CHAP. IX VILLA GARDENING 435 



and 18 inclies separating the plants from each other in the rows, 

 may be taken as a good average distance. 



Varieties. — The following are good : — Veitch's Early Forcing, 

 Dean's Snowball, Early London, Walcheren, and the Autumn 

 Giant. It is hardly necessary for a private grower to save seed, 

 but it is very desirable to obtain it from a good firm. 



CHAPTER IX 



The Cabbage. — Though Cabbages may be said to be always 

 in season, the most important crop is the early one. The earlier 

 Cabbages can be obtained in spring the more are they appreciated. 



Sowing the Early Crop is therefore an important matter, and 

 usually takes place from the 20th of July to the 5 th of August, 

 according to the latitude and climate of the place, and the 

 character of the season. In the extreme south, the first week 

 in August will be early enough, and in the north a few days before 

 the 20th of July may not be too early. Some allowance should 

 be made for particidar varieties. Large kinds, such as the Enfield 

 Market, which are not so liable to bolt prematurely, may be sown 

 ten days before the Early York section. The seedbed may be 

 prepared on the border from which the early Potatoes were lifted 

 without any preparation beyond a dressing of soot and lime lightly 

 forked in, and a soaking of liquid maniu-e if it can be obtained. 

 In the course of a few hours after watering, when the moistm-e has 

 had time to penetrate the whole mass, the ground should be raked 

 level, and the drills drawn 9 inches apart and 1 inch deep. In 

 dry hot weather I like to prepare and water the seedbed in the 

 evening, leave it all night to tone down, and preimre the bed 

 and sow the seeds early in the morning. The seeds shoidd not be 

 sown too thickly, as the number of plants required in any garden 

 will not take much space if treated rationally. It is certain 

 that in raising plants for transplanting, especially of this family, 

 very much seed is wasted. This, perhaps, woidd not matter 

 so much if the mischief ended there; but very thick seeding 

 leads to debility in the progeny, and although some people may 

 think that in the matter of a Cabbage this is not of much 

 consequence, yet in the case of some sections of the family — 

 Brussels Sprouts especially — the plants in all stages of their growth 

 should have justice done them. Protect the seedbeds with nets as 

 soon as they are sown, to keep off birds; or the seeds may be 

 dressed with red-lead and made distasteful to seed-eating birds. 



Transplanting. — This may take place any time after the 



