50 
CULTURE OF THE CAULIFLOWER. 
There are three principal seasons for sowing, and all three require 
some little difference in their treatment. 
First Sowing Season .—This continues from February to the end 
of March, and the plants are intended to succeed those sown the pre¬ 
vious autumn. During this season, two sowings are usually made, 
one in February, and the other in March ; both require precisely the 
same treatment, which may be stated as follows:— 
Make a hotbed about two feet six inches thick, and as broad and 
long as may be necessary, for the seed intended to be sown. 
When the bed is made, put on a frame, and cover it down with 
lights, to draw up the heat, and let it remain about a week to settle, 
which will reduce it to something less than two feet; then take off 
the frame, and level the surface of the bed nicely, and replace the 
frame again on the bed. 
This being done, lay about six inches thickness of light rich soil, 
and on this thinly scatter the seed ; sift a little soil over the surface, 
just to cover it. On the same bed, both radishes and celery may 
be sown, as they will interfere very little with each other by being 
mixed. 
After the seed is sown, cover down the frame, and so let it remain, 
until the young plants begin to appear, which will be in a few days. 
Then give air, and in a few days afterwards remove the lights alto¬ 
gether, during the day, and merely shelter them at nights from sharp 
frosts, or heavy dashing rains. Or, if the frame be wanted for other 
purposes, it may be removed altogether, and the bed merely sheltered 
by hoops and mats. 
If it is not convenient to spare a frame for the purpose, one may 
be made of turf walls, about eight inches high in front, and twelve at 
the back, and by laying a few bearers across, it may be readily co¬ 
vered with mats, or even hoops will answer the purpose very well. 
And should the cultivator not have the conveniency for making a 
hotbed, delay the sowing till March, and select a nice warm border 
facing the south. 
When the plants have become an inch high, prick them out, about 
three inches apart, either on a warm south border, of light rich soil, 
or on another slight hotbed; and from this nursery bed, they will be 
taken to their final destination. 
The second crop should be sown in the last week in March, either 
on a slight hotbed, or on a warm border, which answers the purpose 
exceedingly well at this time of the year. 
The Second Sowing Season .—The sowing at this time is to pro¬ 
duce what are usually termed the Michaelmas crop of cauliflowers. 
