CHAP. IX VILLA GARDENING 437 



and the pLants raised in heat then were useful. As a rule, of 

 course it is not necessary to sow Cabbages in heat at all ; and I 

 only mention it to show that all the Brassica family are amenable 

 to this, if such a course, under any exceptional circumstances, 

 should be necessary. Many people, when they plant out the 

 autumn or main crop, either leave the small plants to stand on 

 the seedbed till spring, or transplant them thickly in a nm-sery- 

 bed, where they will remain through the winter. There should 

 always be a reserve of plants somewhere. In March all plants 

 remaining after vacancies are. filled up should be planted out to 

 give a supply of young Cabbages when the main crop has been 

 cut, and before the second one on the stems is fit for use. Seeds 

 of Enfield Market or Cocoa Nut, sown in March or April, will be 

 fit to cut in autumn. 



Saving Seeds. — Many people save their own Cabbage seeds, 

 as they pride themselves on having a better variety than their 

 neighbours, and wish to perpetuate it. The plants selected for 

 seed-bearing should be true to the tyi^e. When the Cabbages are 

 cut the stems may be lifted carefully and planted in a group by 

 themselves, and some fine netting may be spread over the blossoms 

 to keep away insects bearing foreign pollen when the plants are 

 in blossom. This care is especially necessary if any other member 

 of the Brassica family should be growing near and in blossom. 



Varieties. — These are now very numerous, but four or five are 

 sufiicient to keep up a good succession, and no one need grow more. 

 Atkins's Matchless, Cocoa Nut, Heartwell, Enfield Market, and 

 Wheeler's Imperial are good varieties. Red Dutch should be 

 grown for pickling, also the London or Rosette Colcwort, which 

 are used in a young state in winter. The seeds of the Coleworts 

 should be sown in June and planted out on vacant land any- 

 where, without any special preparation beyond a deep hoeing and 

 a dressing of soot. Draw drills 1 foot apart in August, or when 

 the plants are ready to go out, and plant 9 inches apart in the 

 rows. These are often thought more of in winter than the second 

 crop of Cabbages, being young and tender. They are looked upon 

 as a catch crop, being cleared off in time to give the land the 

 usual winter trenching, in preparation for the roots in spring. 

 They may succeed early Peas, Beans, and autumn-sown Onions, or 

 be planted wherever a vacancy exists, no matter how small. Their 

 capacity to fill usefully any small patch adds to their value. 



Red CABBACiES. — It is not advisable to sow these too early. 

 In the Midlands, it is early enough to sow at the beginning of 

 August, and I have had very good Cabbages from plants raised 

 early in March. Many housekeepers defer pickling till the autumn 



