198 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



There are three great groups of cabbages, distinguished, 

 respectively, by (1) red leaves, (2) smooth leaves, and (3) 

 wrinkled leaves. Red cabbages are esteemed chiefly for 

 pickling. The varieties with smooth, light-green leaves 

 (common cabbage) are commonly cultivated; while the 

 Savoy cabbage, which has wrinkled leaves, and is of the 

 best quality, is little grown because it does not produce as 

 abundantly as the common kinds. The original species 

 from which the cabbage has sprung is also the parent of the 

 cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts. The seed of the 

 cabbage is dark brown in color, and is smooth and round. 



Soil. The best soil for cabbage is a rich alluvial or 

 prairie loam, moist, yet well drained and in fine condition. 

 While some varieties will mature on poor soil, yet they all 

 require the highest cultivation for the best development. 

 This is especially true of early cabbage, which needs much 

 richer soil than the late crop. It is a good plan to change 

 occasionally the land used for cabbage; in some Eastern 

 sections it is necessary to do this each year on account of 

 the prevalence of the disease called clubroot, which is not 

 commonly found in newer sections. 



Manure. The cabbage is a gross feeder and needs lots of 

 rich manure. Most of our best growers apply manure 

 broadcast; but when there is a necessity of economizing 

 with the manure, it may be applied to better advantage in 

 the hill, providing the land is in good condition. In grow- 

 ing early cabbage it is an excellent plan to apply a handful 

 or so of dry hen manure around the hills when the plants 

 are half grown. This should not be put close to the plants, 

 but scattered over a radius of a foot or more from the plants 

 and then cultivated into the soil. 



Early Cabbage. The methods of cultivating adapted 

 to the growing of early cabbage are quite different from 



