CABBAGE. 47 



cially if it is of a light warm nature, such soil pro- 

 ducing the earliest cabbages. 



When the land is naturally good, the less dung 

 that is made use of, the sweeter and finer the 

 vegetable ; but where it is poor and indifferent, 

 (the whole of the Brassica tribe being of an ex- 

 hausting nature,) then and then only is a heavy coat 

 of manure necessary. To produce a constant suc- 

 cession of cabbages, three different sowings will be 

 necessary, that is, spring, summer, and autumn. 



For the principal spring and early summer crops, 

 the seed of the early York, nonpareil, or any other 

 early sort, may be sown from the last week in 

 July until the end of the second week in August. 

 Each sort should be sown separately on a bed of 

 light earth, broad cast, moderately thick, and raked 

 in evenly and lightly. The situation must be open, 

 whether in the seed-bed, or final plantation, as under 

 the drip of trees, or in the shade, seedlings are 

 drawn up weak, and grown crops are meagre, worm- 

 eaten, and ill-flavoured. 



If the weather is very dry at the time the seed is 

 sown, occasional waterings will be necessary, or the 

 beds can sometimes be shaded with a garden mat, 

 or covered with fern, in hot sunny days, till the 

 plants are well up. 



Towards the end of October, the forwardest plants 

 of this sowing, provided they have been properly 

 thinned, will be fit to plant out for the first and 

 principal crop in some rich well dug ground, in rows 

 two feet apart ; but the early and small varieties can 

 be planted nearer twelve or eighteen inches will 

 be found sufficient. 



