196 ELEMENTAEY AGRICULTUKE 



cabbage, turnips, or mustard have not been grown 

 for three years. Select good seed, and sow in a hot- 

 bed or window box. When the plants are in the 

 fourth leaf, thin them to secure stocky plants, and 

 transplant only the best roots. When transplanting, 

 remove the upper part of the leaves, set the plants 

 firmly, and stir the surface soil. To stop the heads 

 from bursting as they form, one may loosen the 

 roots by slightly lifting and twisting the plant. 

 Whitish butterflies lay their eggs on cabbages. 

 These hatch green worms that eat the leaves. Kill 

 the worms and spray with Paris green and water, 

 or sprinkle with salt, lime, wood ashes, or pepper. 

 The cabbage maggot works at the stem or root and 

 causes decay. A piece of tarred paper put around 

 the stem on the ground drives away the moth that 

 lays the eggs. (Fig. 99.) 



Lettuce. Lettuce is the most widely-grown salad 

 vegetable. It is now ready for the table every month 

 in the year. Winter and early spring crops are 

 grown in cold frames. Seed for an early sprin^^rop 

 may be sowed in a cold frame in March. Sowings 

 in the garden ,can be made from April to October. 

 The cabbage varieties, or head lettuce, are blanched 

 by tying the tops together. 



Cucumbers, Melons, and Squashes. The seeds of 

 cucumbers, melons, and squashes should be planted 

 in shallow hills, three or four in a hill. They are all 

 tender to frost. If each hill is covered with a box 

 frame, it can be raised on warm days and taken 



