762 ADDENDUM 



With a view to subsequent plantations, which are made all through 

 the winter wherever ground becomes vacant, the young plants are 

 taken from the seed bed and pricked out into other beds some 5 

 in. to 6 in. apart in order to keep them fit for planting. In this 

 way many of the plants are kept till spring, when they are set out 

 to form a succession to those planted in autumn, and to come in 

 before the produce of the spring sowings made late in February or 

 early in March to furnish Cabbages from June to August. The 

 plants from this sowing are put out in lines 2 ft. to 2 J ft. apart, and 

 in the intervening spaces are put lines of Lettuces, a plant of which 

 is also put between every other Cabbage in the rows. In May the 

 tying up of early Cabbages may often be observed in market 

 gardens round London and elsewhere. This is done in a similar 

 manner to that adopted in the case- of Cos Lettuces. The outer 

 leaves are carefully folded round the hearts and the whole secured 

 with a withy or piece of bast or raffia. There are several good 

 reasons for the practice. The hearts being protected from the 

 weather develop more quickly than they would otherwise do, and 

 are more easily handled in gathering and packing for market. 

 Early Cabbages, the leaves of which are very brittle, would lose 

 half their value if some precaution of this kind were not taken to 

 prevent damage being done in the loading and unloading. 



Red Cabbages are sown in March and July, but the best 

 produce is obtained from sowings made in the latter month 

 both in private and market gardens. The plants in the latter 

 case are set out in rows 3^ ft. to 4 ft. apart, and the plants 

 stand about 3 ft. asunder in the rows. As this crop stands until 

 the heads are large and solid, a piece of rich ground is devoted to 

 it and intercropped with Potatoes, ordinary Cabbages, Lettuces, 

 French Beans, or other vegetables of a similar nature. 



VARIETIES. In addition to the varieties illustrated and de- 

 scribed in the body of the work, the following are deserving of 

 mention, as they represent the best types of Cabbages in culti- 

 vation at the present day : 



Harbinger. This, without doubt, is one of the earliest 

 Cabbages for spring use. From a sowing made late in July, small 

 compact hearts may be had in favoured districts ready for cutting 

 late in February or early in March. The growth is small and 

 compact, and the plants can be set out as close as 15 in., both 

 between and in the rows. It is of first-rate quality. It is an ideal 

 Cabbage for private gardens, and one of the best for autumn sowing. 



Early April. A distinct early Cabbage much larger than the 

 preceding, compact in growth and coming into use, as its name 

 denotes, early in April. Excellent for autumn sowing. 



Ellam's Early. A valuable early variety coming into use in 

 mid April and early in May. Growth more spreading than in the 



