536 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [OCT. 



CABBAGE PLANTS. 



The young cabbage plants arising from the seeds sown last month, 

 and intended for the production of early summer cabbages should, as 

 soon in this month as they shall have attained a sufficient size, be 

 planted into the beds in which they are to remain during winter. 



Let a bed or beds be prepared for them in a warm, well sheltered 

 part of the garden, where the sun has the greater power ; for although 

 direct sunshine, when the plants are in a frozen state, is almost cer- 

 tain destruction to tnem, yet its influence will prevent that intense 

 frost so prevalent in colder aspects ; and when the plants at such 

 times are screened from the direct rays of the sun, its reflected heat 

 comforts without injuring them. 



The beds should be made the width of your garden-frames, and 

 the plants set therein up to their leaves in rows about three or four 

 inches distant every way. When thus transplanted they will sur- 

 vive the winter much better than in the seed-beds, for their long 

 stems being buried into the earth, are protected thereby from alter- 

 nate freezing and thawing, and the effects of the various changes of 

 weather, than which there is nothing more injurious to tender 

 plants. The stems of these and cauliflower plants are injured before 

 the foliage, and it is of importance to keep those tender parts in an 

 equal temperature, by which they will be preserved much longer 

 even if in a frozen state than if they were exposed to alternate frost 

 and heat. 



Select good plants from the seed-beds, and, when planted, give 

 them a gentle watering to settle the earth about their roots, observ- 

 ing not to apply it too hastily lest you wash the earth into their 

 hearts. 



Put on the frames immediately, and also the lights, but the glasses 

 are now to be continued on only four or five days till the plants have 

 taken fresh root ; observing during that period to shade the plants 

 with mats or other protection from the mid-day sun ; but when they 

 have taken sufficient root the lights are to be taken totally off, and 

 the plants left fully exposed till the setting in of smart frosts, except 

 in very cold nights or during the prevalence of cold heavy rains ] for 

 it is of considerable moment to have the plants tolerably hardy on 

 the commencement of severe weather. 



But if they happen to be in a backward state you should keep on 

 the glasses every night to encourage their growth. 



When you have not the convenience of glass, you may defend the 

 plants sufficiently in winter by means of boards and mats. 



Or, in the middle and southern States, you may plant some in a 

 warm border to be defended in like manner, as before directed for 

 lettuces ; and if the winter proves tolerably mild, they may happen 

 to stand it pretty well. But if at any time, particularly towards the 

 end of February or early in March, you expose the plants to a warm 

 sun, while they or the earth in which they stand are in a frozen 

 state, it will inevitably destroy them. 



You should in mild warm weather, when the sun is not powerful, 



