ON THE CULTIVATION OP EARLY CAULIFLOWERS. 
235 
longer if the air is brisk and piercing, and the temperature of the interior soil will thus be 
increased by the concentration of solar influence, and this, conjoined with the dry material, 
will act most beneficially, and materially assist in nullifying the effects of the very severe 
frosts we often experience in February and March. 
In a week or ten days air must be admitted more or less, but modified according to the 
state of the weather, by placing the “ caps ” angularly on the frame, or if very mild and 
showery by the removal of them now and then, replacing them, however, at night ; but by 
no means must aeration at this early period be too liberal, as the atmosphere wall generally 
be found to penetrate the crevices of the best made hand-lights, i. e. those here spoken of 
with moveable caps and frames ; besides, their condition is now strictly artificial, and the 
object is rather to “ drive them along ” while robust and strong; indeed, there should hence- 
forward be no such thing thought about as growing them steadily, the period when that 
was requisite having passed away, and there is of course no bottom-heat to stimulate 
them over-much. 
For the sake of neatness and convenience, alleys may be delineated alongside the hand- 
glass lines, and superficially covered with coal-ashes or sand, to render them easily 
approachable in wet weather. 
As the Cauliflowers progress, frequently stir and loosen the surface, being careful, 
however, not to disturb the new roots they are making; repeat the dredgings over the 
foliage and soil, as often as needs be done to invigorate them, and as a preventive to snails 
and insects : give air wdth caution, draw the soil around the base of the glass outside, to keep 
out severe winds, and as they attain greater luxuriance, supply them well with warm 
manure- water about twice or thrice a week, and chiefly in showery “growing” weather, 
although in a dry and sunny time it must not be omitted, or rather not much less 
vigorously applied : perform these waterings in the morning until the middle of March ; 
by that time, the days are considerably lengthened, and solar influence more intense ; 
increase, therefore, the strength, quantity, and numerical application of the liquid as the 
days become longer and brighter, performing such operations early in the afternoon 
now, instead of in the morning, and close the glasses immediately afterwards. 
A gross feeder is the Cauliflower at all times, and more especially is it so when the 
constitutional vigour is unimpaired, and the organs of absorption and perspiration in good 
“working order:” the brighter the sunshine, therefore, the more thirsty they necessarily 
become, and their thirst should be satiated, not only with the manure of sheep, or deer, or 
cows, in the liquiform state, but a good dose of clarified soot-water intermingled with weak 
brine procured from bacon-stores, or any other liquid containing dissolved saline particles, 
they will especially flourish with, once a-week, at least, not only as food, but also from 
the tendency the soot and salt have to destroy worms and grubs in the soil, and other insects. 
From the growth now accomplished, the leaves will have reached, we presume, the top 
of the hand-lights ; and in consequence, the frames must, without delay (or the foliage will 
be bruised and crushed), be elevated by introducing a brick or tw 7 o bricks angularwise, at 
each corner of the frame on the existing surface previously made firm with the foot. 
The open space beneath the frame, occasioned by the elevation of the latter, must be 
embanked with soil, turned up around the glasses, and the alleys may afterwards, for 
cleanliness and convenience sake, be re-levelled, and re-delineated. This embankment 
will leave them — to employ a maritime phrase — “high and dry;” but although high, 
they must not be allowed to become dry ; renew the waterings therefore, but give air 
more freely, on all favourable occasions taking off the caps altogether. Perhaps the 
glasses may a second time require raising up, and if so, the operation will be but a 
repetition of the former process. 
Towards the middle of April some nice heads will have made their appearance and be 
fit for table if wanted, as early Cauliflowers invariably are, in a hurry : but a week, or in 
short, a couple of days, will, in this stage of the proceedings, and the weather, make a 
surprising difference in their “ coming in ” for use ; so that if no immediate necessity exists 
for cutting them so early, permit them by all means the consummation of their career, 
which will be, by the last week in April and first week of May, remarkably fine heads in 
