56 



THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



sowings are Early York, Early Dwarf 

 Sugar-loaf, Battcrsea, and Imperial. 

 The Large York is a sort that lasts 

 longer than any in a state fit for the 

 table, neither bursting nor hardening, 

 nor " bolting," if it can help it, and ia 

 nearly as quick in growth as the ear- 

 liest sorts. If one early soi't and a 

 patch of Large York be sown at the 

 same time, about the end of March, a 

 succession will be insured, though 

 good cabbage may be cut from almost 

 any sort sown at almost any time from 

 the 1st of February to the 1st of Sep- 

 tember. The reason why particular 

 dates are always mentioned in regard 

 to cabbage-sowing is, that those that 

 have to stand the winter may be in such 

 a state of growth when spring sets in, 

 as not to rxin to seed — a thing likely 

 enough to happen if the seed is not 

 true to its name, if it is inferior in 

 quality, or if the plants are too for- 

 wai'd ; whereas, if not forward enough, 

 they would be yielding a glut late in 

 the season, when an abundance of 

 other things would render them " a 

 drug in the market." But March 

 sowings of cabbage often prove incon- 

 venient, because at that time there are 

 -many summer crops to provide room 

 for, and when the seed-bed gets 

 crowded, it might be necessary to 

 sacrifice ground required for peas and 

 beans to make room for them ; and as 

 cabbage is most valued in w inter, and 

 the ground begins to get a little clear 

 towards September, it is a good plan 

 to make the first sowing on the 21st of 

 July, using Atkinson's Matchless, Shil- 

 ling's Queen, Battersea, or Wheeler's 

 Isonpareil, with at the same time a 

 good breadth of Collards. Any of 

 these will do for the autumn supply, if 

 planted out early in September, and 

 will be coming in from Michaelmas to 

 Christmas, and if followed by a plant- 

 ing of August-sown plants inFcbruary, 

 the supply for the year may be con- 

 sidered safe. Should the winter be 

 very severe, let the matured heads get 

 frozen, and then cover them with lit- 

 ter to keep them so, but the young 

 plants should be laid down with their 

 heads to the north. Cut a trench on 

 the north side of each row, give the 

 soil one chop with the spade on the 

 south side, and they will fall over, and 



may be soiled up to their necks, and a 

 little litter thrown over them. 



In the neighbourhood of London, 

 what are called Coleworts, Collards, 

 and Collets, are much in use as a win- 

 ter green. This is a variety that never 

 makes a large cabbage-heart, but being 

 quick in growth, and taking up little 

 room, is very serviceable for use be- 

 tween Christmas and March, and for 

 that purpose is largely grown for the 

 London market, where they are known 

 as bunch-greens. In many parts of 

 the country these are quite unknown, 

 and a few larger sorts of cabbages do 

 duty for all the purposes for Avhich 

 London gi'owers have many separate 

 varieties. 



For very early cabbage, or to sup- 

 ply plants for putting out when the 

 winter has cut off the stock, make up 

 a gentle hotbed in the middle of 

 Januarj^ sow in pans or boxes, and 

 as soon as they have three or four 

 leaves, prick them out on another hot- 

 bed to strengthen them, or, if they are 

 not croAvdiugeachother,wait foralittle 

 favourable weather, and prick them 

 out on a warm border, with a little 

 shelter till they make fresh growth, 

 after which plant them out on the 

 richest soil you have ; or, in the ab- 

 sence of a hotbed, sow on a warm bor- 

 der at the end of February or begin- 

 ing of March. In pricking out from 

 the seed-bed, they only need a little 

 ordinary care, and must be planted 

 firmly in light rich soil, but at the 

 next and final planting each plant 

 ought to be lifted with a trowel, so as 

 not to damage the roots, for any check 

 to their growth is apt to make them 

 bolt, as well as deferring the hearting 

 of those that do not bolt. Too poor a 

 soil is another cause of bolting, and so 

 is a deficiency of moisture. 



E-ed cabbage for pickling should 

 be sown in August, at the same time 

 as the general sowing takes place, and 

 in March should be planted out, three 

 feet apart every way, for use in Sep- 

 tember. The Couve Tronchuda, so 

 much esteemed on the Continent, 

 sliould be treated the same as Brus- 

 sels sprouts, which we shall describe 

 presently. This plant is grown for 

 the sake of the midrib of the leaves, 

 which is cooked and eaten ia the same 



