The Culture of Vegetables 



situation should be dry and open. Sow in drills six inches apart, 

 and thin to six inches in the rows. The crop is taken in the same 

 way as Spinach, either by the removal of separate leaves or cutting 

 over in tufts. 



COUVE TRONCHUDA 



Brassica oleracea costata 



COUVE TRONCHUDA, or Portugal Cabbage, is a fine vegetable, that 

 should be grown in every garden, including those in which Cabbages 

 generally are not regarded as of much importance. The plant is of 

 noble growth, and in rich ground requires abundant room for the 

 spread of its great leaves, the mid-ribs of which are thick, white, 

 tender, and when cooked in the same manner as Sea Kale quite 

 superb in quality. When a fair crop of these mid-ribs has been 

 taken there remains the top Cabbage, which is excellent. 



Two or three sowings may be made in February, March, and 

 April, and the early ones must be in heat. Transfer to rich soil as 

 early as possible, giving the plants ample room, from two to three 

 feet each way, and aid with plentiful supplies of water in dry 

 weather. 



CRESS 



Lepidium sativum 



CRESS should be grown in small lots from frequent sowings, and the 

 sorts should be kept separate, and, if possible, on the same border. 

 The soil should be fine and fresh, and there is no occasion for 

 manuring, in fact it is objectionable, but a change of soil must be 

 made occasionally to insure a good growth. The seed is usually 

 sown too thick, yet thin sowing is not to be recommended. It is 

 important to cut Cress when it is just ready tender, green, short, 

 and plump. This it will never be if sown too thick, or allowed to 

 stand too long. Immediately the plant grows beyond salad size it 

 becomes worthless, and should be dug in. 



American or Land Cress (Barbarea pracox) is of excellent 

 quality when grown on a good border, and two or three sowings should 

 be made in the spring and autumn in shady spots. 



Water Cress (Nasturtium officinale) is so highly prized that 

 many who are out of the reach of ordinary sources of supply would 



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