CABBAGE. 



CABBAGE. 



coli, recommends the following compositions j out in October, November, and December, as 

 in preference for that vegetable, and we are I to remain in the seed-beds for final removal in 



justified in concluding that they would be 

 equally beneficial to all the other species. The 

 manure collected from the public roads, used 

 alone, causes the plants to grow strong, but 

 with small heads. A mixture of road-rakings, 

 sea-weed, and horse-dung is better. A manur- 

 ing of the compartment on which they were 

 intended to be planted with sea-weed in au- 

 tumn, digging it up rough, repeating the appli- 

 cation in spring, and pointing the ground before 

 planting, produced the finest heads he had ever 

 seen; but the compost of all others most suita- 

 ble to them is one composed of the cleanings 

 of old ditches, tree leaves, and dung. (Mem. 

 Caled. Hort. Soc. vol. ii. p. 265.) The situation 

 must in every instance be free and open, 

 though, for the summer crops, it is advanta- 

 geous to have them shaded from the meridian 

 sun. They must never, however, be under the 

 drip of trees, or in confined situations ; for in 

 such they, and especially savoys, are most 

 subject to be infested with caterpillars, and to 

 grow weak and spindling. In planting cab- 

 bage, it should be observed whether the roots 

 of the plants are knotted or clubbed, as such 

 should be rejected, or the excrescence entirely 

 removed. 



The numerous varieties of the cabbage, adds 

 Mr. G. W. Johnson, may be divided into three 

 classes, as most appropriate for sowing at an 

 equal number of periods of the year. It may 

 be here remarked, that, for family use, but few 

 should be planted of the early varieties, as 

 they soon cabbage, harden, and burst; on the 

 contrary, the large York, and others that are 

 mentioned in the middle class, though not far 

 behind the others in quick cabbaging, never 

 become hard, and continue long in a state fit 

 for the table. 



For First Crops. Early dwarf; York; early 

 dwarf sugar-loaf; early Battersea; early im- 

 perial ; East Ham. 



Midsummer Crops. Large early York ; large 

 sugar-loaf; early Battersea; early imperial: 

 these mentioned again as being valuable for 

 successional crops also. Penton, this is valu- 

 able in late summer, when other varieties are 

 strongly tasted. Antwerp, Russian; to have 

 this in perfection, the seed must be had from 

 abroad, as it soon degenerates in this country. 

 Early London hollow. Musk is excellent at 

 any period, but is apt to perish in frosty 

 weather. 



For Autumn, fyc. Large hollow sugar-loaf; 

 large oblong hollow ; long-sided hollow, and 

 any of the preceding ; red Dutch for pickling 



The cabbage is propagated by seed, the sow- 

 ing of which commences with the year. To- 

 wards the end of January, on a warm border, 

 or under a frame, a small portion of the early 

 and red cabbages may be sown, to come first 

 in succession after those which were sown in 

 the August of the preceding year. A sowin 



the February and two succeeding months of 

 the next year : this sowing is best performed 

 during the first or second week of the month ; 

 if sown earlier, they are apt to run in the 

 spring ; and if later, will not attain sufficient 

 strength to survive the winter. By these va- 

 rious sowings, which, of course, must be small 

 ones for a private family, a constant supply is 

 afforded throughout the year. The seed is 

 inserted broadcast rather thin, and raked in 

 evenly about a quarter of an inch deep. The 

 bed is advantageously shaded with mats, and 

 occasionally watered until the plants are well 

 above ground ; and the waterings may after- 

 wards be beneficially repeated two or three 

 times a week until they are ready for removal, 

 if dry hot weather continues. The seedlings 

 arising from these various sowings, when of 

 about a month's growth, or when they have 

 got four or five leaves an inch or so in breadth, 

 are, by those who are advocates for transplant- 

 ing, pricked out in rows four or five inches 

 asunder each way; they must be shaded and 

 watered until completely established : those of 

 the August sowing that are pricked out are to 

 remain until the next spring, and those which 

 are left in the seed-bed are employed for plant- 

 ing in October and two following months. 



When of six or eight weeks' growth, they are 

 of sufficient size for planting, which they are 

 to be in rows from one and a half to two and a 

 half feet asunder each way; the smaller early 

 kinds being planted the closest. The red cab- 

 bage, the principal plantation of which should 

 be made in March for pickling in September, 

 is benefited by having the distances enlarged 

 to three feet. They must be well watered at 

 the time of removal, and frequently afterwards, 

 until fully established, in proportion as dry 

 weather occurs. They must be frequently 

 hoed to keep under the weeds, as perhaps no 

 plant is more injured by them than the cab- 

 bage ; and as soon as their growth permits it, 

 the earth should be drawn round the stems of 

 the plants. To promote the cabbaging of the 

 plants, when requisite, it is useful to draw the 

 leaves together with a shred of bass-mat, 

 which forwards it about a fortnight. If any 

 plants advance to seed whilst very young, the 

 deficiencies should be immediately filled up. 

 The stems of the summer and autumn crops, 

 if left after the main head has been cut, will 

 produce numerous sprouts during those sea- 

 sons, and continue to do so throughout the 

 winter. For the production of seed in Octo- 

 ber, which is the preferable season, and from 

 thence until the close of February, some of 

 the finest and best cabbage plants must be 

 selected; or in default of these, though not by 

 any means to be recommended, such of their 

 stalks as have the strongest sprouts. They 



must have the large outer leaves removed, and 



me rvugusu ui me picueumg ycai. n. suwmg then be inserted up to their heads, in rows 

 may be repeated after intervals of a month ! three feet asunder each way. Each variety 

 uring February, and until the close of July must be planted as far from any other as pos- 

 f the second or larger class, and from May to sible, as indeed from every other species of 

 July of the third class of varieties. In August : brassica; and this precaution applies equally 

 a full and last crop must be sown of the first ] to those which will be subsequently dwell 

 class, as well as of the second, both to plant ! upon. The red cabbage especially must be 



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