284 
ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE CAULIFLOWER. 
come in for use very shortly after those in hand-glasses. The progress of 
the plants depends greatly on the mildness or severity of the winter ; if 
not very severe, whether under protection or not, the plants are 
advanced accordingly ; but in extremely hard frost every exposed plant 
is liable to be cut off. 
Early cauliflowers are one of the principal delicacies of the season, 
and the earlier they can be had for table the more they are valued. No 
wonder then that practical men have employed their skill and attention 
in accelerating the growth of the plant. In places where a high style 
of gardening is carried on, and where there are forcing-houses of 
different descriptions, another method of obtaining an early crop is had 
recourse to, and, when carefully conducted, with very great success. 
As soon as the seedlings have got two or three leaves, they are raised 
from the seed-bed and planted in sixty-sized pots, filled with very rich 
compost. When potted they are watered, and plunged in the earth of 
a cold frame, prepared to receive them, and pretty near the glass. They 
must have fresh air daily by raising the lights at the back, and kept 
duly watered. As soon as the roots have reached the outside of the 
ball of earth, they must be immediately shifted into forty-eight-sized 
pots, in similar compost, watered, and replunged again into the frame. 
In another month the plants will require thirty-two-sized pots, after¬ 
wards twenty-fours, and, ultimately, about the first of March, sixteens. 
When fairly established in these last pots, say about the first of April, 
they are removed from the frame into a peacli-house or vinery, and 
placed along the front platform of the house in pans of water. Here 
they should have as much fresh air as can be allowed them, and care¬ 
fully supplied with water; for if in any stage of their growth, more 
especially after being taken into the house, the roots at any time become 
dry, the plants immediately “ button." 
About the middle of April they may be taken out of the house and 
turned out of the pots into pits made to receive them, either upon 
a south border, or in the alleys between asparagus beds. In these 
places they should be pitted four inches below the common surface of 
the ground, and have the earth drawn to their stems to keep them 
steady. Should frosty nights occur after they are out, a few fir-boughs, 
stuck round and so as to lean over them, will be a sufficient defence. 
Cauliflowers managed in this way generally produce fine heads about 
the first of May ; but it will readily occur to practical men that they 
may be made to yield flowers even earlier than this date, if moderate , 
instead of full-sized , heads would suffice; because stinting them of 
water for the last week they are in the house would certainly advance 
their flowering by a week or ten days. 
