12 CABBAGES, HOW TO GROW THEM, ETC. 



to the crop, most of it had better be used broadcast, as 

 it is apt at best to be rather too coarse and concentrated 

 to be used liberally directly in the hill. Slaughter-house 

 manure should be treated much like glue manure. 



MAKING THE HILLS AS'D PLAXTIXG THE SEED. 



The idea is quite prevalent that cabbages will not head 

 up well except the plants arc started in beds and the 1 

 transplanted into the hills where they are to mature. 

 This is an error, so far as it applies to the northern states; 

 — the largest and most experienced cultivators of cab- 

 bage in New England usually dropping the seed directly 

 where the plants are to stand, unless they are first 

 started under glass, or the piece of land to be planted 

 cannot be prepared in season to enable the farmer t) 

 put his seed directly in the hill and yet give the cabbage 

 time sufficient to mature. Where the climate is unpro- 

 pitious, or the quantity of manure applied is insufficient, 

 it is possible that transplanting may promote heading. 

 The advantages of planting directly in the hill are a 

 saving of time, avoiding the risks incidental to trans- 

 planting, and having all the piece start alike ; for when 

 transplanted many die and have to be replaced, while 

 some hesitate much longer than others before starting, 

 thus making a want of uniformity in the maturing of the 

 crop. There is also this advantage, there being several 

 plants in each hill, the cut-worm has to depredate pretty 

 severely before he really injures the piece ; again, should 

 the seed not vegetate in any of the hills, every farmer 

 will appreciate the advantage of having healthy plants 

 growing so near at hand that they can be transferred to 

 the vacant spaces witli their roots so undisturbed that 

 their growth is hardly checked. In addition to the labor 



