CRUCIFEILE. LXXXIII. BRASSICA. 



239 



plants being dibbled in along the centre of a ridgelet. For 

 early crops no ridgelets are required, as the plants are inserted 

 in rows by a line at much narrower distances. The season for 

 planting a full crop of field-cabbages is in March ; but cab- 

 bages may be planted as late as June, and produce a tolerable 

 crop in November ; and in this way they may be made to succeed 

 an unsuccessful crop of turnips. The plants used in March 

 should be the produce of seed sown in the preceding August ; 

 but those planted in May or June may be the produce of Febru- 

 ary or March sowings. 



The after-culture consists in horse and hand-hoeing, and 

 weeding ; and the crop is taken by chopping off the heads with 

 the spade, leaving an inch or two of stalk to each. They may 

 be preserved by housing, but only for a short time. The pro- 

 duce is said to be from 35 to 40 tons per acre. Sir Humphrey 

 Davey found 1000 parts of cabbage gave 73 of nutritive matter, 

 of which 41 are mucilage, 24 saccharine, and 8 gluten. 



The application of field-cabbage is generally for feeding milch 

 cows, and sometimes to the fattening of oxen, and for sheep in 

 the lamb-season. 



The diseases of the varieties of Brdssica oleracea are the 

 same as those of the Turnip, with the exception of the forked 

 excrescences, and they neither admit of prevention or cure by 

 art ; but like the turnip, under favorable circumstances they do 

 not occur. 



Calendar of the work necessary to be done to the varieties of 

 Brdssica oleracea. 



1 January. Lay out ground for planting Cabbages, if the 

 weather is mild, digging in some rotten dung a spade deep, pro- 

 perly mixed with the earth in the bottom of the trench. About 

 the end of the month plant about three feet asunder, if large 

 growing sorts. The Sugar-loaf and Early York Cabbage, are 

 the best for this planting. Fill up the places of the plants that 

 have died in the former plantations. On the same ground where 

 Cabbages are planted, a thin crop of round-leaved Spinach may 

 be sown, broad-cast, which will be fit to gather in April, or the 

 beginning of May. Transplant Cabbages and Savoys for seed 

 in the beginning of the month, if it has been neglected in No- 

 vember or December. Examine the frames in which young 

 Cauliflower plants have stood the winter, and let the withered or 

 damaged leaves be picked off, and stir the surface of the ground 

 a little, if it can conveniently be done. In mild weather let the 

 plants have plenty of free air, by tilting the glasses, or taking 

 them entirely off, keeping them close down during night, and in 

 frosty weather. If the weather is very severe, cover the glasses 

 every night, and in the day-time if necessary, with mats, straw, 

 or ferns ; also lay some litter round the edges of the frames or 

 hand-glasses, which will prevent the frost from penetrating at 

 the sides. Look carefully over the Cauliflower plants, and 

 pick the slugs, &c. off with the hand. In severe weather mice 

 and rats will be apt to destroy many of the plants ; recourse 

 must then be had to traps. 



Cape Brocoli managed exactly according to the directions 

 given for Cauliflower plants. The crops of Brocoli may now 

 be still further protected from the frosts by laying some bean- 

 haulm and other litter on the ground amongst their stems, and 

 then stick the ground full of pea-stakes and other branches, in 

 imitation of natural coppice. The shade afforded by this pro- 

 cess will greatly counteract the effects of sunshine succeeding 

 severe frosts, which at this time, and in February, are so hurtful 

 to all culinary vegetables. 



2 February. Early Sugar-loaf Cabbage, and other Cabbages, 

 should be transplanted finally, the strongest in the beginning, 

 and the weakest in the latter end of the month. Sow Cabbage 

 seeds about the middle or latter end of the month, for July, 



August, and September use. If the winter has destroyed many 

 of the plants of the August sowing, some of the earlier sorts 

 may be sown on a gentle hot-bed. Sow some Red Cabbages 

 for next winter's supply. Cabbages and Savoys for seed may 

 be planted if not done before. Savoy seed may now be sown 

 for the first crop, about the middle or latter end of the month, 

 for September, October, November, and December use. Stir 

 the mould, and earth-up the Cabbages that were planted in Octo- 

 ber ; this will invigorate the plants, and promote their growth. 



Cauliflower plants in frames, and under hand-glasses, should 

 have plenty of air every mild day, by entirely removing the 

 glasses. About the end of the month some of the strongest 

 plants should be finally transplanted, in a rich sheltered spot of 

 ground, about a yard distant each way : these should be shel- 

 tered occasionally if required. Thin the Cauliflower plants un- 

 der hand-glasses, if there be more than four under each glass : 

 observe to draw the weakest, raise some earth round the stems 

 of those that remain at the same time. The plants that have 

 been drawn out should be planted in a sheltered situation, allow- 

 ing them sufficient room to come to perfection. Sow Cauliflower 

 seeds about the end of this month, to raise plants to succeed the 

 early crop ; if sown on a slight hot-bed they will be a fortnight 

 earlier, giving plenty of air in mild weather. 



3 March. Plant finally the Cauliflower plants which have 

 been in frames or warm borders during winter, if not done in 

 the former month, in a good spot of ground, well manured, and 

 dug in rows about thirty inches apart, allowing the same space 

 between the rows. Raise earth round the stems of the Cauli- 

 flowers under hand-glasses, the glasses to be removed in fine 



weather. Prick out those plants raised from seed sown the pre- 

 ceding month, into a bed of good earth, in a warm situation : a 

 hot-bed is preferable, as it will forward them greatly. Sow 

 Cauliflower seeds early in this month, if it was not done in Fe- 

 bruary, in a moderate hot-bed, or in a bed of good earth, in a 

 warm situation, for August use. Sow Brocoli about the middle 

 or towards the end of the month, in a warm open situation. If 

 sown earlier Brocolis are apt to start, or button. Transplant 

 finally all sorts of Cabbages. Sow seeds of Cabbages in the 

 beginning or middle of this month ; the early kinds for succes- 

 sional and young summer Cabbages, the late kinds for autumn 

 and winter Cabbages. Red Cabbage should now be sown for 

 winter use. These will be well cabbaged about Michaelmas. 

 Sow Savoy seed for a principal crop, to serve from about Mi- 

 chaelmas to Christmas. Sow Brussels sprouts any time this 

 month. 



4 April. Draw earth round the stems of those Cauliflower 

 plants under hand-glasses ; let them be fully exposed in mild 

 weather, and when there are warm showers. Finish the planting 

 out of Cauliflower plants in frames, warm borders, &c. if not 

 done last month. Prick out those plants raised from seed sown 

 last month. Cauliflower plants which were raised from seed 

 early this spring should be finally planted about the end of the 

 month in a piece of good open ground, well dunged, and dug 

 about two feet asunder, water them as soon as they are planted. 

 Sow Cauliflower seed for a successional crop on a sheltered bor- 

 der, and guard the seed well against birds at this season. The 

 Cauliflower plants which were kept in pots during winter may now 

 be finally planted out if the weather is fine. Make holes suffi- 

 ciently large to admit a spade full of rotten dung, and upon this 

 set the plants, one in each hole. They should be carefully turned 

 out of the pots with balls ; settle the mould about them by gentle 

 watering, these will require to be sheltered during inclement 

 weather until the month of May. The Cape Brocoli sown in 

 autumn, and wintered with the Cauliflowers, may now be finally 

 planted, and treated in the same manner as Cauliflowers; they 

 should be protected by a few branches until the weather is set- 



