116 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



out. it is a good plan to draw a hoe-ful of earth over each 

 plant, for if frozen when they are covered with earth they will 

 not be injured, and they can remain buried in the ground several 

 days in cold weather without serious injury. However, 

 the earth should be removed as soon as good weather is as- 

 sured. The distance between the plants will depend somewhat 

 on the varieties to be cultivated; under ordinary conditions 

 large, early kinds should be set out two feet apart in rows three 

 feet apart. This arrangement permits of horse cultivation 

 both ways when the plants are young and one way when they 

 are full grown. 



Cultivation should commence as soon as the plants can be 

 clearly seen and be continued after each rain, at least once a 

 week, until the crop is grown. For this purpose, a fine-tooth 

 horse cultivator is the most desirable implement, and if the 

 work is carefully done there will be very little need of hand 

 hoeing. It is a good plan to draw the earth slightly toward 

 the plants when they are about half grown. 



Harvesting the Crop. — Treated in this way, under ordinary 

 conditions, they will be nicely "headed up" by the first of 

 July and ready for marketing. The season of marketing, 

 however, will depend largely on the kinds grown. If the land 

 is at once plowed when the crop is harvested, it can be used 

 for growing some late crop, as late beans, spinach or celery. 

 By care in sowing and the selection of varieties, early cab- 

 bage may be continued till late cabbage is in the market. 



Retarding the heading of cabbages may be accomplished 

 by starting the roots on one side of the head or by slightly 

 pulling the plant so as to break some of the roots. This is 

 very important some seasons, as it is not uncommon to find 

 the market overstocked with this vegetable just as the crop is 

 full grown, and if the plants are allowed to remain growing 

 when once a hard head is formed they are very sure to burst 

 and be spoiled. By starting the roots a little, the growth is 

 checked and heads may be kept from spoiling for a week or 

 more. 



Late cabbage is a term generally given to cabbage grown 

 from seed sown in the open ground. It may be ready for use 

 in September or in the late autumn and be kept all winter. 



Soil. Any land that will produce a good crop of corn is 



