172 Cultivation of Arable Land. Cabbages Proper Seafon of fowing of. 



fumption in March, April, or May, the feed fhould be put in about the latter 

 end of February or beginning of March in the former year, and the plants be fet 

 but the firft or fecond week in June and July in the fame year. By continuing to 

 fow with regularity in the months of February, May, and July or Auguft, fuc- 

 cefllve crops of young healthy plants may be fecured, and the round of cab 

 bage hufbandry be effectually preferved. Thefe periods of fowing and tranf- 

 plaming fhould, however, be attended to with confiderable exactnefs, in order 

 to fee tire good and certain crops, and the feed- beds be well protected from 

 birds. And that the cultivator may not be dilappointed in the number of 

 plants, it may be ufeful tofow a little feed at different times, at the difhmce of a 

 few days, always choofing as moift a time as poiTible. But by haftening or pro- 

 tradling the times of tranfplanting, or fetting out the crops, the growth of the 

 plants may be fo managed as to have them ready for ufe either more early or 

 later, according as e i re um fiances may require. In both the fpring and autumn 

 plantings it is, however, the beft practice to be fufficiently early ; as in the 

 former cafe the plants will have the great advantage of the fpring fhowers, 

 and be lefs in danger from the heat of the fummer feafon, and in the latter more 

 fully eftabiifhed in the foil before the winter fets in, as the growth of the plants 

 after September cannot in any degree be depended upon in field ^culture. Be- 

 fides, from the length of time which is requifite for their attaining their full 

 fi2e, it muft always be advantageous to have them fet out early. They feldom 

 arrive at their full growth in lefs than four months. 



By fowing very early in the fpring, and fetting the plants out as expedi- 

 tioufly as poffible, both full and forward crops may often be obtained. There is, 

 however, in general, an advantage in the autumn plants, that though they be 

 mere liable to be injured in the winter by flugs, and other caufes,. they are in a 

 ftate to be planted out very early in the fpring, while thofe of the fpring fow- 

 ings can feldom be fet out till the fummer is much advanced.* In this planting 

 different methods have been attempted &amp;gt; fuch as fetting out the plants to ftand the 

 winter in the field, and letting them remain in the feed-bed to be put out in the 

 fpring ; the former is the moft advifabie in mild winters and fheltered fituations^ 

 as the crop will be much more forward ; but incxpofed fituations the latter may 

 ibmetimcs be adopted with advantage. 



By fowing in May or June, forward crops of large cabbages may be pro 

 cured the enfuing year, or coleworts for tlie following fpring ; but in this laft 

 intention, they fhould be planted clofer together than ufual. In this way the 



* Miller s Dictionary, art, Brassica, 



