178 TRUCK-FARMING AT THE SOUTH. 



is necessary. To be marketable at good prices, the fruit 

 should be well grown, weighing from one to three pounds 

 but not old, nor light colored and tough; small ones 

 are not readily salable. They are to be carefully handled 

 to avoid bruising and injuring the gloss. Shorten the 

 stems to about half an inch and wrap each in paper. It 

 is then to be firmly and evenly packed in crates, or in 

 well ventilated double-headed barrels. The Flea-beetle 

 frequently attacks the plants when young, for which the 

 usual remedy of lime or soot is applicable, but rarely 

 necessary. 



The large green Tomato- worm is sometimes found on 

 the egg-plant. Should these, the Tortoise-beetle ( Cassi- 

 da Texana) or the false Colorado-beetle (Doryphora junc- 

 ta), already mentioned, ever become destructive, Paris 

 green might be applied before the fruit, or berry, is 

 formed. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



KALE, BORECOLE, OR SPROUTS (Brassica oZeracea var. 

 sabellica.) 



Ckouvert, French ; Kraushohl or BrjunkoM, German; Bxrerikool, Dutch; 

 Cavolo aperto, Italian; Col, Spanish. 



Kale is a variety of the cabbage of great excellence for 

 the table. It is distinguished from the other varieties 

 by its open growth and its more or less curled or 

 wrinkled leaves. It is the most hardy of all, and with- 

 stands a severe degree of cold; indeed, it is not consid- 

 ered to have reached the perfection of flavor and tender- 

 ness, until it has been frozen. 



Among the many varieties of kale some are dwarfish 

 in habit, while others grow from four to five feet high, 



