Vegetables with Edible Leaves or Stems 85 



thorough but shallow cultivation should be given to 

 conserve the moisture of the soil. 



Preparing cabbage for market. 



It often happens that much rain falls when the heads 

 have become solid, causing them to burst. This may be 

 prevented by running a plow with a long sweep on one side 

 of the row to cut off most of the roots. The bursting is 

 caused by assimilation of too much moisture, and a 

 consequent expansion of the heart while the outer leaves 

 cannot stretch sufficiently. 



For shipping, nearly all of the outer leaves are stripped 

 off, leaving just enough to protect the head ; the stalk is 

 then cut off about even. The heads should be gathered 

 dry, and kept so until they reach their destination. If 

 somewhat wilted when received by the retail dealer, they 

 may be placed in a cellar or other moist place, when they 

 wilt become crisp and fresh again. 



Cabbage may be classed among the staple products, 

 so the public is not very notional about how it appears 

 on the market. While it is an easy crop to grow, there 

 are, on the other hand, many failures. 



Marketing cabbage. 



There is no settled form of package for cabbages. The 

 smaller early cabbage is usually crated or barreled ; the 

 fall cabbage is sometimes shipped in bulk, especially when 

 sold by the carload. Barrels are frequently used when 

 only a few are to be shipped to one address. Crates are 

 often seen on the markets of large cities ; they are about 

 2 by 4 by 4 or 5 feet. In Florida, cabbage crates are made 



