Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/47



very delicate vegetable was first introduced into England from the island of Cypress, about a century and a half ago. Since then it has been greatly improved by the skill of the gardener. We are inclined to believe that there are only two varieties of the Cauliflower, though there are several sorts sold in the seed-shops. The early and the late are the two, and even these have frequently very little distinctive character, where they are under the same culture; and it is somewhat curious that the Dutch prefer the English seed, and the English prefer the Dutch. We have therefore to import the seeds from both countries every year, to meet the ideas of the purchasers.

.—The proper seasons for sowing the seeds are, for the early Spring or Summer crop, between the eighth and twentieth of September; and for the late Autumn crop, about the first of April. The plants, as soon as they are two inches high, should be planted out in a bed of rich, light earth, three inches apart each way, so as to grow firm and stocky to remove to their final place of growth.

For the purpose of growing them in perfection, a bed of the richest light earth, two feet deep, and one-third of it well decomposed manure, in an open exposure, sheltered from the north-west, is requisite—the whole to be surrounded with a close frame, and covered with glass or shutters. It may be prepared about the first of October, to receive the plants after the ground has fully settled, which will take two weeks. Lift the plants carefully with a trowel from where they were transplanted, and plant them eighteen inches apart each way, into the pit or frame prepared for them. Give a gentle watering to the soil round the plant; press it down firmly, and little or