358 THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



had almost forgotten to add, these are things that must not be 0"?er- 

 crowded bj thick planting ; the AValcheren will do very well at two 

 feet apart each way, but all the others should not be less than two 

 feet six inches. 



A second sowing of the Walcheren should be made about the 

 middle of May, to provide for a supply through the autumn. If 

 two or three plantings are made from this sowing, the supply may 

 be kept up until Christmas, if the froat does not exceed 10". This 

 is the m.ost useful of all the autumn broccolia known, and to the 

 kitchen-gardener one of the most valuable acquisitions of our time. 



TuE Cabeage. — NotwithstandiDg that this is a vegetable con- 

 sidered by some as a common subject, inquiries frequently are made 

 as to the best mode of culture, etc., and as this is most generally the 

 case amongst those with small gardens, I am sure the subject, when 

 treated in a jDractical manner, will be interesting to many readers. 

 I may preface the remarks I have to make with some general in- 

 formation that will be applicable to all. In the first place, there is 

 no kind of soil but what will grow the cabbage with tolerable suc- 

 cess, if the ground is deeply dug and liberally manured. The 

 greatest enemy to its well-doing is when it follows on the same 

 piece of ground a similar crop ; it is therefore highly essential that 

 the cropping of the garden should be so arranged that none of the 

 Brassica tribe follow each other; in fact, an interval of twelve 

 mouths should elapse between two green-crops being upon the same 

 piece of land, and they all follow best such crops as onions, peas, or 

 potatoes. Many strong and deep loamy soils will grow the cabbage 

 to great perfection with only half the manure required upon a soil of 

 a lighter texture. Many sandy soils, and those of a peaty nature 

 resting on gravel, are admirably adapted for very early crops in 

 spring ; but for later supplies they must have a high state of culture, 

 or as the hot weather comes on, they will be more like leather 

 aprons than tender-hearted cabbages. 



There are but few months in the year when cabbage-seed may 

 not be sown to advantage, at least by those who like them young 

 and crisp. Eeginning at the end of March, a pinch of seed should 

 be sown every month, until October. Many old gardeners, it is 

 true, only sow twice a year — in May for coUards, and in July for 

 spring cutting ; but then they have only old stools to cut from half 

 their time. When a little seed is sown in early spring, and followed 

 up until autumn, there is not a week from May to Christmas but 

 what will furnish from the garden a dish of tender young cabbage. 

 It is not necessary to plant out large numbers ; a few from each 

 seed-bed put out from time to time as the plants attain the required 

 size, according to the demands of the house, will suffice. In respect 

 of the stumps of those that are cut immediately, a safe plan is to 

 pull them up as you want them, and take them to the rubbish-heap 

 to cut out the heart. This insures that the old stools are not left 

 to exhaust the soil after they are no use. I am aware that this 

 advice is contrary to the practice of many, as they leave them upon 

 the same spot for sixteen or seventeen months, simply to get a few 

 sprouts in the autumn and spring, whereas three crops of young 



