3 o THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES 



three feet apart, and the plants two and a half feet asunder. Those 

 who have heretofore treated Sprouts and Kales on one uniform rough 

 plan will be surprised at the result of the routine we now recommend. 

 The plants will button from the ground line to the top, and the 

 buttons will set so closely that, once taken off, it will be impossible 

 to put them on again. Moderate-sized, spherical, close, grass-green 

 Sprouts are everywhere esteemed, and there is nothing of the class 

 in the season more attractive in the markets. 



Another mode of prolonging the season is to sow the seed in the 

 open ground in July or August, the exact time being determined by 

 the locality. In the south, August is early enough ; in the north, the 

 middle of July is none too soon. The plants from this sowing should 

 be pricked out wholly or in part, at about six inches apart, for the 

 winter, and be put out to finish their career on a good piece of 

 ground some time in May, the earlier the better. It is desirable to 

 secure strong plants without undue luxuriance, and therefore rich land 

 is not wanted until the final planting, when the best bit of ground 

 should be selected for the crop. If too forward before winter they 

 may suffer from frost, but there is little fear of this if they are not 

 sown too early, or encouraged to make rank growth in the autumn. 



The crops treated as above advised will give early supplies of the 

 very finest Sprouts. For successional crops it will be sufficient to 

 sow in the open ground in the latter part of March, or early in April, 

 and plant out in the usual way ; in other words, to treat in the 

 commonplace w r ay of the ordinary run of Borecoles. With a good 

 season and in suitable ground there will be an average crop, which 

 will probably hold out far into the winter. It is important to gather 

 the crop in a systematic manner. The Sprouts are perfect when 

 round and close, with not a leaf unfolded. They can be snapped 

 off rapidly, and where the quantity is considerable they should be 

 sorted into sizes. The top Cabbage being left untouched to the last 

 affords protection to the Sprouts ; but when these are gone, the top 

 Cabbage has served its purpose, and may be used as a table vegetable 

 if it happens to be worth cooking. 



CABBAGE 



(Brassica oleracea cap it at a) 



THE CABBAGE is a great subject, and competes with the Potato for 

 pre-eminence in the cottage garden, in the market garden, and on 



