NEW YORK EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



361 



readily separates from the outer portion, which is very tender." We have 

 not found tough centers in our plants. 



L. H. Bailey. 



THE INFLUENCE OF THE DEPTH OF TEANSPL ANTING 

 UPON THE HEADING OF CABBAGES. 



For three consecutive seasons we have endeavored to determine what 

 foundation there may be for the common notion that deep-set cabbage 

 plants give better heads and a larger proportion of heads than those set at 

 the normal or natural depth. It is a very general practice among gardeners 

 to set the plants to the depth of the first leaf when transplanting to the 

 field. The results of three years' tests show that no advantage is to be 

 gained by such practice. In 1889 the experiment was tried upon 12 var- 

 ieties, about 20 plants of each being set up to the first leaf, and as many 

 more set to the same depth at which they stood in the seed-bed. Strangely 

 enough, one half the varieties gave better results from shallow setting and 

 the other half better from deep setting. There were more heavy heads 

 from the deep setting, however; 270 cabbages gave better results from 

 shallow planting and 295 heads better from deep planting. The total 

 average gain in weight apparently due to deep setting was 2 oz. per head. 

 These 12 varieties were distributed into 13 lots — that is, one variety was 

 grown twice, — and of these, three lots were sown July 2 for a late crop. 

 Two of these three late sowings gave better results from deep setting, but 

 the third lot, which gave better results from shallow setting, gave a greater 

 increase in weight than either of the others. Combining all the results, it 

 was found that the gain in weight of heads from deep setting was as 13.60 

 is to 13.46. This is a very small gain, and when studied in connection 

 with the many conflicting results among thhe different lots, leads to the 

 conclusion that the particular method of planting probably had nothing to 

 do with the yields, for variations equally as great, and many times much 

 greater, come from lots treated in the same manner. 



In 1890 the test was repeated, the Early Wakefield cabbage being used 

 for the purpose. The plants were grown upon a heavy and rather poor 

 clay loam. The numerical results were as follows: 



Deep 



Shallow. 



Average 



weight per 



head. 



1.6 



1.8 



lbs 



Here the shallow planting gave decidedly the better results, both in the 

 percentage of plants producing good heads and in the average weight of 

 heads. 



In 1891 the test was again repeated, this time with Early Wakefield and 

 Premium Drumhead. The plants were grown on a rich and well prepared 

 loose clay loam, and all the conditions throughout the season were such as 

 to insure a fair and uniform test. The results of this test are the following: 



46 



