D. M. Ferry & Co'S Descriptive Catalogue. 



21 



CAri.IFI.OT^ER. 



Fr. Chou-fleur. — Ger. Bluvien-Kohl. ^ 

 The Cauliflower, although one of the most delicious 

 of vegetables, is little known outside of our large cities. 

 It needs, to bring it to perfection, a cool, moist atmo- 

 sphere, and if this condition occurs when the plant is 

 about to head, fine, large heads will result, while if the 

 air is hot and dry, failure will result in spite of the best 

 of seed and cultivation. The seed we offer is the finest 

 procurable, and is obtained from the most careful 

 fc'rowers in Europe. 



C'JLTURE. — For the spring and summer crop, sow the 

 early varieties about the last of winter, in a hot-bed, 

 and transplant into the open air as soon as the ground 

 can be worked. For the late, autumn crop, sow the 

 late kinds about the middle of spring, and transplant 

 like winter cabbages. In dry weather, water freely, and 

 as they advance in growth, hoe deep, and draw earth 

 to the stems. After they begin to head, they should be 

 watered every other day, and the kaves gathered and 

 pinned together over the heads to protect them from 

 the sun and keep them white. On the approach of 

 frost, those plants which have not headed, may be set 

 out in a cellar, where they can be aired in mild wea- 

 ther. In two or three weeks the strongest will begin 

 to form flower heads, which should be cut for use while 

 the '" curd " is close and compact. It is then tender 

 and delicious, but later the head opens, separates into 

 branches, and soon becomes coarse, fibrous, strongly 

 flavored and unfit for use. 



^ f fe^-^- 



,^iM 





35^^" 



Cauliflower 



Extra Early Dwarf Erfurt.— An extra early vari- 

 ety, much prized in Germany for early market use. 

 Scarcely a plant fails to produce a good head. It is of 

 dwarf habit, compact growth, short outside leaves, and 

 can be planted twenty inches apart each way. The 

 best for early market and family use, and we think can 

 be entirely relied upon, as the seed is selected with 

 extra care, by one of the most careful growers in Ger- 

 many. 



Early Snowball.— Highly esteemed by market gar- 

 deners, for its earliness and reliability as a sure header. 

 Tested with several other varieties, it has proved to be 

 as early, if not earlier than any other sort. 



Extra Early Paris.— Heads large, white, compact 

 and solid, of excellent flavor, tender and delicious. 

 Leaves large, stalk short. Being so early, it must al- 

 ways be a favorite, especially with market gardeners. 



Early Erfurt.— One of the best for general cultiva- 

 tion. Heads large, but close and compact and very 

 white. 



Early London. — This is a standard variety; very 

 tender and quite early ; heads compact, solid, and of 

 delicious flavor ; good for general use. 



Early Paris or Nonpareil.— A most excellent 

 French variety with good sized, uniform, close heads, 

 which are tender and delicious. Planted at same time 

 with the Extra Early Paris, it will afford a succession. 



Le Normand's Short Stem. — Considered by the 

 French one of the very best sorts. Plant hardy, semi- 

 dwarf, producing many leaves which protect the close, 

 solid curd, keeping it well blanched. 



Large Algiers. — A valuable late sort, sure to head, 

 of the best quality, and very popular with market gar- 

 deners everywhere. One of the very best. 



Late London. — A fine, large, white, compact vari- 

 ety, taller, with larger leaves, and somewhat later than 

 the Early London. Sown at the same time it will afford 

 a succession. 



Veitch's Autumn Giant. — A distinct and valuable 

 late variety. The heads are very large, beautifully 

 white, firm and compact, and being well protected by 

 foliage, remain a long time fit for use. The plants 

 should be started and transplanted early in the season, 

 to insure their full development. 



CEI.BRY. 



Fr. CWeri-Gtr. Sellerie. 



This is becoming more and more popular, and whole 

 farms are given up to its production. It delights in a 

 rich, friable, well drained muck soil, but can be grown 

 of excellent quality in any good garden soil. 



Culture. — Sow the seed (which is slow to germi- 

 nate) in shallow boxes, or in a finely prepared seed bed 

 out of doors, in straight rows so that the small plants 

 may be kept free from weeds. When about two inches 

 high thin out and transplant so that they may stand 

 two inches apart, and when the plants are four inches 

 high cut off the tops, 

 which will cause them 

 to grow stocky. The 

 crop is us^ually made to 

 succeed an earlier one, 

 and if good plants are 

 used they may be set 

 out as late the middle of 

 August, but the best re- 

 sults are obtained from 

 setting about the middle 

 of June or first of July. 

 In setting prepare broad 

 shallow trenches about 

 six inches deep and four 

 feet apart, in which the 

 plants should be set six 

 inches apart, cutting off 

 the outer leaves and 

 pressing the soil firmly 

 about the roots. In 

 about six weeks the 

 plants shound be " han- 

 dled," which is done by 

 one man's gathering the 

 leaves together, while a 

 second draws the earth 

 about the plant to one- 

 third its height, taking 



care that none of the Crawford s Half Dwarf, 

 earth falls between the leaves as it would be likely to 

 cause them to rust or rot. After a few days draw 

 more earth about them and repeat the process every 

 few days until only the top of the leaves are visible. 



