62 Bulletin 242. 



Climate and Soil. 



The climate of New York is well suited to cabbages, the crop being 

 extensively grown in such distant parts as Long Island and western New 

 York, and apparently with success in both places. 



The soil considered best adapted is one rich in organic matter. Good 

 crops can be raised on almost all types of soil provided they contain the 

 above requisite, are in good physical condition and contain an adequate 

 although no excessive supply of water. Cabbages differ from almost any 

 other farm crop in that their successful production is little influenced by 

 the type of soil on which they are grown, or, in other words, they show a 

 wdde range of adaptability, so far as this factor is concerned. Undoubt 



Fig. 9. — .4 good Aitlmnii Kiiig cabbage. The proportion of head to outer leaf is good. 



edly, this ])ower of adaptability to varying soils was an important factor 

 in leading the primitive ])eople of northern and central Europe to cultivate 

 the cabbage, and, having been grown by the common people of these re- 

 gions, under all sorts of conditions of soil and climate, with more or less 

 success, from ])rehistoric times until the present, this jwwer of adapta- 

 bility has been preserved. 



The soil should be loose, friable and well prepared, deep fall-plowing 

 being advised. An ai)i)lication of 10 to 20 tons of manure ])cr acre may 

 be made before plowing. Tn s])ring after harrowing, an application of 

 well-slaked lime, at the rate of 1,000 ])()unds of (|uick lime per acre may 

 be made, and harrowed in. The harrowing should be done before rain 

 falls, otherwise the lime cannot be so readily incorporated with the soil. 



