272 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
surfaces. The surface turned towards the sky is called the upper surface ; it 
is also called inward surface, because it looks towards the axis when the leaf 
is erect. For the same reason the opposite surface will be called the inferior 
or external surface, according to the horizontal or perpendicular position of the 
leaf. 
THE CULTIVATION OF THE CAULIFLOWER. 
“ The Cauliflower is one of the most delicate and curious of the whole 
Brassica tribe, the flowers are produced in a close cluster or head, white and 
delicate, and for the sake of which the plant is cultivated.” “ Of all the 
flowers of the garden,” Dr. Johnson used to say, 44 I like the Cauliflower,” 
the great lexicographer having in his mind’s eye the many bonnes bouches 
which an array of flourishing Cauliflowers seemed to promise. 
The Cauliflower is thought to have been, originally imported from the Isle 
of Cyprus about the middle of the sixteenth century. Since that time its cul¬ 
tivation has much increased, and it may now be regarded as a thoroughly 
English vegetable. Till the time of the revolution in France quantities of this 
vegetable were regularly sent to Holland and the Low Countries, and even 
France depended upon us for seed. At the present time English seed is much 
preferred. 
Since the last peace with France English cookery has been vastly improved 
by its being put into the hands of Frenchmen—these chefs du cuisine , while 
they use less beef and solid substances, have added much to the labours of 
their gardeners, depending, as they do, so much upon fruit, vegetables, and 
flowers, amongst which Dr. Johnson’s flower stands pre-eminent. The writer 
of this has lived in a leviathan establishment, where two French cooks were 
operating for several months in the year. He is'disposed to give such infor¬ 
mation as he thinks valuable for the assistance of his brother gardeners, and 
after remarking that in every first-rate garden good Cauliflowers are a sine qua 
non , he will proceed to do so, giving such instructions as he has proved again 
and again to be sound and practical. 
Varieties. —There are a host of these, but the one which I deem the best 
and surest is called the Walcheren. It is beautifully close and compact, and 
of a lovely whiteness, thus combining the essential parts of a good Cauliflower. 
It is difficult to get it true : I had it so, and for twenty-five years kept it so by 
saving my own seed annually. This vegetable is such an important article in 
the produce of the garden, that we should recommend all those who once 
possess it to take the most scrupulous care of it. We are often disappointed 
with the seeds we purchase from nurserymen. Mistakes may and do occur even 
under the best supervision: and when we recollect the freedom with which 
Brassicaceous plants mule and intermix, we must not be surprised that we 
sometimes have a 44 monstrum horrcndum informe ingens ” produced where we 
expected a Cauliflower. 
We will now proceed to the culture of our crop for spring and early 
summer use. 
About the 25th day of August sow a crop of this plant in some 24-sized 
pots, sow moderately thin, and, in addition to this, sow again on the 27th, and 
again the 1st of September. As soon as the plants are up, and while in the 
seed leaf, prick them out in a bed at moderate distances apart, and having 
remained here a few days they will be fit for potting into thumb or 60-sized 
pots. If a frame can be spared they may as well be put into one, potting the 
different sowings successionally. As soon as established in pots, they may be 
