196 HORTICULTURE 



none of the soil falls between the leaves or stems. After a few 

 days draw a little more soil around the plants and repeat the pro- 

 cess every few days until only the tops of the plants can be seen. 



A great deal of celery is raised in Michigan, Ohio, and New 

 York, and also in Florida, Arizona, California, and New Mexico. 

 Some of our best varieties come from Kalamazoo, Michigan, 

 and Roswell, New Mexico. 



The Cabbage grows well on rich land in almost any part of the 

 United States. The seed is sown in hotbeds or in small boxes 

 filled with soil and kept in a warm place until the weather is 

 favorable for transplanting. Then the plants are set out twenty 

 to thirty-six inches apart in three-foot rows and are kept well 

 cultivated. The young plants are rather tender and demand 

 constant care and attention in the beginning. One of the worst 

 enemies of the cabbage plant is the cabbage worm, and the suc- 

 cessful gardener must be ever on the watch for its appearance. 

 In the fall, before freezing begins, gardeners usually gather 

 their cabbage, place them in a cool, dry place, heads down, and 

 cover them several inches deep with clean dry soil. This protects 

 the heads from freezing, and makes it possible to carry the cabbage 

 through the winter without damage. In southern California, 

 southern Texas, and Florida the climate is so mild that this is 

 not necessary, and cabbage is grown and cultivated all through 

 the winter months. Here the cutting and shipping season extends 

 from March until June. 



It is said that the first cabbage known to the English were 

 brought to England by the Romans, and from that place the 

 plants were brought by our Pilgrim forefathers to the United 

 States. 



Asparagus is very hardy and is a very popular vegetable. 

 Before sowing the seed they should be soaked in water not quite 

 scalding hot for several minutes, or until the water becomes cool. 

 Then pour this off, and repeat the hot water treatment two or 

 three times. The seed then should be sown in drills one foot 

 apart and should be covered not more than two inches deep 

 with nice rich soil. When the plants come up, they should be 

 thinned out so that they will be at least an inch apart. In 

 the fall the plants should be set out in the asparagus bed, which 



