66 HORTICULTURE BY IRRIGATION. 



eighteen inches in the row ; and for late kinds, rows three feet apart and 

 two feet in row. One active man, who is familiar with the work, can set, 

 with dibble, ten thousand plants in a day, with a boy to drop plants. They 

 should have good garden soil, but do especially well where very coarse 

 manure has been spread and plowed under. Mark rows the distance to be 

 planted, and, if ground is very dry, run water along in the row before 

 planting ; but, in this case, it is better to wait until the soil is somewhat 

 dried before setting. Irrigate immediately after plants are set. In other 

 words, let the water follow the planter right along the rows. As soon as 

 soil is sufficiently dry, put on cultivator. Water again the second day, 

 and afterwards two or three times during'the season. Give a little irriga- 

 tion as heads are beginning to form, but not after they are developed, as 

 this will cause them to burst. 



The best early variety is the Jersey Wakefield (Henderson's strain), 

 and the next best, probably, is the Early Winningstadt. For late cab- 

 bage, the Flat Dutch has no superior. The Excelsior, of recent introduc- 

 tion, is very fine. The largest variety known is the Marblehead Mam- 

 moth. Of 8,000 heads grown by our near neighbor, the average weight 

 was fifteen pounds each. Several weighed upwards of forty pounds each. 



Cultivate every week, and until the horse cannot walk between the 



STORING CABBAGE. 



An important item is winter storage. Prices are usually much, better 

 in the spring. Quite a successful way of burying in winter (and this 

 should be done before any very hard freezes), is to open up a hollow 

 trench by throwing two furrows in opposite directions. Then place the 

 cabbage head down, slightly sloping, and lay the next one in same position, 

 or perhaps a little sideways, letting the lower end lap over the head of 

 the other, and so on to the length of the trench. After all are in, turn the 

 furrows back from each side upon the plants. This will leave the cover- 

 ing of earth loose on top of the cabbage for ventilation, and enable the 

 moisture given off by them to escape readily through the porous soil. 

 Before the coldest weather sets in, throw more dirt loosely over the top. 

 Deep covering is very apt to rot the cabbage, especially where the earth 

 is moist or compact. The average yield of cabbages, on good garden soil, 

 should be 50,000 pounds to the acre. From eight acres this season, a 



