NOTES ON CAULIFLOWERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1798, 22 August 1906, Page 59

NOTES ON CAULIFLOWERS.

This a-'-ways-popular vegetable is ever in demand, and cannot bo omitted from tho, list of either the professional or private gardener. The earliest cauliflowers from th© home garden are always prized, and nice compact heads are useful, if only as a change, at almost any time. There are several ways of growing cauliflowers, and to secure a constant succession from December till May is not an easy matter, but still it is to be done. The great points are to give the plants a deeply-worked and wellmanured soil, with plenty of water in dry weather, and, as far as possible, to keep them growing on steadily from first to last. Where cauliflowers do not succeed under ordinary culture, the trench system should be tried, plenty of manure being worked in the bottom—and well mixed with the soil, mind —and the surface being ultimately left Sin or 4in below the general level. Even a V-shaped drill drawn with a hoe, a few inches deep, is better than planting on the level, as all Avarter given goes down straight to the roots, instead of running away, and a little earthing-up may be done with great benefit. Tho earliest cauliflowers are usually obtained from a sowing made in the early autumn, or, rather, the late summer —the 20th of February is generally accepted as about the best date—the plants being protected in some way during the winter in cold localities, and planted out, as far as possible, on sheltered borders, as soon as the weather permits in the spring. But heads fit for use may be obtained almost, if not quite, as early by sowing in a gentle heat—an ordinary hot-bed, if not too fierce, will do admirably, or the box may be placed on a shelf in the greenhouse. If the little plants are pricked off singly as soon as they can bo handled, potting them subsequently, if possible, and in due course planted out in deeply-Avorked and Avellmanured soil, there will be very few failures, but if starved or checked in any way the p-ants are liable to ‘ button,” and come to nothing. Where a constant succession is required. other soAvincs should be made

in September, October, and November, the third week in the last month being about the best time to sow for the principal supply during the autumn and early part of the winter. When planting, the seedlings should be carefully put out, using a bluntpointed dibber, or a trowel, and making the soil so firm about each that they cannot move or “rock” in a wind. If slugs are troublesome, give an occasional dusting of lime or soot, and m any case this will do good. When the weather is at all cold, or wet, it is a good plan to break down a few of the larger leaves over the heart of each plant, which affords it a considerable amount of protection. If tho- (soil is not very rich, liquid manure may ho given freely with the best results. Any caterpillars or other insects that appear should he removed by as' the use of any insecticide would impart an unpleasant flavour to the produce. As regards varieties, there are a good many to choose from, hut among the best are the Waleheren (always reliable and good) and Veitch’s Autumn Giant, a grand variety for late cropping. The I'iarly Snowball is excellent for forward crops, and a good strain of the Early London is almost equal to it. Tire Autumn Mammoth is in; 11 i.o way of the Autumn Giant, hut becomes fit for use about a fortnight earlier; and King of Cauliflowers is another excellent variety. Once more, keep the plants growing, and they will do well-