The Culture of Vegetables 



practice to sow in July, and to those who find the results entirely 

 satisfactory we have nothing to say. Our own experiments have 

 convinced us that, for the southern counties, August is preferable, 

 and it is wise to make two sowings in that month, the first quite 

 early and the second about a fortnight later. Here it is necessary to 

 observe that the selection of suitable varieties is of even greater 

 consequence than the date of sowing. A considerable number of 

 the Cabbages which possess a recognised value for spring sowing are 

 comparatively useless in August. Success depends on the capability 

 of the plant to form a heart when the winter is past instead of starting 

 a seed-stem, and this reduces the choice to very narrow limits. 

 Among the few Cabbages which are specially adapted for August 

 sowing, Sutton's April, Flower of Spring, Favourite, and Imperial 

 may be favourably mentioned, and even in small gardens at least 

 two varieties should be sown. Where Spring Cabbages manifest an 

 unusual tendency to bolt, sowing late in August, followed by late 

 planting, will generally prove a remedy, always assuming that suitable 

 varieties have been sown. 



The final planting of autumn-sown Cabbages should be on well- 

 made ground, following Peas, Beans, or Potatoes, and as much 

 manure should be dug in as can be spared, for Cabbage will take all 

 it can get in the way of nourishment. In planting out, the spacing 

 must be regulated according to the size of the variety grown, and if 

 the entire crop is to be left for hearting, a minimum of fifteen inches 

 each way will be a safe distance for the smallest. Supposing 

 every alternate plant is to be drawn young for consumption as Cole- 

 worts, a foot apart will suffice, but in this case the surplus plants must 

 be cleared off by the time spring growth commences. This procedure 

 will leave a crop for hearting two feet apart, and when the heads are 

 cut the stumps will yield a supply of Sprouts. As these Sprouts 

 appear when vegetables are none too plentiful, they are welcome in 

 many households, and make a really delicate dish of greens. 



All plantings should be done in showery weather if possible, or 

 with a falling barometer promising rain. For this it is not always 

 possible to wait, and happily it is a peculiarity of Brassicas, and of 

 Cabbage in particular, that the plants will endure, after removal, heat 

 and drought for some time with but little harm, and again grow freely 

 after rain. But good cultivation has in view the prevention of any 

 such check. At the best it is a serious loss of time in the brief grow- 

 ing season. Therefore in droughty weather it will be advisable to 

 draw shallow furrows and water these a day in advance of the plant- 



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