82 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



market, and several days earlier than any other sort, should have a place 

 in every garden. The Bassano and Philadelphia Extra Early follow the 

 Egyptian in regard lo season, but their color and manner of growth are 

 very objectionable and they should not be largely planted. The Blood 

 Turnip is undoubtedly the best of all for winter use and entirely obvi- 

 ates the necessity of planting the deep growing sorts. 



Cabbages. — In the kitchen garden, where but few cabbages are used, 

 and two plantings are generally expected to supply the family for the 

 whole year, much difficulty is usually experienced by the bursting of the . 

 heads as soon as they arrive at maturity, with often a loss of one-half 

 the crop ; especially is this the case with the Early York; therefore 

 where convenient, it should be succeeded by the Jersey Wakefield. I 

 say where convenient, for the reason that most families depend upon 

 professional plant-growers for their supply of plants, and the seeds of 

 the Wakefield costing nearly three times as much as the York, they are 

 not likely to grow them for market where so few people understand the 

 difference in the value of the different varieties. Besides being several 

 days earlier than the York, it has uniformly larger heads and is not so 

 shamefully addicted to the habit of "going on a bust." 



There are many other varieties of early cabbages worthy of culti- 

 vation, but to extend the list would only serve to perplex the cultivator 

 and result in no good. 



For winter use the Flat Dutch has no equal. Cabbages may be 

 preserved during the winter by simply throwing in piles and covering 

 with straw to prevent frequent freezing and thawing. 



Corn.— A garden that fails to furnish the family with a full ^ujjply 

 of green corn for at least three months of summer, falls far short of 

 accomplishing the good that it ought. The ground u])on which early 

 corn is grown may, the same season, be made to return another crop of 

 equally as great value. The Extra Early Dwarf sugar is, 1 believe, the 

 earliest variety now in cultivation, while the Mexican ranks first in re- 

 gard to quality. 



For late use, Stowell's Evergreen should be planted. 



Corn may be started in pots in a hot-bed or green house, and grown 

 until six or eight inches high and transplanted to the o[)en ground, with 

 but little trouble, and but a slight check to its growth. With me Greg- 

 ory's Mammoth proved perfectly worthless the first season. It was its 

 first and not a very extensive trial. In other localities, or under differ- 

 ent circumstances, it may do well. 



Potatoes. — The great improvement made during the past few years 

 in the varieties and cultivation of the Irish potato is truly remarkable. 

 Ten years ago, new potatoes by the fourth of July were considered a 

 rarity; but by the introduction of the Early Rose, and improved modes 

 of culture, our markets are now well supplied nearly a month prior to 

 this. 



Experiments made during the past few years prove conclusively to 

 myself at least, that the nearer potatoes are divided to one eye on apiece, 



