THE CABBAGE FAMILY 73 



if it can be used in any way, but ruthlessly destroy all indifferent 

 specimens. 



A profitable way of growing Cabbages is to select a couple of 

 varieties one that matures slowly, and of large size ; the other 

 small and quick-growing. The larger kind should be finally 

 planted quite three feet apart in the rows, and in the inter- 

 mediate space one even two of the small sort may be planted. 

 The latter, if pushed along by good culture, will be ready for 

 the cook by the time their larger confreres begin to require 

 considerable space for development, and can be removed bodily 

 to afford this additional room. (It is well to point out here 

 that such a system of growth would apply equally well to the 

 early and late sections of Cauliflowers and Broccoli.) 



One other profitable item should not be overlooked. When 

 cutting heads of Cabbage, and the ground occupied by the 

 plants not being required for other immediate use, the cut 

 should be made close to the head, so as to leave the stalk and 

 outer leaves intact. Now cut the leaves back to within an 

 inch of the stem, and allow these stumps to remain in the soil. 

 In a week or two, a quantity of young shoots will be observed 

 sprouting from the stem ; these will grow rapidly, and in a 

 short time the gardener will find himself possessed of a fine 

 crop of tender sprouts of most excellent cooking qualities. 

 This system is best practised upon the Cabbages cut in the 

 autumn and early winter ; and the value of successive crops 

 of Greenstuff (for, mark you, the stems will sprout again a 

 second or third time until exhausted !) during winter-time and 

 early in the year is incalculable and very important, and really 

 wonderful, considering the humble means by which they are 

 produced ! 



The variations in Cabbages are very numerous, and widely 

 adapted for all seasons of the year. Generally speaking, as 

 with most vegetables, the small-sized sorts are usually the 

 earliest in growth, sweetest, and most tender, and may be 

 grown close together, thus making up in quantity and quality 

 what they lack in size. The large sorts are used for main crops. 

 There are also varieties which will not readily " bolt/' and run 

 to seed, and are most suitable for autumn sowing. It may 

 be here remarked that Cabbage seed should not be sown too 

 early at the end of summer for standing through the winter, as 

 this is the cause of " bolting." 



THE RED CABBAGE is a kind grown principally for pickling. 



