34 THE SEED-GROWER. 



from alternate freezing and thawing, the soil being 

 pressed firmly thereon. 



As soon as the ground can be worked in spring, the 

 covering is removed with plow and hoe, and the outer 

 leaves are separated to allow the seed shoots to come 

 through. 



Seed from Stumps. In England, in raising seed 

 from stumps, the practice is to sow seed for the crop in 

 May or June; the plants thus forming heads in early 

 autumn. These heads are then cut and the stumps 

 after being permitted to produce some new growth, are 

 transplanted or allowed to remain where they are. The 

 following spring, the growths produce flower stems and 

 seed in due course. 



Another method in England which is practiced by 

 some market gardeners who grow the heads for market, 

 is to sow in August, the plants being left in the field 

 where they stand over winter and heading in spring; 

 the heads are then cut and the stumps produce side 

 growths immediately, and subsequently flower stems 

 and seed. 



In the United States the stumps are wintered over in 

 the same manner as has been directed for plants with 

 heads. 



This practice of raising 'seed from stumps will an- 

 swer particularly for private use, especially when the 

 heads that are cut are extra choice. 



Harvesting, Threshing, Cleaning. As has been 

 given for borecole, the operations for harvesting, 

 threshing, and cleaning cabbage, are similarly per- 

 formed. 



Market. The consumption of cabbage seed in the 

 United States is exceedingly large, approximating 1,- 

 000,000 pounds yearly; as besides being found in every 



