660 



CABBAGE. 



All the different sorts require strong; and rich 

 loamy land; they are what are called "gross feed- 

 ers ;" but their flavour when cooked is mild or rank, 

 according as the soil is more or less rich. On a light 

 sandy soil, the cabbage, though small, are sweeter 

 flavoured than if grown on heavy highly manured 

 land. Quantity is required in some cases, as for 

 market or for cattle, for instance, while quality is the 

 aim in other cases. For each purpose there are 

 practical rules which are acted on accordingly. 



The spring crop of cabbage, that is, such as come 

 into use in the month of May, are most esteemed, and 

 require more management than any of the following 

 crops. The seed for this first crop should be sown on 

 an open-lying spot some time between the 25th of 

 July and the 5th day of August ; or a better plan is 

 to sow on both these days for security of having them 

 as early, and as free from the risk of the plants running 

 away to flower as possible. If the seed were sown 

 on the 20th of July, nine out of every ten of the seed- 

 lings would probably run to seed in the spring 

 instead of heading : and if sown after the 5th of 

 August the crop would not come in so early as they 

 otherwise would do. Therefore, any day between the 

 25th and the end of July is the best time for the lati- 

 tude of London. 



When the seedlings appear they must be kept free 

 from weeds, and occasionally watered if the season be 

 dry; and as soon as they have got four or five leaves, 

 they should be carefully drawn and pricked out four 

 inches apart on a rich well-prepared nursery bed to 

 induce a stocky growth, and where they should 

 remain till about the middle of October, when they 

 should be planted out for good. 



An open quarter should be .chosen for cabbage, 

 liberally dunged, and well digged. On this the plants 

 from the nursery bed are put out in rows at distances 

 according to the size of the kind. The early dwarf 

 and York varieties are placed in rows eighteen inches 

 asunder, and twelve or fourteen inches between plant 

 and plant. The middle sized sorts, as the sugar- 

 loaf and Battersea, may be put in rows two feet apart 

 and sixteen inches asunder in the rows. The largest 

 growers, as the drumhead, require three feet intervals 

 between the rows, and two feet spaces between plant 

 and plant. 



It is usual to draw drills, or tread furrows for the 

 plants to be dibbed into, letting them in as deep as 

 the leaves, and pressing the earth firmly to the roots. 

 The after management consists in keeping the surface 

 loose and clean by the hoe, filling up blanks, and, 

 when the plants require it, drawing earth to the stems 

 to keep them steady and encourage the growth. 



In April the plants will have gained a good size 

 and will be beginning to head ; this will be assisted 

 by tying up the outer leaves round the centre with 

 strands of matting, to blanch the heart. 



Succession crops of summer cabbage are raised on 

 seed beds sowed in March, April and May. These 

 supply plants for putting out in May, June and July, 

 which, with those drawn from autumn sowings, furnish 

 a constant supply of either headed or open cabbage 

 throughout the year. 



Open plants or coleworts are preferred by many to 

 close-headed or white cabbage. They are sweeter 

 in flavour, and the green colour is inviting. Cole- 

 worts may be had at any time in the year ; but for 

 winter and spring use, seed-beds should be sowed in 

 June, and again in July, to raise plants of any of the 



middle-sized varieties, viz., sugar-loaf, or early Bat- 

 tersea. These seedlings may be planted out on any 

 vacant piece of ground during August and September, 

 pretty thickly together, say nine inches apart every 

 way, and thus to stand till pulled for use. 



The enemies of the cabbage are the finche?, which 

 devour the seedlings, if not scared off ; the turnip-fly 

 in the spring, and slugs and snails all the your. The 

 two last may be kept off by dusting the seed-beds 

 and transplanted rows of plants with fresh slaked 

 lime. For this purpose, a thin canvass bag, large 

 enough to hold about half a peck, when full, is most 

 convenient. This, held by the mouth, and charged 

 with two or three pints of lime, jerked over the beds 

 or plants, drives every fly, slug, or worm, from the 

 place, and being repeated occasional!}', especially 

 after rain, will effectually defend the plants. The 

 caterpillars of several butterflies live on the outer 

 leaves all summer, but no preventive has yet been 

 found for this injury. But the worst enemy is an 

 insect called Nedyus contractus, which inserts its eggs 

 in the stem under the surface of the ground, which 

 soon become maggots, produce deformity, by raising 

 large knobs over each of themselves hence called 

 " clubbing," or " fingers and toes," and sometimes in 

 such numbers as always to weaken, if not destroy, 

 the plant. At the transplanting season, if any such 

 knobs appear on the root or stem, they should be 

 pared off, and the roots dipped in a puddle of earth 

 and soot before planting, to prevent future attacks. 

 A dressing of marl, or soap-boilers' waste, is said to 

 prevent clubbing ; and, on the same principle, were 

 the seed-beds watered with soap-suds once or twice 

 during the growth of the seedlings, there is no doubt 

 that it would go far to prevent the attack of the 

 insects, the alkaline principle, it would seem, being 

 offensive to them. 



The large sorts of cabbage for cattle are generally 

 sowed in the first week in August, and planted in the 

 fields either in the autumn or spring, most commonly 

 in the latter season. In the following autumn they 

 come into use. 



The red varieties have always a place in gardens. 

 There are throe sorts, viz., the common Dutch, the 

 small red, and the Aberdeen red. The seed should 

 be sown in August for the next summer supply ; and 

 again in March, to come in the autumn and winter. 

 Red cabbage require wider intervals than the common 

 sorts, and are usually planted in single rows between 

 the beds of other dwarf-growing crops. The heads 

 are chiefly used for pickling, or shredded in salads. 

 They are also sometimes cultivated in fields for 

 winter-keep for sheep, being much hardier than the 

 white varieties. 



The following are the varieties in cultivation : 

 J. Early Emperor. 

 2. Dwarf. 



3. Fine Screw. 



4. Wellington. 



5. Early York. 



6. Large York. 



7. Early Heart-shaped. 



8. London Battersea. 



9. East Ham. 



10. London Hollow. 



11. Early Sugar-loaf. 



12. Early Flat Battersea. 



13. Late ditto ditto. 



14. Early Imperial. 



