472 



THE GARDEN AND ITS FRUITS. 



[Chap. Y. 



vontive of insects on tlio young turnips. In this foiMu the expense would be 

 very trilling. It may answer lor all other garden jilants just as well as the 

 more expensive preparations sold for the same purposes. • 



523. The Kohl-llabi— lis dias'acter and Csc— This relative of the tnmiii 

 and cal)l;)ngc is comjianitivuly a new garden plant, but one much approved 

 by all who are acipuiinted with it, and extensively grown tor the New York 

 markets. It appears to be a cross between the cabbage aiul turnip, growing 

 with a bulb like the latter, which has the outward ajijK'arance of a cabbage- 

 stalk, with leaves like ruta baga. These liulbs, cooked, have more of tlie 

 flavor and general character of cabbage than tui'nips. Those who are not 

 acquainted with them should procure seed and give them a trial. Tiicy are 

 largely grown in England as a lield-crop for stock, the seed being planted 

 by drills, four pounds jier acre, and produce twenty-five tuns. For garden 

 culture, pursue exactly the same course as with cabbage. 



524. Cabbage CuStivatioM, and Value as Food.— Almost every family cul- 

 tivates cabbage in the garden as an article of food, for which purpose we 

 look iipon it as of very little account. "We know it is relished by a very 

 large portion of the laboring class, and that class alone should cat; it, as it is, 

 particularly when cooked, one of the most indigestible articles of food ever 

 taken into the human stomach. Eaten raw, in small cpiautities, it is more 

 digestible, and serves very M'ell as a relish in place of other green food at 

 seasons \vhea the garden does not aftbrd a supply. 



We recommend the cultivation of cabbage in all gardens, even where the 

 family do not care to grow it for the talde, because a plant can be stuck in 

 here and there to fill up waste places, and if the plants are not wSnted by 

 the family when grown, the cows will be very glad of tliena after the grass 

 is frosted in autumn. If cabbage is wanted for very early use, the 2:ilants 

 must be started in cold frames in autunm, and kept covered up all winter. 

 Such plants are much more hardy than hot-bed plants started in spring. 

 Seed may be sown, as soon as the ground is warm enough, in garden beds, 

 for early cabbage, but for such as are wanted for winter use, seed som'u late 

 in May or June, or even in July, will be early enough to set where peas and 

 early potatoes have been harvested. Cabbage requires a strong soil, and will 

 bear heavy manuring, except with hog-pen manure. That, it is pretty Avell 

 settled, causes the disease known as " chib-foot" in cabbage. Tiiis whole 

 order of plants delights in bone-dust as a fertilizer and bones prepared as 

 superphosphates are still better. 



The distance between the plants when set out varies from one and a naif 

 to three feet. A moist, cloudy day is the best time for transj^lanting, and 

 it is well to dip the roots before planting in a composition of black mold 

 and a little soot, made into thin mud with the addition of liquid manure. 



Cabbages may be headed in winter by setting them with their roots in 

 good rich earth, just as they grew, and covering the tops so that they will not 

 freeze. This may be done with a roof of boards, hay, or dirt, or brush and 

 rails and straw covered with dirt, with little air-holes. Cabbage grown in 



