172 



EXPERIMENT OX THE CULTIVATION OF CABBAGE. 



at the distance of 36 inches between the plants, and 28 inches 

 between the rows. Before planting, the plants were trimmed, 

 and all stringy roots cut off; the roots were then dipped into 

 puddle about the consistency of cream, composed of liquid 

 manure and soil. Thus prepared, the following is the mode of 

 planting adopted by the reporter, viz. :■ — The outside drill was 

 measured and marked every three feet as a guide to the planter, 

 who followed with a spade, making a hole (in a slanting position) 

 at every mark, down to the manure, when a boy was ready to 

 put in a plant, the planter then withdrew his spade and the soil 

 fell around the roots, the planter then firmed the roots by tread- 

 ing on the soil while he made the hole for the next plant, and 

 so continued until the row was finished. The next row was then 

 begun, taking care that the plant was placed so that it should 

 be between the two first plants of the row already planted. By 

 this method the plants do not interfere with those in the adjoin- 

 ing rows, and a greater amount of food can be grown on a given 

 Qpace. When once '^. proper start has been made, the planter 

 has no diflSculty in placing them properly, having only to glance 

 across the rows planted, to see where to put the plant, the lines 

 " reading " several ways. 



After Treatment. — The swedes and turnips were singled out 

 between the 9th and 11th July to the distance of 11 inches 

 apart. All the lots were horse-hoed twice during the summer, 

 and hand-hoed once; the cabbages were earthed up to steady the 

 plants. The earth w^as not " met " at the top of the drills, but 

 was left about a span wide, to allow the moisture to reach the 

 roots, which it would do better than if the drills were drawn to 

 a top. The swedes and turnips were not earthed up. 



Mode of lifting the Cro])s, with weight of each lot. All the 

 lots were very equal, the reporter selected average rows, the 

 cabbages were cut off the roots with a sharp spade just below 

 the leaves ; the turnips were pulled, the roots cut off, the top 

 separated from the bulb, and all weighed separately. It is but 

 fair to state that neither the swedes nor the cabbages were at 

 maturity ; the Fostertons were so ; the two former lots being 

 in all the vigour of growth at the time of weighing, 23d October. 

 The portion of each kind weighed amounted to the twenty-eighth 

 part of an acre. The following is the result : — 



