CHAPTER XI 



THE CABBAGE OR BRASSICA FAMILY 



ELSEWHERE we state that the most useful crop an 

 allotment-holder or gardener can grow is the potato. 

 Second only to this useful tuber is the cabbage and its 

 close relations mentioned in the present chapter. Each 

 of these brassicas is a valuable and necessary food and, 

 happily, all are comparatively easy to raise. 



Cultivation is much the same for all members of the 

 cabbage family. They like a well-worked, deeply-dug 

 soil, rich in natural .manures. They are not over par- 

 ticular as to site, nor do they demand any special kind of 

 ground. As long as the plot is well nourished, suitably 

 worked, and did not bear brassicas in the previous year, 

 the crop will nourish. 



In the autumn previous to sowing or planting, the 

 ground should be dug as explained on p. 30 and dressed 

 at the time with horse manure, if it is a heavy soil, or dug 

 in autumn and dressed later on with cow or pig manure 

 if the soil is sandy. Lime is also beneficial, especially on 

 heavy ground. In addition, any supplies which are at 

 hand of vegetable manures, such as leaves, crop -clearings, 

 weeds and kitchen refuse may be added, but plants 

 burdened with objectionable seeds or tainted by disease 

 ought to be carefully eliminated. Afterwards, the 



