CAULIFLOWER A. E. WILKINSON Extension Instruction, Department of Vegetable Gardening, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. ers. Cauliflower probably was first grown in New York State in the home vegetable garden, and to a limited extent by market gardenAbout 1874 it was tried out at Peconic, Long Island, and a half acre there brought in about five hundred dollars. The following year many of the neighboring farmers tried out FIG. 444.-(a) A CAULIFLOWER HEAD AS IT IS LIKELY TO DEVELOP WHEN THE WEATHER IS TOO HOT AND DRY. (b) A TYPICAL HEAD OF EARLY CAULIFLOWER AS GROWN IN A FAVORABLE SEASON IN THE CORN BELT this crop, one who tried four acres realizing net two thousand dollars. The growing of the crop soon spread to other points, particularly toward Riverhead and out towards Orient. The total acreage in the state is 1,720 acres, of which 1,498 acres are grown on Long Island, the next point of importance being Erie County. There is a vast difference between the growing of cauliflower in these two localities. CLIMATE Cauliflower requires for its best development a moist, cool climate, especially if tempered with the air from neighboring bodies of water. Long Island is particularly well situated, having the sea air; and Erie County, Niagara and other counties near the Great Lakes have the advantages of these bodies of water. There are also other points in New York, especially along the Hudson, around the Finger Lakes, and near other lakes in the state, which are desirable places to grow the crop, because they meet the climatic requirements. SOIL The soil requirements for this crop are good drainage and a liberal, constant supply of moisture. Where moisture is deficient, the crop stops growing. Heavy loams are particularly adapted to this crop. On Long Island are found the heavy sandy loams, whereas in Erie County the gravelly and silty loams are used to grow the crop. Cauliflower is adapted to well drained muck and has met with considerable success where grown on this type of soil. a crop ROTATION Rotation of crops is essential for the best results. Where club root, a disease of the roots, is common, cauliflower and other closely allied plants should be kept away from the soil for at least five years. The rotation on Long Island consists of growing of potatoes or carrots preceding cauliflower and following the cauliflower with corn, rye, wheat or oats. The land may be allowed to stay down one or two years following this in clover or grass. In Erie County and other sections of the state where land is less valuable than on Long Island, a longer rotation is practiced, generally consisting of corn followed by cauliflower, then by grain, then by hay for two or three years or more. The important factor in both of these rotations should be the incorporation of humus in the soil and the avoidance of other cruciferous crops. On Long Island it would be advisable to practice a system of cover crops following potatoes and cauliflower, in order to keep the soil in better physical condition. SEED Most of the seed now used by cauliflower growers in New York is imported directly or through seed houses from Denmark. Cauliflower men on Long Island, through the cauliflower exchange, import direct and sell their seed to the members of the association at a very low price. VARIETIES The varieties used mostly are Dwarf Erfurt and Snowball; about 90 per cent. of the latter. In Buffalo and other sections of New York State the Snowball is the common variety used, although the Dwarf Erfurt is used to some extent. It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of good seed. Poor seed obtained from carelessly selected strains are sure to produce a loose, leafy, branching head of low value. The desired characteristic to obtain from seed should be a plant of medium to large size, producing in an ordinary season a head, the flower of which is from six to eight inches in diameter, heavy, symmetrical and solid. Dwarf Erfurt and Early Snowball will both give these characteristics, although the Erfurt makes a larger head than the Snowball under Long Island conditions. The amount of seed necessary to plant an acre varies according to the care of the seed bed, number of plants required per acre, whether conditions and many other factors. An ounce of seed may ordinarily produce 2,500 to 3,000 plants, although the ounce may really contain over 10,000 seeds. On an average about 6,000 plants are required per acre. It would, therefore, require about two to two and one-half ounces of seed to plant an acre. Generally speaking, in planting it is best to allowed three ounces per acre, in order to be sure that enough plants will be available. The seed of cauliflower does not deteriorate quickly. It has been found that it is as good at two years or three years of age as at one, although a little thicker sowing is advisable with three-year-old seed. Beyond this point, the germinating power begins to decline rapidly. RAISING EARLY PLANTS In order to obtain an early product, it would be necessary to start the seed of cauliflower similar to the way in which early cabbage is produced. It is necessary, however, to exercise great care in the growing of early cauliflower plants. This increased |