96 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILIilNOlS 



cession. The Wyman is fully as early as the Wakefield, twice as large, 

 and equally as good ; Winningstadt is so sure to head, so solid that it 

 may lie around for a week and still be good, and in flavor and tenderness 

 is second to none. The Fotler grows very large, and when first cut is 

 very firm, but in a few hours begins to wilt and gets quite soft. Sow the 

 seeds of these three varieties at the same time, and you will have a 

 succession. The Wyman and Winningstadt may be planted out two and 

 one-half feet by one and a half. The Fotler will require two and a half 

 by three feet ; they can be planted in the open ground at Galesburg from 

 April 25th to May loth. For winter cabbage I prefer Flat Dutch to all 

 others. It is sure to head, large enough, and as good as any. American 

 Drumhead is good, but not so sure to head ; Savoy is good, but not sure. 

 Marblehead Mammoth is too far from home to be profitable. Contrary 

 to James J. H. Gregory's recommendations, I find Stone Mason very 

 unrelia1)le ; out of several hundred plants grown this season, treated in 

 every respect like the others, I think I did not get a single head, and a 

 neighboring market gardener had the same result. I would advise the 

 change of name from " Stone Mason" to "Free Mason,'' and probably 

 Blatichard would '■^put a head on it.^' Do not forget that cabbage 

 requires your richest ground. 



Carrots. — For table use I grow only the Early Short-horn. Seed 

 can be sown from first to tenth of May. Give them rich, light soil. 



Cauliflower. — For early, Dwarf Erfurt ; for late, Lenormand's Short 

 Stem ; plant and cultivate as cabbage. 



Celery. — Away from the lake region I consider the growing of celery 

 very unprofitable, so much so that I place it among the luxuries that cost 

 as dearly when grown as when bought. Our long droughts, with a hot 

 sun, burn the plants so that growth is out of the question till late in the 

 season. On this account I have about concluded we must discard the 

 dwarfs, growing only the large varieties, in order to get any size after 

 the season of drought. The past season was unusually favorable to the 

 growth of celery. The Boston Market is the best dwarf. Giant White 

 Solid as good as any of the large kinds. Probably no seeds in the vege- 

 table catalogue so often bring disappointments as celery seed ; to insure 

 germination it must be kept moist constantly. Except for early use, July 

 20th to August 15th is early enough to set in trenches. The plants 

 should be transplanted from the seed-bed, giving them three inches of 

 space each way, as soon as they have three or four leaves, and carefully 

 removed from this to the trenches, if possible in damp or cloudy weather ; 

 if hot and dry, should be shaded a few days, removing the covering at 

 night; water often at evening until well established. It will not be nec- 

 essary to earth-up until the plants are a foot high, except enough to keep 

 the stalks in an upright position. A few days before earthing-up the first 

 time, water each plant with a weak brine — say a single handful of salt to 

 a bucket of water, which will protect it from worms. In earthing great 

 care should be taken to keep the stalks and leaves closely together, while 

 the dirt is carefully pressed up to them. This should be re])eated at each 

 succeeding six inches of growth. At the a])i)roach of tlie first hard freeze 



