6 CABBAGES, HOW TO GROW THEM, ETC. 



scarce, to cut and use such an immense amount of rich 

 food, which, to the inexperienced eye, appears to be 

 utterly wasted if left to decay, dry, and fall to the 

 ground ; but, for the reason given above, I have never 

 done so. It is possible that large heads may bear trim- 

 ming to a degree without injury to the seed crop ; yet I 

 should consider this an experiment, and one to be tried 

 with a good deal of caution. 



SELECTING THE SOIL. 



In some of the best cabbage growing sections of the 

 country, until within a comparatively few years it was 

 the very general belief that cabbage would not do well 

 on upland. Accordingly the cabbage patch would be 

 found on the lowest tillage land of the farm. No doubt, 

 the lowest soil being the richer from a gradual accumu- 

 lation of the wash from the upland, when manure was 

 but sparingly used, cabbage would thrive better there 

 than elsewhere, — and not, as was generally held, because 

 that vegetable needed more moisture than any other 

 crop. Cabbage can be raised with success on any good 

 corn land, provided such land is well manured ; and 

 there is no more loss in seasons of drouth on such 

 land than there is in seasons of excessive moisture on 

 the lower tillage land of the farm. I wish I could preach 

 a very loud sermon to all my farmer friends on the 

 great value of liberal manuring to carry crops success- 

 fully through the effects of a severe drouth. Crops on 

 soil precisely alike, with but a wall to separate them, 

 will in a very dry season present a striking difference, — 

 the one being in fine vigor, and the other " suffering 

 from drouth," as the owner will tell you, but in reality 

 from want of food. 



