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The following paper by Mr. Allen was then submitted : — 



CABBAGE, CAULIFLOWER, i^.ND CELERY. 



HOW TO GROW THEM, A^TD THE BEST AND MOST PROFITABLE VARIETIES. 



It is gratifying to observe the interest taken in the cultivation of the best and most 

 profitable vegetables to meet a rapidly growing demand. Consumers are beginning to 

 appreciate the difficult task the market gardener has, in his constant struggle to preserve 

 pure varieties, and his efforts to please the taste and tickle the palate by the production of 

 finer varieties in the various classes. It requires as much skill to produce an improved 

 vegetable as a new fruit or flower, and he who succeeds in producing a vegetable that 

 takes first place in its class does more, I believe, for the actual benefit of the mass of 

 consumers than he who produces a new flower. 



In order to grow vegetables successfully we must look carefully to the soil as a first 

 and main essential. The soil should be rich and well manured for the production of 

 tender and succulent plants ; a strong retentive loam with a fair proportion of sand is 

 probably the best for cabbages. The land should be deeply ploughed in the fall, and if it 

 is inclined to pack and become hard it should be subsoiled. The surface should be left in 

 as roitgh a condition as possible in order that the new soil thrown up may be subject to 

 the action of the weather. Plough again in the spring turning under about forty loads 

 of stable manure to the acre. A liberal application of wood ashes will also be found 

 beneficial and have a tendency to destroy the white maggot and other grubs which are 

 so destructive to early planted cabbage and cauliflower. After ploughing, the grovind 

 should be well harrowed and smoothed with the back of the harrow, and rows marked 

 out three feet apart. 



For early and second early varieties the seed is sown in hot-beds from about the 

 first to the middle of March, and for late or winter varieties in the open air from the 

 middle of April to the middle of May. Some large growers sow broadcast and others in 

 drills. I believe in the latter for extensive cultivation, at least, as the after work is more 

 easily and more satisfactorily performed. The seed should not be sown too thickly. As 

 soon as the young plants begin to break the soil sprinkle the bed with air slaked shell 

 lime, which should be repeated again when the plants are nicely up, to prevent the 

 ravages of an insect generally known as the cabbage flea. This must not be neglected 

 •or the entire crop may be destroyed, as these insects are very destructive, and at times 

 very numerous at this season of the year. 



The distances at which different sorts require to be planted depend upon the size 

 which they usually attain, and the richness of the soil. The extra early varieties should 

 be planted fourteen inches, the second early sixteen inches, and the late varieties two 

 feet apart in the rows, and from two to three feet between the rows. The extra early 

 should be planted out as early as the season will permit, and the late varieties from about 

 the first to the middle of July. 



In planting out, advantage shovild be taken of cloudy, moist weather, and in placing 

 the plants the soil should be pressed well so as to enable them to take a secure hold of 

 the soil. When the planting out is not done in moist or- cloudy weather it is well to 

 shade the plants so as to avoid withering or blighting of the leaves by the sun. I have 

 known some growers in planting out cabbage and cauliflower to make openings, fill them 

 with liquid manure from the barnyard and then place the plants up to the first leaf and 

 draw the soil in compactly. Some use salt brine after the plants take well to the soil, 

 which they claim has the effect of destroying the maggots that infest these plants so 

 often, besides it assists in assimilating the particles of soil together and produces a more 

 luxuriant growth of plant. The brine is made by putting as much salt in a pail of water 

 as will readily dissolve and the soil liberally sprinkled with this. 



The after cultivation consists in hoeing and keeping the soil clean. The motto of 

 the successful grower is " stir the soil." Especially is this necessary in a dry season, as 



