CAULIFLOWER. (Brassica Olerctcea ear.) Unlike the cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli are strictly 'annual plants, flowering and perfecting their seeds the first season. In fact broccoli is some of its varieties, is so like cauliflower that, as to the cultivation, no separate article will be required. So, the general care and cultivation necessary to the cabbage will apply to the cauli flower, except when the curds, the edible portion, are beginning to be fairly formed, the leaves must be drawn up and tied together, or broken over the end, to protect it from the sun. Both cauli flower and broccoli, in the climate of the West, must be brought into head either before the heat of summer commences, or else late in the autumn. In late plantings, those that are not well headed at the time the ground begins to freeze, may be taken up and transplanted in a light cellar, where they will go on and form fair curds, and often so continue until late in December or January. For early use sow the seed in a hot-bed early in March, in the North, or in any latitude as soon as winter is broken. Transplant when large enough, four inches apart, and about the time apples blossom, transplant into a soil made very rich with rotten manure, the rows 30 inches apart, the plants from 15 to 20 inches in the row, according to the variety. If the weather is dry
liberal applications of water must be given, since the plant is impatient of heat and drouth. For the late crop, sow the seed in a sheltered border as early as the soil can be worked, and, transplant when large enough. _Among the special applications to all the brassica tribe, salt has been found most valuable. It should be sown at the rate of about five bushels per acre, or two pounds per square rod. This may be applied at the time of setting, or, at the first hoeing. So soon as the curds are well formed, and while yet compact and hard, cut for use. The varie ties of cauliflower are comparatively few.. The Extra Early Paris is the sort usually grown by market gardeners. The Erfurt is decidedly fine. The Large Late Asiatic stands drouth well, and the Walcheren, really a broccoli, is also well adapted to drouths. Mitchell's Early cauliflower is, compact, remains long without running to seed, and is valuable, if true to name, for the kitchen garden. Broccoli is so nearly like cauli flower that the same description will answer for both. (For cultivation see Cabbage.)