308 How THE FARM PAYS. 



CABBAGE AND CAULIFLOWER. 



As these are usually the most profitable of all vegetable crops, I 

 give full extracts on their culture taken from my new essay on that 

 subject, published in 1883: 



Manure for the early cabbage crop should always be spread on 

 broadcast, and in quantity not less then 100 cart loads or seventy-five 

 tons to the acre, which will leave it, when spread, about two or three 

 inches in thickness. It is quite rare that much choice can be made in 

 stable manure, but when such is the case equal portions of cow and 

 horse manure is preferable, not that there is much difference in value, 

 weight for weight, but that it is advantageous to have the manure of 

 the cow stable mixed with that of the horse so as to prevent the 

 violent heating of the horse manure, which, if not repeatedly turned, 

 will generate heat so as to cause it to "fire fang" or burn, which 

 renders it comparatively useless. Always bear in mind that the more 

 thoroughly rotted and disintegrated manure can be had, the better 

 will be the results. When manure is thoroughly rotted and short, no 

 matter for what crop, it may be turned in by the plow just as it is 

 spread on the land; but if long, it is necessary to draw it into the 

 furrow ahead of the plow so that it is completely covered in. After plow- 

 ing in the manure and before the ground is harrowed, our best growers 

 in the vicinity of New York sow from 400 to 500 pounds of guano or 

 bone dust, and harrow it in deeply, smooth over with the back 

 of the harrow, alter which the bed is ready to receive the plants. 



In the vicinity of New York, and, in fact, now wherever the business 

 of market gardening is intelligently followed, the best 



VARIETIES OF CABBAGE 



for early crop are recognized to be the "Early Jersey Wakefield" and 

 "Henderson's Early Summer" for general culture, and to describe 

 others of the scores named would be only confusing. The " Jersey 

 Wakefield " is the earliest and is alittle the smallest, and is planted usually 

 twenty-eight inches between the rows and sixteen inches between 

 the plants, thus requiring from 10,000 to 12,000 plants per acre. The 

 " Early Summer " grows a little larger, and should be planted thirty 

 inches apart and eighteeen inches between plants, requiring from 

 8,000 to 10,000 per acre. The reason for placing the rows so wide 

 apart and the plants so close in the rows is to admit of a row of 

 lettuce, spinach or radishes between the rows of cabbage. All of 

 these vegetables mature quickly, and can be cut out before the cabbage 



