THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 163 



inches apart in the 3-foot rows, taking about 10,000 

 to the acre. 



" Cultivation is done early and thoroughly and 

 continued until the cabbage begins to head. When 

 the plants are ready to head and the soil freshly 

 cultivated, v^e apply nitrate of soda, at the rate 

 of 200 pounds to the acre on the row close to but 

 not on the plants. One application of soda, cost- 

 ing $5, has increased the yield $40. When the 

 soda is used the heading will be more general and 

 rapid, and the heads more crisp and tender. Under 

 conditions reasonably favorable, the yield will be 

 from 7,000 to 9,000 marketable heads to an acre, 

 making an average of 8,000. 



" As fast as the cabbage is harvested, the stalks 

 are cut and soon decay, and are out of the way of 

 the second crop. The first, or early crop, is usually 

 all marketed by the first of July. The land is then 

 prepared for the second or late crop, as thoroughly 

 and in the same way as for the first crop, again 

 applying 1,000 pounds of fertilizer in the row and 

 200 pounds nitrate of soda as a top dressing. The 

 plants for the late crop are grown very cheaply in 

 the open ground, by sowing the seed in a well- 

 prepared bed the last of May. The plants will be 

 large enough to transplant to the field from July 

 I to 15, putting them the same distance apart as 

 for the early crop, requiring about 10,000 to the 

 acre." 



CABBAGE STORING 



" Cabbages should be left in the field as long as 

 possible, but it is better to harvest a week too early 

 than a week too late," says Prof. Samuel Fraser 

 of Livingston county, New York. " They must 



