VEGETABLES — CABBAGE. 1 19 



The preparation of the ground for Cabbage differs in 

 nothing from that for all the regular market garden crops, 

 — careful plowing and subsoiling, and manuring with sta- 

 ble or barn-yard manure when procurable, at the rate of 75 

 tons per acre, alternating this with guano, etc., in the 

 quantities named under the head of " Manures." 



The early varieties of Cabbage are planted out in spring, 

 as soon as the ground is dry enough to work ; in the lati- 

 tude of New York, from 15th March to 15th April. The 

 distance apart is from 24 to 28 inches between the lines, 

 and 16 inches between the plants in rows. At the same 

 time that we plant out Cabbage or Cauliflower, between 

 the lines are planted Lettuce, at 12 inches apart. To 

 repay such expensive manuring and cultivation, every inch 

 must be made to tell. 



The Lettuce is ready for market by the middle of May, 

 and is cut off before the Cabbage is large enough to in- 

 jure it. The ground is now clear of the Lettuce, and the 

 whole space is occupied by the Cabbages, which are all 

 sold off before the middle of July ; the greater part in 

 fact by the end of June, which gives the necessary time for 

 second crops. The raising of the plants is done in various 

 ways, according to the differences of climate, and also of 

 the market requirements in different sections. In lati- 

 tudes where the thermometer never indicates 20° below 

 the freezing point, Cabbage plants may be sown in the 

 open border in October, and planted out at the distances 

 named, on the first opening of spring ; but in our North- 

 ern States, they must either be sown in hot-beds in Feb- 

 ruary, (see instructions in Chapter on Hot-beds) or what 

 is still better, wintered over in cold frames. For this pur- 



