26 CABBAGES, HOW TO GROW THEM, ETC. 



to the disease that produces stump foot. I will suggest 

 as probable that the protection is afforded by the pres- 

 ence of some alkali that old gardens are constantly ac- 

 quiring through house waste which is always finding its 

 way there, particularly the slops from the sink, which 

 abound in potash. This is rendered further probable 

 from the fact given by Mr. Peter Henderson, that, on 

 soils in this vicinity, naturally abounding in lime, cab- 

 bage can be raised year following year with almost im- 

 munity from stump foot. He ascribes this to the effects 

 of lime in the soil derived from marine shells, and r©r 

 commends that lime from bones be used to secure the 

 same protection ; but the lime that enters into the com- 

 position of marine shells is for the most part carbonate 

 of lime, whereas the greater portion of that which enters 

 into the composition of bones is phosphate of lime. 

 Common air-slaked lime is almost pure carbonate of 

 lime, and hence comes nearer to the composition of 

 marine shells than lime from bones, and, being much 

 cheaper, would appear to be preferable. 



An able farmer told me that by using wood ashes lib- 

 erally he could follow with cabbage the next season on 

 the same piece. An experiment of my own in this di- 

 rection did not prove successful, where ashes at the rate 

 of two hundred bushels to the acre were used ; and I 

 have an impression that I have read of a like want of 

 success after quite liberal applications of lime. Still, 

 it remains evident, I think, that nature prevents stump 

 foot by the diffusing of alkalies through the soil, and 

 I mistrust that the reason why we sometimes fail with 

 the same remedies is that we have them mixed, rather 

 than intimately combined, with the particles of soil. 



As I have stated under another head, an attack of 

 club foot is almost sure to follow the use of pure hog 



