CULTIVATING CAULIFLOWERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1644, 10 January 1913, Page 8

CULTIVATING CAULIFLOWERS.

IMPORTANCE Or GOOD SEED. - :In ,- the cultivation of the cauliflower: good seed is of the utmost importance, a fact which many growers, but not all,i appreciate. 1 Referring to this matter, tho "Agricultural Gazette" of the New South Wales;. Government v remarks that ■ the' Chinese:-growers are .-very;: particular: in. ■ selecting;the most.suitable strain of seed, yery few of them, during the past, season, - jpaying.less per lb. for their seed, whereas the, bulk.'pf-'.the Europeans' aro paying about 12s. per lb. Bad seed is dear 'at 1 any price,' because, r .no matter what attention:is paid to the crop during growth, there will,always bo a large proportion of useless plants. The -members of, .the .'Cauliflower. Association 'of Long' Island (United States of America) placed so-'much importance on the;selection- of • seW that -they; sent'a Representative to Denmark to select a crop, from which seed- was saved and , purchased for tho association. The price charged; for seed by the association at tho, present time is X3.-6s. Bd.,per lb,-.. ; Good seed should • give a 90 per cent, germination,;and fhould not be kept.for more than- three years after harvesting.: As. there-is little difference', between one and two-year-old seed, it is advisable for the.grower ;to'buy;this_ supply-;of seed one year- in -'advance^-.-.;This allows .of, a',email - portion being planted, so .that its relativo value: may- be gauged one -year in -ad: ,vance..:. .' yi • ■' ; .