Ch. XXI.] ON CABBAGES. 255 



and *' considering that tliere must be in every farm some land not kind to 

 turnips ; tliat with tlie same quantity of manure, a larger bulk of produce 

 can be grown ; and that for all land a change of fallow crop is desirable ; 

 tiiey strongly recommend the introduction of it into every arable farm in 

 the country, and sum up its advantages as these : — 



" It is more sure to plant ; being very little liable to the fly, or grub. 



" It vvill produce more weight. 



" It is off" the land earlier. 



" It is better spring food. 



" It is useful as a change of fallow crop when the land is tired of ttirnips ; 

 and can be grown on soils on which they cannot be raised." 

 On the other hand, in favour of Swedish turnips it may be said : — 



" Tiiat the weeding and singhng out are less expensive. 



" That there is rather more time allowed for fallowing in the spring. 



" That the succeeding crop is better than after mangel-wurtzel ; and, 



" That perhaps cattle feed best on Swedish turnips when they are used 

 alone.'' 



It must however be remarked, that these two last evidences in favour of 

 the Swedes are not fully proved, and only partially supported. 



Chapter XXI. 



ON CABBAGES. 



The varieties of the cabbage tribe which are grown in our gardens, though 

 all derived from the same stock, are extremely numerous ; but those which 

 are cultivated as field-crops, are chiefly used for the support of cattle, and 

 are usually confined to the " York," the large " Scotch," "the ox-head," 

 and the " drum-head," which commonly produce heads of 10 to 20 lbs,, 

 and not unfrequently arrive to upwards of 30 lbs. weight. 



These large field-cabbages are those whicli are generally considered as 

 the best suited to farm-culture, and are therefore those most commonly 

 planted ; but the species known as the " sugar-loaf cabbage," and so called 

 from its pointed form, though rarely exceeding from 5 to 7 lbs., may yet 

 be in many cases found more advisable, for it can be grown on land of 

 more ordinary quality than the other kinds ; it is hardier in constitution, 

 more solid and nutritive, and the inferiority of its weight may be in a great 

 degree made up by the smallness of its size allowing of the plants being 

 set closer together. There is also the " turnip-rooted cabbage," or " kohl 

 Rhabi," a hardy variety, and a species called " Borecole," which are not 

 affected by the frost, and are eminently serviceable in the feeding of sheep; 

 and the latter will produce a fresh crop within a few weeks after its leaves 

 have been cut down. 



SOIL AND CULTURE. 



The cabbage requires a deep clayey soil of the richest nature, and in 

 a moist or marshy situation ; the land should also be heavily manured 

 with s])it-dung, or compost of the best quality, which should be incorporated 

 with the soil ; and if the plants be afterwards dressed with the drain- 

 ings of the stable it will add to the value of the crop *. On land of 



* "Tlie market-gardeners generally apply cow-dung to cabbages, when it can be got 

 in suffiL-ient quantfty ; if not, a rich compost is used, and at least one-half more manure 

 is given to cabbages than to turnips."— Stevenson's Surrey, p. 270. 



