142 TRUCK-FARMING AT THE SOUTH. 



grow spindling from the effects of the heat reflected 

 from the boards. Do not sow as thickly near the front 

 as in the middle of the bed, lest in wet weather the plants 

 may damp off while young. 



At the South, at the planting season, so many con- 

 tingencies affect the sprouting of the seed and the safety 

 of the young plants, when placed in the open air, that 

 no definite quantity of seed, which will suffice for a 

 given area, can be stated. Among these adverse influ- 

 ences are hot baking suns, heavy rains, cut-worms, grass- 

 worms (Laplirygmafrugiperda), and grasshoppers. 



Peter Henderson, one of the best authorities on mar- 

 ket gardening at the North, says an ounce of seed will 

 produce two thousand plants there are about ten thou- 

 sand cabbage seeds in an ounce and A. S. Fuller, another 

 good authority, estimates that an acre will require from a 

 pound to a pound and a half of seed, or from one hundred 

 and sixty thousand to two hundred and forty thousand 

 seeds. I have sown pounds of seed without getting even 

 a single plant. The only advice to be given is: to make 

 frequent sowings and on different parts of the farm, and 

 to follow the suggestion in the chapter on "Insects." If 

 the seed is sound and properly sown under glass and 

 cared for, few will fail to furnish available plants. 



SOIL AND ITS PREPARATION. 



The land best adapted to raise spring cabbages for ship- 

 ment, is a moist, sandy loam, if well drained. Any good 

 garden soil, properly enriched and well prepared, will an- 

 swer, however, if it be not too light and sandy; on such 

 soils the plants maybe affected by the hot suns in March 

 and April, just at the heading season. A newly cleared, 

 well-drained mould is excellent. The chalk cliffs of the 

 English sea shore being the native habitat of the cabbage, 

 admirable crops of superior quality may be produced near 



