The cauliflower is ranked among the chief delicacies of the garden, and requires and repays far more attention than cabbage.  Even the early sorts should have a richer, moister soil than is required for very early cabbage.  I advise two plantings in spring, of first and second early; I also advise that late varieties be set out on rich ground the last of June.  As with cabbage, set out the plants from two and a half to three feet apart, according to the size of the variety, from trial I recommend Early Snowball, Half-early Paris, and Large Late Algiers.

Spinach thrives in a very rich, well-drained, fine, mellow soil.  I prefer a sunny slope; but this is not necessary.  Sow the seed from the first to the fifteenth of September, so as to give the plants time to become half grown by winter.  Cover the seeds—­three to an inch—­two inches deep, and pack the ground well over them; let the rows be three inches apart.  When the plants are three inches high, thin out to three inches apart, and keep the soil clean and mellow about them.  Just before hard freezing weather, scatter about three inches of straw, old pea-vines, or some light litter over the whole bed.  As soon as the days begin to grow warm in spring, and hard frost ceases, rake this off.  The hardy vegetable begins to grow at once, and should be cut for use so as to leave the plants finally six inches apart, for as fast as space is given, the plants fill it up.  By those who are fond of spinach it may be sown in spring as soon as the frost is out.  It quickly runs to seed in hot weather, and thinnings of young beets may take its place where space is limited.  The Round or Summer is good for fall or spring planting.

Those who need much instruction in regard to bush-beans should remain in the city and raise cats in their paved back yards.  We shall only warn against planting too early—­not before the last of April in our region.  It does not take much frost to destroy the plants, and if the soil is cold and wet, the beans decay instead of coming up.  If one has a warm, sheltered slope, he may begin planting the middle of April.  As a rule, however, bush-beans may be planted from the first of May till the middle of July, in order to keep up a succession.  Cover the first seed planted one inch deep; later plantings two inches deep.  I think that earliest Red Valentine, Black Wax or Butter, Golden Wax, and the late Refugee are all the varieties needed for the garden.

The delicious pale Lima bean requires and deserves more attention.  I have always succeeded with it, and this has been my method:  I take a warm, rich, but not dry piece of ground, work it deeply early in spring, again the first of May, so that the sun’s rays may penetrate and sweeten the ground.  About the tenth of May I set the poles firmly in the ground.  Rough cedar-poles, with the stubs of the branches extending a little, are the best.  If smooth poles are used, I take a hatchet, and beginning