D 



sec-cl lliinly in Ihc Iliiionw and pack llic soil liglilly, 

 covering llir seeds Ironi ^2 to % ol" an inch 

 deep. As llie plants I)rcak llirough the soil they will 

 be greatly henefitcd l)y a light stirring of the soil 

 along the rows. When they have put on the third leal", 

 or lirst real leal', they should be transplanted into 

 another bed into rows farther apart, and given at the 

 same lime more si)ace in the rows. Four inches be- 

 tween rows and two inches in the rows will be ample. 

 This trans|)lanting enables the plants to grow more 

 stocky, and makes them lorm a better root system. 

 The i)lants remain in the second bed or frame until 

 lartije enough to set in the field. 



Plants produced under sash in mid-winter have to 

 be hardened oil" bc-fore i)lanting in the field. (Irown in 

 a hol-l)ed or cold frame and protected by sash, plants 

 are (|uite tender when young, but may be gradually 

 liardened to stand severe weather. To "harden off" 

 plants, remove the sash entirely on warm days and 

 wholly or partially close the bed at night. From day 

 to day accustom the plants gradually to the open air, 

 until at last the sash is left off entirely. Should there 

 be a sudden drop in the temperature during the hard- 

 cning-off ])eriod. the sash should be pushed over the 

 frame and propped up slightly at the ends, allowing the 

 air to pass under the sides. If properly handled, the 

 plants can be made tough enougii to plant in the field 

 in from ten to twenty days. 



Soil. 



Cabbage will grow in any fairly good soil, from a 

 light sandy to a rich alluvial bottom land, but a rich 

 loam with a good porous clay subsoil is to be preferred. 

 By incorproating sufficient organic matter, poor soils 

 may be made to produce excellent crops. Unless the 

 soil is carefully broken and prepared, good results 

 can not be expected. One should use a good two-horse 

 turning or disc plow, running deep enough to turn up 

 ajjout an inch of the clay subsoil. If the subsoil be 

 hard, or there is found a hard-pan, fall-breaking in 

 connection with the use of a subsoil plow is desirable, 



Further preparation consists in thorough harrowing 

 with a spiked-tooth or disc harrow until the surface 

 is thoroughly pulverized. Lay off rows 3 to S^l' feet, 

 apart, using a shovel plow and opening out a good 



