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GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



has passed away. Yet, a further sowing may be made about the middle of Au grist 

 in the open ground. This sowing, as it is well to have plenty of plants, should be 

 in shallow drills, 10 inches apart, the seed being thinly sown, as then the plants can 

 develop well for planting out. It is a good plan indeed to sow all these Cabbage 

 seeds in drills in this way. The plants thus obtained from an autumn sowing should 

 be ready to plant out on good ground in rows, 20 inches apart, early in October, 

 putting them in with an ordinary hand dibble, and in all cases well fixing the plants 

 in the soil. From such a sowing there should be good hearts to cut from during 

 May and June much depends on the variety ; but it is a good plan to have two, one 

 small and quite early, such as Ellam's, and one later, like All Heart or Imperial. It is a 

 common rule to allow the weaker plants from an autumn sowing to remain in the bed 

 all the winter, and then plant them out in March to make hearts for succession. 

 All of the ordinary type of Cabbage, after hearts have been cut, will produce sprouts 

 that are valuable also. But it is best to leave only the autumn planted stock for 

 that purpose, as the cut stems break strong, and give good sprouts for some ten 

 months longer. The chief times to have Cabbage good are from April till mid- 

 summer, and from the end of August until the end of the year, when Coleworts and 

 Savoys succeed. To have them good during hot, dry weather, it is needful to water 

 liberally, and place a liberal mulch of manure about the plants. When caterpillars 

 appear, a sprinkling of fine salt on the heads at night, and washed off in the morning with 

 water, does great good in destroying the pests and helping to manure the plants. 

 Generally it is well to have plants to put out in the open ground in March, May, July, 

 and October to have a long succession. Varieties are plentiful, good early small ones 

 are Ellam's Little Gem, Little Pixie, and Flower of Spring; and larger ones are 

 Nonpareil, Imperial, All Heart, and St. John's Day, specially for autumn cutting. 



Cabbages, Red. These are grown exclusively for conversion into pickles, being of 

 somewhat harder texture than cooking Cabbages. The seed is sown usually in the early 

 spring, generally in April, outdoors with other varieties, and the seedlings' transplanted 

 when strong enough into a row, as few heads are, as a rule, sufficient for ordinary use. 

 The culture required is simple enough ; the plants need only to be planted in good garden 

 soil, 15 inches apart, and kept clean by frequent use of the hoe. Very large heads are 

 undesirable ; indeed, to enable large ones to be produced it is needful to plant out much 

 farther apart. The old Red Cabbage produces very large and useless leafage with great 

 heads. The Dwarf Blood-Red variety is preferable, as if the heads are smaller than the 

 others they are firmer, of deeper colour, and much sooner come to maturity. Seed may 

 also be sown in the autumn for spring planting. 



Cabbages, Colewort. These hardy greens bear a close resemblance to Cabbages, but 

 are usually sown early in June, and again in July, in small beds, to give successional 

 plants to put out in the autumn. As the heads are not large, and they turn in quickly, it 

 suffices to plant from 12 to 14 inches apart each way, both in August and September, on 

 ground that has been forked over after a crop of Potatoes, Peas, autumn-sown Onions, 

 or similar products has been removed. They then turn in for pulling or cutting during 

 mid and late winter. The flesh of these Coleworts when cooked is softer and more succu- 

 lent than is that of Cabbages, and being planted so close, become very profitable. Like 

 all Cabbage tribe seeds, it is best to sow in shallow drills, and also to protect from birds. 

 The two common varieties grown are the Hardy Green and the Rosette, the latter being 

 broad-headed. 



Cabbages, Savoy. Possibly these hardy winter Cabbages originated in Savoy. They 

 are, besides being hardy, peculiar for producing partially-curled and much-puffed or corru- 

 gated leafage, which is usually of a dark green colour. The heads are roundish, and 

 during the season become very firm. They are best for cooking from December till the 

 end of March, severe weather helping to make the leafage tender for eating. The times 

 of sowing seed varies from April to June, according to variety and habit. Too often, if 

 seed be sown early, these Cabbages heart in during the autumn, when they are not 

 wanted. Plants from later sowings, especially of dwarf varieties, heart in late in the 

 winter. The Drumhead 'is the largest, but is least fitted for gardens. The best varieties 

 are Dwarf Green Curled, Tom Thumb, and Early Ulm. Plant the first 18 inches apart, 

 and the latter two at 15 inches each way. After cutting, the stems give nice greens to 

 gather in the spring. 



Cabbages, Kale. These, also called Borecole, are, like Savoy Cabbages, essentially late 

 winter and early spring greens, and very hardy. Sowings made in April usually suffice 

 for all ordinary purposes, and are best made in drills. There are numerous varieties, the 

 best being Dwarf Curled, Scotch, Cottager's (tall), and Chou de Milan or Hundred Heads, 

 as this latter gives sprouts for picking very late in the spring, when all other greens are 

 very scarce. The two taller varieties need to be planted in rows 2 feet apart and 18 inches 

 apart in the rows, whilst the first named may go closer together. The Asparagus Kale is 

 much liked by some also. These greens can often be profitably planted for succession 



