PLANTING ANDJRRIGATING CABBAGE 163 



Planting Out. Cabbages are usually grown in the field in rows 

 two and a half to three feet apart; laid out with a marker, the 

 plants being distanced about fifteen inches in the rows. Planting is 

 done with a dibble, and a man can plant out four to eight thousand 

 a day, according to his expertness, if he has a boy to drop plants 

 for him. The earth should be pressed firmly about the roots with 

 the dibble. 



Planting with a trowel can be very rapidly done in this way. 

 Get a new mason's trowel about six inches wide and twelve inches 

 long coming to a point. Cut off one or two inches of the point, 

 making it round on the grindstone. Put the trowel down in the 

 soil the whole length, pull it over toward you, put in the plant, take 

 out the trowel, then step on the soil near the plant to make it firm. 



If the seed-bed is sandy enough and is allowed to become a 

 little dry, the plants can be lifted readily without losing roots. Large 

 bunches of plants when taken to the field should be protected from 

 sun and wind by a wet sack, and dropping should not go far ahead 

 of the planting. 



Early planting in anticipation of rains may be surer to hold on 

 if a little water is used in planting if the ground is inclined to be 

 dry. On irrigated ground, which is given a good soaking before 

 plowing for fall planting, this may not be necessary, but subsequent 

 irrigation must be given in time if rains are delayed, for the plants 

 must not be allowed to stop growing. 



Planting out on irrigated ground after the land has been pre- 

 pared as just described for field growing of plants, can be done in 

 this way: 



Have plants of good size and two men to the row; one with a long- 

 handled spade to open a place along the edge of the furrow by inserting the 

 spade at an angle of about 45 degrees and without withdrawing it, but simply 

 raising it up until the other man, who carried the plants in a pail which had 

 a little water in the bottom, could slip a plant under the spade, when by a 

 deft, quick movement the spade could be withdrawn and the soil allowed to 

 fall upon the roots, when the man with the spade was careful to step on the 

 plant just over the roots and thus firm the earth. By having the proper force 

 of men employed to get the plants from the seed bed to the field, so that the 

 men planting could proceed without hindrance, it is astonishing how rapidly 

 the plants can be set ; and by choosing the after part of the day and turning 

 the water in right after each row was planted, the plants receive scarcely any 

 check by removal. 



Fall planting for irrigation is described by D. F. Reichard in the 

 California Cultivator as follows : 



The main plantings of cabbage and cauliflower seed should be made dur- 

 ing September, starting the plants in beds or in rows where they can get the 

 best care. When the plants are six to eight weeks old set out where they are 

 to mature. Prepare the ground by working it not less than a foot deep, hav- 

 ing it thoroughly soaked beforehand. After the land is pulverized and leveled, 

 furrow out, for cabbage, eight inches and for cauliflower ten to twelve inches 

 deep, setting the plants on one side of the furrow near the bottom. Then run 

 water down the furrow as soon as the row is set, allowing the water to come 

 up to the plant and as the plants grow gradually work the soil into the furrows 

 until they become ridges. 



