The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening

Every genus a Victorian gardener could grow — Abelia to Zygopetalum across four volumes, with each plant's history, species, and culture, by the Curator of Kew.

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Cauliflower

A garden variety of Brassica oleracea, in which the inflorescence, while young, is condensed into a depressed, fleshy, edible head. This differs from Broccoli in being more tender, of finer flavour, and in use more as a summer and autumn vegetable. When at its best, a Cauliflower should have a close head and be free from caterpillars. To attain these points, rich soil, and frequent hand-picking--should caterpillars put in an appearance-are requisite. Deeply-worked soil is also necessary; in fact, with no other crop of the Brassica tribe is this more important than with the Cauliflower.

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