COLLARDS. 99 



This is decidedly an American vegetable, grown 

 almost exclusively for Southern markets by people of 

 the South. As a money crop it is nothing grand, yet 

 it may be marketed when vegetables are usually scarce. 

 Those who have cultitvated a taste for it will refuse 

 cabbage and cauliflower at the same price. Why 

 should we not have a special liking for some vegetable 

 which others regard as strong and otherwise unfit to 

 eat. Many other great countries have their favorite 

 dish that we don't crave ; the Welshman prefers flag ; 

 the French, artichoke (Loan) ; the Spaniard, garlic ; 

 and so on, not even to mention countries that pay a 

 handsome price for bird's-nests. We make no apology 

 whatever for preferring collards. 



Select a rich loam, fertilize heavily, and prepare 

 deeply. Follow the dirctions given for the prepara- 

 tion of land for cabbage. 



Sow the seed in a cold frame or in open bed during 

 February and March in the orange belt, and as late 

 as August in Virginia. As soon as the plants begin 

 to crowd one another, shift to a new place in the cold 

 frame. When the plants are from four to six inches 

 high, plant in the field. Lay the rows off four feet 

 apart and put the plants three feet in the row. 



The crop may be marketed any time after the first 

 of October. This may be done in crates, in barrels 

 or in bulk. 



FERTILIZER FORMULA. 



Nitrogen 4 per cent. 



Available phosphoric acid 7 per cent. 



Potash 9 per cent. 



