IN THE EVERGLADES 85 



crop. There is a great demand throughout the Northern markets 

 during the winter season for this vegetable. Great quantities are 

 consumed, at a very remunerative price to the grower. It usually 

 sells, from the holidays until supplied by the home markets in the 

 North, at very high prices, frequently as much as 25 cents per 

 pound being obtained at retail for the same. If the selection of 

 seed and all the other details herein mentioned have been carefully 

 adhered to, as many perfect heads should be grown per acre as 

 can be done with ordinary cabbage. Returns should exceed twice 

 the price that is ordinarily obtained for cabbage. When the heads 

 begin to set, and are about three or four inches in diameter, the 

 leaves should be gathered loosely and tied with twine, being care- 

 ful not to tie them too tight, and also being careful that there are 

 no insects in the head at this time, as they will otherwise mutilate 

 it and make it unmarketable. In about five or ten days from the 

 time they are tied up they will be ready for market. They should 

 be cut just before the head begins to spread or before it begins to 

 part from the solid form. Should the weather be extremely warm 

 at this time, it is best to lay a cabbage or cauliflower leaf in and 

 over the white portion of each flower or head to keep it from 

 being browned by the hot rays of the sun. 



They are cut preferably late in the evening, but should not 

 be cut or shipped when moist from dew or rain. Each head 

 should have the leaves tied tightly over the same before shipping, 

 to protect it from bruises and keep it fresh during transit to 

 market. 



They are packed in ordinary lettuce crates, the number in the 

 crate being marked upon the address side of the crate. 



They usually bring from $i to $3 per crate in the Northern 

 markets, frequently selling for twice this figure in our local 

 markets during the season of their greatest demand, which, in 

 this territory, is during the first three months of the year. 



Cabbage. 



Cabbage is, in my opinion, the most easily grown vegetable in 

 this section of the State. I have known numerous instances 



