CHAPTER V. 



Cabbage. 



is a most important crop everywhere, and in the 

 Gulf States the seed for the early fall crop should 

 be sown in July, in a frame, under a mosquito-bar, as 

 described elsewhere. After the seeds are planted, the mos- 

 quito-bar must be stretched very carefully, so as to leave no 

 possible opening for the moths to creep in, which they will 

 surely do if given half a chance. Shade the bed with hay.or 

 some covering on top the bar until the plants come up, when 

 most of it must be removed, leaving just enough to afford a 

 light shade until the third leaf is out, after which it may all 

 be removed. The bed should be watered right through the 

 bar once every day or so, until the plants get strong, and this 

 can be done with perfect safety any time of the day, even at 

 noon, though the general but erroneous idea is, that water at 

 such times will scald the plants. We know that rain often 

 falls when the sun is shining, or comes out hot a few minutes 

 after it, and no harm results. 



An ounce of seed will produce about two thousand plants, 

 but it is well to provide seed enough, in case of failure, and 

 a new seed-bed should be sown in about two weeks, for fear 

 of accidents. The plants can always be sold, if not needed. 

 The ground should be heavily fertilized and well prepared 

 at least a month ahead, throwing it up in quite high ridges, 

 which will retain the moisture and allow of knocking off the 

 tops when ready to plant. I will again repeat, that in all the 

 level gulf-coast country everything should be planted well up, 

 for excessive rains are liable to come at any time, and that 

 means absolute ruin on flat, level ground. The plants can 

 be set as soon as large enough. If dry at the time of plant- 

 ing set them shallow, .pressing the earth down firmly, so as 

 to leave a depression into which about a pint of water can be 



(35) 



