CABBAGES, HOW TO GROW THEM, ETC. 15 



these. Hen manure, if moist, should be broken up very 

 fine, and be mixed with some dry earth to prevent it 

 from again lumping together, and then applied in suf- 

 ficient quantity to make an equivalent of a heaping 

 handful of pure hen manure to each hill. Any liquid 

 manure is excellent for the cabbage crop ; but it should 

 be well diluted, or it will be likely to produce stump foot. 



Cabbage seed of almost all varieties are nearly round 

 in form, but are not so spherical as turnip seed. I note, 

 however, that seed of the Improved American Savoy is 

 nearly oval. In color they are light brown when first 

 gathered, but gradually turn dark brown if not gathered 

 too early. An ounce contains nearly ten thousand seed, 

 but should not be relied upon for many over two thou- 

 sand good plants, and these are available for about as 

 many hills only when raised in beds and transplanted ; 

 when dropped directly in the hills it will take not far 

 from eight ounces of the larger sorts to plant an acre, 

 and of the smaller cabbage rather more than this. 

 Cabbage seed when well cured and kept in close bags 

 will retain their vitality four or five years ; old ;garden- 

 ers prefer seed of all the cabbage family two or three 

 years old. . . : . . 



When the plan is to raise the young plants. in beds to 

 be transplanted, the ground selected for the beds, should 

 be of rich soil ; this should be very thoroughly dug., and 

 the surface worked and raked very fine, every stone and 

 lump of earth being removed. Now sprinkle the seedT 

 evenly over the bed and gently rake in just under the 

 surface, compacting the soil by pressure with a board. 

 As soon as the young plants appear, sprinkle them with 

 air-slaked lime. Transplant when three or, four inches 

 high, being very careful not to let the plant get tall and 

 weak. 



I 



