282 
ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE CAULIFLOWER. 
fourth of August. It is, however, better to sow twice about that time; 
say on the twenty-first, and again on the twenty-eighth. If the seed 
be sown sooner than the twentieth, the plants are likely to produce 
flowers too soon and of too small a size for use; and if not sown till 
after the end of the month, the flowers are not produced so soon in the 
following season as if the seeds were sown a week earlier. 
A dry lying sunny border of rich light soil is most suitable for a 
seed-bed. This should be dug and made fine by the spade; sow 
regularly, and not too thick, in order that the seedlings may be drawn 
with more safety when they are large enough to be pricked out 
into nursery-beds. The seeds being very small only require pressing 
into the soil with the teeth of a rake, and afterwards raking level. 
When the seedlings appear protect them from birds and slugs; and if 
the weather be dry give water to bring them forward. 
Towards the latter end of September, the young plants will be fit to 
handle; a bed, being of like quality and having a similar aspect, 
should be chosen and got ready to receive the seedlings. The strongest, 
soundest, and most perfect plants are raised carefully from the seed-bed? 
and pricked into the nursing bed, in rows four inches apart and 
the same distances between plant and plant. If it be necessary to prick 
out a considerable number, the ground should be divided into beds three 
feet wide with one-foot alleys between; this is for the purpose of 
placing hoops over the beds to bear coverings of mats in severe 
weather. This is particularly necessary where there is not the 
convenience of glazed frames, or hand-glasses ; as when these may be 
had the plants are at once pricked out into them and covered by the 
lights, when the plants require such protection. In using a frame for 
a nursing-bed, the soil within should be raised so that the plants 
be kept as near the glass as possible; otherwise they are liable to be 
too much drawn in the stems. And, in that situation, require at all 
times full air and light to render them sufficiently hardy to withstand 
the frosts of winter. In giving protection against frosts, however, 
care must be taken not to give it unnecessarily; because the plants 
become so tender under coverings that the least accidental exposure 
destroys them. 
The sooner cauliflower-plants are pricked out into nursery-beds, the 
stronger they become during the winter; and of course, in fine condi¬ 
tion to take their final stations in the spring; but, it has been found 
that these do not resist frost so well as if they had stood in the seed¬ 
bed till November, and then pricked out. The reason is this, those set 
out in September are in a state of active growth when frost usually 
sets in, and are consequently more easily hurt; whereas those pricked 
