236 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



fresh condition for spring use, makes cold storage an almost necessity and ac- 

 counts for the higher prices prevailing at that time of year. These roots are very 

 hardy, grow underground, and very severe frosts at most injures the tops. The 

 ground seldom freezes in this latitude or if a few inches of the upper surface 

 occasionally freeze, they rapidly thaw out under the early snowfall. The thought 

 suggested itself therefore that Nature's cold storage ought to prove the cheapest 

 means for holding over a surplus crop for either market or family use. Carrots, 

 parsnips and salsify left unharvested in 1901 and dug in May, 1902, proved to be of 

 imexcelled quality, possessing much more crispness and better flavor than those 

 harvested during fall or kept by any other known process. All came out perfectly 

 sound, not a specimen showing the least sign of rot or wilt and all kept in per- 

 fect condition until the middle of June. 



KOHI. EABI. 



To test the adaptability of this little known vegetable, a single row was planted 

 June 3. 1901, The edible portion of the plant is the large swelling of the stem 

 close to the ground usually 3 inches to 3 14 inches in diameter, surrounded and 

 topped with long stemmed leaves resembling those of Swedish turnips. Cooked 

 as turnips are, it has the same flavor with the addition of a cabbage taste. It 

 grows rapidly and will get woody if left to mature. The variety used was the 

 early white Vienna, one of the best when the seed is true to name. Owing to the 

 small size and number of leaves it should be pulled when 2% inches in diameter 

 and cooked the same day. 



BBUSSEXS' SPBOUTS. 



In 1902 the variety tested was the Imperial, — half dwarf. The plants were set 

 out June 25th, 2 feet apart, 4 feet between rows, cultivated the same as cabbage. 

 It is an open-head cabbage, the edible portion being the small heads or sprouts, 

 one of which develops late in the season at the base of each leaf stalk. The 

 value of the crop depends upon the number of solid heads sprouted. Many of 

 the plants were damaged by Apis late in the season. 



CABBAGE. 



In 1901 the seed was planted in boxes April 24th; transplanted in small beds 

 June 2nd, sprayed from the beginning to guard against cabbage worms, which 

 were in evidence early in the season. The frost of June 8th killed many of the 

 plants and damaged others. The remainder were set out June 21st to 24th in rows 

 4 feet apart, 2y> feet between plants. The varieties tested were Early Jersey 

 Wakefield and Henderson's Early Summer, two early varieties; Surehead and 

 Premium Flat Dutch, two medium late varieties. Very fine strong plants were 

 also received from the Negaunee Nursery Company, the name being unknown and 

 given as "ijate Cabbage." With countless hoards of cabbage butterflies daily hov- 

 -*>ring over the cabbage fields from sunrise until long after sunset, cabbage may 

 well be declared unprofitable, even though fancy prices are paid, and the cabbage 

 maggot, club root and other diseases are not in evidence. The early varieties 

 were able to ripen small, but compact heads, while the heads of the late varieties 

 were of large size but soft. Early Jersey Wakefield ripened September 17th and 

 Henderson's Early Summer, September 19th. 



