72 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Jan. 



to the bottom ; then set the cabbages in the trench, in a similar 

 position, close to the ground which has been dug, with the 

 bottom of their heads a little within the surface : and having 

 planted one row, proceed again with the digging, laying the 

 ground against their stalks and roots, and round the bottom 

 of each head, continuing with the digging till advanced two 

 or three feet from the row of plants ; then prepare the trench 

 as before, and so proceed till the whole be planted. They 

 will shoot up into flower-stalks, and will ripen their seed in 

 the following August. 



CAULIFLOWERS. 



Examine the frames in which young cauliflower plants have 

 stood the winter, and of those that are withered, or damaged, 

 let such leaves be picked off, allowing no weeds to grow 

 among them. If the surface of the ground can conveniently 

 be moved a little, it will be of great use to the plants. 



In mild weather, let the plants have plenty of free air every 

 day, by tilting the glasses, or by taking them entirely off, 

 when the weather will admit : keeping them close down every 

 night, and never opening them in frosty weather. 



In very sharp weather, cover the glasses every night, and, 

 if necessary, in the day-time, with mats, straw, or fern ; also 

 lay some litter round the edges of the fi*ame, which will be of 

 great service in preventing the frost from penetrating at the 

 sides. 



Cauliflowers under bell or hand-glasses should also have air 

 every fine and mild day, by tilting the glasses on the warmest 

 side ; in severe weather, keep them close ; in hard fi*osts, lay 

 some long litter round each glass, which will prove of great 

 shelter to the plants : but in mild fine weather, the glasses 

 may be taken off every day, for a few hours ; but they must 

 be kept closely shut every night. 



Look carefully once a week or oftener, if mild weather, over 

 the cauliflower plants, as slugs will destroy many of them, the 

 best way is to pick them carefully off with the hand. In 

 severe weather, mice and rats will be apt to destroy them ; 

 recourse must then be had to poison and traps. 



