26 
D. M. FERRY & CO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
CAULIFLOWER 
_ + P au lifl° we i\ although one of the most delicious vegetables, is but little grown except by professional gardeners because 
or the erroneous notion that it is so difficult to grow that only skilled gardeners can produce it. Any one will be reasonably sure 
or success with this most desirable vegetable if the cultural directions given below are carefully followed. 
For spring and earlv summer crop, sow in March or early in April in hotbed and transplant to cold-frame when 
sufficiently large to handle. As soon as danger of hard freezing is over set in the open ground in rows two and one-half feet 
apart and eighteen inches apart in the row. The plants will endure a light frost. The soil ror cauliflower should be like that for 
cabbage, but it is better if made richer than is ordinarily used for that crop. Plenty of good manure must be well incorporated 
with the sou and the latter be brought into the highest state of tilth. No application, however, can be more necessary or more 
useful than that of cultivator and hoe. 
For late crop, sow at same time as for late cabbage and treat in the same manner. It should be borne in mind that cauli¬ 
flower will not head up well in hot, dry weather and hence the sowings need to be so timed as to bring the heads to maturity 
either before the hot summer weather sets in or not until the cooler weather of the fall. If it receive at this time a liberal 
supply of water, the size and quality of the heads will be greatly improved. After the head begins to form, draw the leaves 
over and tie them together to protect it from the sun and to keep it white. The heads should be cut for use while the “curd” is 
compact and hard, as they soon become much impaired in quality and appearance after they open and separate into branches. 
Of the enemies of the crop, none is more formidable than the cabbage root maggot. This seems to have a special liking 
ror the cauliflower. Probably the best and most surely effective protective measure is enveloping each plant with a tight 
fitting collar of tarred felt. Plant lice are also serious pests of this crop. Effective remedies are dusting with fine to¬ 
bacco dust, or spraying 
with strong tobacco tea 
or kerosene emulsion. 
Our cauliflower trials 
for several years includ¬ 
ed samples of seeds from 
some or the most skillful 
American growers and 
while their stocks pro¬ 
duced hardy, vigorous 
plants the heads formed 
were uniformly more 
open in the curd and 
matured a little later 
than those grown from 
the best imported seed. 
All the cauliflower seed 
we offer is produced by 
the most experienced 
growers in Europe, in 
such localities as are 
best suited to its proper 
development anu the 
greatest care is taken 
to save seed from per¬ 
fectly developed plants 
only. 
1 Unquestionably 
iLarly the earliest 
SnowK^ll maturing 
onoWDan strain 
the true short leaved 
Snowball type of cauli¬ 
flower. It isadmirably 
adapted for forcing or 
wintering over for 
early crop and is the 
most popular sort for 
these purposes, also 
one of the best sorts 
for late summer and 
fall crop. Early Snow¬ 
ball is, moreover, a 
most desirable sort for 
the home garden. The 
plants are compact, 
with few short, outside 
leaves and are well 
suited for close plant¬ 
ing. The heads are of 
medium to large size, 
solid, compact, round, 
very white and curd¬ 
like and are developed earlier than those of any other sort. In 
our many comparative trials of samples from the best known 
growers and prominent seedsmen in Europe and America 
our stocks of Early Snowball have been unsurpassed by any in 
earliness. They also gave the highest percentage of well 
formed heads. After a careful inspection of the fields of the 
most expert Danish and other European growers we know 
we are in position to supply the most critical trade with seed 
which can be depended upon as the very best. Pkt 25c- 
Vi Oz. 75c; Oz. $2.25; 2 Oz. $4.25; Vi Lb. $8.00 
Extra Early Dwarf Erfurt cTS?- 
flower. It is of dwarf habit with short outside leaves and 
is similar in all respects to Early Snowball, and nearly as 
early. The heads when ready for market are of medium to 
large size. The curd is white, exceptionally deep and of finest 
quality. It will give excellent results either in the home 
garden or for market use and is superior to most seed sold 
at higher prices. Where extreme earliness is not the 
greatest consideration we recommend this strain after 
having proven it far superior to most stocks offered as 
Snowball. Pkt. 25c; Va Oz. 65c; Oz. $2.00; 2 Oz. $3.75; 
Vi Lb. $7.00 
Early Snowball 
p i 17 This is a second early, exceedingly 
Hany r avoritc hardy, easily grown sort. It is perhaps 
the best sort for the inexperienced grower, as it will head un¬ 
der conditions in which many sorts would fail. The plants are 
large and form large heads which, although inclined to be 
open, are crisp, tender and of fine quality. It keeps in con¬ 
dition for use a long time. Many years’ experience has con¬ 
vinced us that it is one of the hardiest sorts. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 85c- 
2 Oz. $1.35; Vi Lb. $2.25 
f ovrrn A1 A va l uab l e late sort, sure to head, of ex- 
Large /Algiers cellent quality and popular with market 
gardeners. The plant is large but of upright growth, the 
leaves protecting the heads so that they will endure uninjur¬ 
ed a frost that would ruin most other sorts. This is one of the 
very best of the late varieties. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 75c; 2 Oz. $1.25; 
Vi Lb. $2.00 
Veitch’s Autumn Giant wfet^with^iong 
stems and dark green leaves. The heads are very large, 
white, firm and compact and being well protected by foliage, 
remain along time fit for use. The plants should be started 
and transplanted early in the season to insure their full de¬ 
velopment. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 45c; 2 Oz. 80c; Vi Lb. $1.25 
