64 



Bulletin 242. 



Seed may be sown in beds and then transplanted, or sown in the 

 field where the plants are to grow. The latter is preferred by many com- 

 mercial growers. For the more economical sowing of the seed, a machine 

 is required that will drop four to six seeds every 24 or 30 inches or any 

 distance required, like a check-row corn planter. With such a machine, 

 half a pound of seed will sow an acre. At present with a continuous 

 drill, one and one-half to three pounds are required, and since seed fre- 

 quently costs two to three dollars per pound, there is unnecessary ex- 

 pense, both in seed and thinning. The plants should be thinned as soon 

 as three or four inches tall, or when they have three or four leaves. 



Fig. 



12.- 



-Effect of brown-rot of cabbage. 



Although no experiments have been made in regard to the best time 

 of sowing, the results have been quite satisfactory from sowing early in 

 May. Later sowing, however, may give smaller heads which will keep 



better in storage. 



It will also probably give a smaller yield. 



Planting. 



For two years, experiments have been in progress to test the results 

 from sowing the seed as above described and from transplanting. The re- 

 sults are not conclusive. Transplanting is best performed by one of the 

 machines, made for the purpose. 



Experiments extending over a period of three years, with 12 varie- 

 ties, on deep or shallow setting of the plants when transplanting them. 



