VEGETABLE PLANTS. 65 



up fine and mellow by thorough ploughing and 

 harrowing. We usually set by stakes ; one 

 person dropping the plants on the line, and 

 another following and setting them with a 

 " dibher," which is a sharp stick, eight inches 

 long, for making the hole into which the plant 

 is dropped to the right depth. They may be 

 expected to wilt some ; but, if the soil is loose 

 and moist, not one per cent, will die from 

 transplanting, and they will commence grow- 

 ing sooner, while the ground will be left in far 

 better condition than it will be after setting in, 

 or immediately after a heavy rain, as is fre- 

 quently done. The striped flea-beetle some- 

 times attacks early cabbage plants after they 

 are set in the field. Should they do so, it is 

 proof that they have nothing more suitable to 

 eat, and should at once be furnished by sowing 

 seeds of turnip, mustard, etc., in the immediate 

 vicinity, at the same time dusting the plants 

 with plaster or wood ashes. The fleas should, 

 however, be kept from finding the young cab- 

 bage plants in the manner so fully described 

 under head of Striped Flea-beetle, and our 

 prevention. 



VARIETIES. There are so many varieties of 

 cabbage in cultivation, that the inexperienced 



