I2O 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



plant to plant in the rows, will 

 generally be found sufficient space 

 if the ground be in good heart. 



CUTTING.* A little more atten- 

 tion might be paid to this than 

 is generally the case ; for although 

 Cauliflowers and Brussels Sprouts 

 cannot always be had just when 

 wanted, tender Cabbage may be 

 had with very little management. 

 Supposing we plant Cabbages in 

 autumn, they will come into use 

 tender towards the beginning of 

 summer ; but if the household be 

 generally not able to use them as 

 fast as they grow, the heads are 

 allowed to swell until they burst, 

 or go to seed or rot, and eventually 

 become quite useless for cooking 

 purposes. In gardens from which 

 large houses have to be supplied, 

 Cabbages are generally wanted as 

 soon as they are ready, and a number 

 of heads are cut daily ; but the 

 experienced gardener does not cut 

 the head off at the surface of the 

 soil, but just at the neck, leaving 

 a few of the bottom leaves. Con- 

 sequently, before the quarter has 

 been cut over the first-cut plants 

 have made another break, and be- 

 come furnished with a whole cluster 

 of young succulent heads, which 

 heart immediately, and are fit to 

 cut before the first heads are quite 

 finished. The plants will even 

 break and heart a third time, and 

 in this way a plot of Cabbage may 

 be made to afford a supply nearly 

 all the year round The vigour, 

 free growth, and tenderness of the 

 heads will be greatly promoted by 

 frequent stirrings of the soil between 

 the rows, and mulching with any 

 loose material, such as short Grass 

 or leaves, at command. Cut your 

 Cabbages, therefore, even if you 

 have to give them away to your 

 neighbours, before the heads get 

 over-ripe and useless, and you will 



* See 



have a continuance of young and 

 tender heads, which are greatly to 

 be preferred to those which are 

 large, white, and hard. 



The Cabbage is one of the most 

 important of green vegetables for 

 market-garden culture, and although 

 not considered by many so profitable 

 on account of its gross-feeding char- 

 acter, it comes into use when there 

 is little else to send to market, and 

 often realises high prices. In spring 

 large areas of Cabbages may be seen 

 about Wandsworth, Fulham, Gun- 

 nersbury, and, in fact, all round the 

 suburbs of London. The Cabbages 

 sent to market in April, May, and 

 June are the produce of seed sown 

 in July, and the plants are put out 

 in September or early in October. 

 Succession crops are sown in spring 

 as soon as the weather is favourable. 

 If sown too soon, as is sometimes 

 done, the young leaves get injured 

 by frosts, especially if these occur 

 immediately after a period of mild 

 weather. 



The Enfield Market Cabbage is 

 that which is principally used in the 

 market gardens about London. It 

 is one of the oldest in cultivation, 

 and one of the best, and for this 

 reason the growers generally save 

 their own seed, and take great care 

 that their plants of it are not crossed 

 with other sorts. The newer 

 variety, Early Paris Market Cab- 

 bage, could easily take the place of 

 the Enfield Market Cabbage, and 

 with advantage for all purposes. 

 The sowing for the principle crop 

 of these Cabbages is generally made 

 about the end of July and up to the 

 middle of August, on poor ground 

 if possible, as in that case the plants 

 come up stocky and hardy, and 

 stand the winter well ; whereas, if 

 made on rich ground, a soft rank 

 growth is produced, which is much 

 more easily injured. This sowing 

 also p. 760. 



