82 Subtropical Vegetable-Gardening 



such cases late winter cabbage commands a high price. 

 If at the same time the potato crop is light, there will be a 

 demand for southern cabbage. The vegetable-growers 

 can often anticipate such conditions, and put in a large 

 crop of cabbage. There is a large southern market that 

 would depend on this cabbage if the supply were constant. 

 Cabbage is an excellent feed for cattle. In some of the 

 dairying districts, it is raised as a second crop to feed 

 milch cows. 



Seed-bed. 



Cabbage is probably the easiest vegetable to grow from 

 seed in the market. It is not necessary to have a cold- 

 frame to start the seedlings ; but success is more certain 

 by using it, where there is danger from frost. The bed 

 need not be as fertile as for most other seedlings. Where 

 frosts are apt to occur after the plants have been set in 

 the field, the seedlings are often purposely stunted severely 

 in order that they may be more resistant to cold. If it is 

 discovered that the plants are not progressing rapidly 

 enough to bring them to the size desired by transplanting 

 time, they can be stimulated to rapid growth by the use of 

 liquid manure, by giving cottonseed meal, or by an applica- 

 tion of nitrate of soda. The cottonseed meal must not 

 come in contact with the plants, as it is liable to cause a 

 "damping-off" in the seed-bed. Four or five ounces of 

 seed should give plants enough for an acre. 



Sowing the seed of cabbage. 



It is preferable to sow the seed in drills far enough 

 apart to permit working by hoe or hand plow. In Florida, 



