suffer any check. It will readily be conceded 

 that our object in the cultivation of those culinary vegetables 

 whose stems, leaves, or flowers are eaten, is to grow them in the 

 most rapid and luxuriant manner, avoiding (as with the pine- 

 apple) any check at any period of its growth : any curtailment of 

 those resources of plants which have a tendency to increase their 

 luxuriance, and consequently render them more tender, must, 

 therefore, be detrimental, and it is to avoid checking the growth 

 of the plant that the practice of potting is adopted. In dry 

 weather, when plants are drawn out of the seed bed, and planted 

 with a common dibber, receiving daily dribblings of water, many 

 will perish, and all are materially injured. By the mode I have 

 described this is avoided, and labour saved in the end ; after 

 planting out, a copious watering is given, either in the evenings 

 of bright days or in dull and cloudy weather, when it is not 

 rapidly evaporated. 



All the class of vegetables alluded to are what we term gross 



