CHAP. iv. VARIETIES OF CABBAGE. 973 



The CABBAGE. There are many kinds of the hearting cabbage, 

 and there are almost innumerable " selections " of each kind. It is 

 convenient to subdivide the hearting cabbages into five sections, em- 

 bracing respectively the Imperial type, the Enfield Market type, the 

 Drum-head type, the Tom Thumb type, and the Pickling or Red 

 Cabbage. Those of the Imperial type come to maturity earliest 

 amongst the field cabbages, and should be planted out in autumn or early 

 spring, so as to be tit for feeding in June or July. The plants may be set 

 about 18 inches by 24 inches apart. Those of the Entield Market type 

 may be s*et out 2 feet square apart, and should be planted out at the 

 same time, in order to be fit for feeding when the Imperial are finished. 

 But as there is considerable risk to be run on account of slugs, birds, 

 hares, and frost it is not wise to set out too many in the autumn, for 

 they are much more difficult to protect when spread over a large field 

 than when contained in a small seed-bed. Soot is the best application 

 as a protective against the three first-mentioned enemies : and by 

 placing the bed in a protected situation under a hedge to shelter the 

 plants from the North, they will be rendered fairly secure from frost. 



The Drumhead, or Cattle cabbage, is a very heavy-cropping late 

 variety, which follows the Enfield, and is not, as a rule, fit for feeding 

 until September, lasting until Christmas. It should be transplanted from 

 February for producing food in September, and may be transplanted as 

 late as May for producing food for the latter part of autumn and the 

 winter. As these grow to considerable size they require more space, 

 and on rich land 3 feet square is not too much to allow. There 

 are nine distinct kinds of the Drumhead recognised in the trade. 

 The Tom Thumbs are grown to produce very small heads which 

 are sold under the name of Collards, and are essentially market 

 garden produce. They are planted out from 12 inches square to 

 15 inches square, and often follow crops of peas, or onions, taken 

 off the land very earl}' in the summer. The Pickling Cabbage is 

 a very heavy cropper, and requires as much space as the common 

 Drumhead. There are two kinds, known as the Oxheart Pickler, 

 and the Drumhead Pickler. The former is best for pickling, as it 

 is darker in colour. During the past few years the pickling trade 

 has chiefly been supplied from Holland and Belgium, so that the 

 demand for those grown in England has been small; but, as no 

 cabbages afford better sheep-food, they deserve more attention from 

 English flockmasters. Savoys are very hardy cabbages and will 

 stand the coldest winters without injury. 



When cabbages are transplanted in autumn or spring there will 

 have been but little opportunity of preparing the land, hence the 

 greater part of the tillages must be done after the crop is in. 

 Cabbages should always be planted on the " square," that is, so 

 that the rows of plants run at right angles. This is secured by 

 first marking out the rows in one direction by means of a drill, 

 and then crossing these rows at right angles with the drill again. 

 Where the coulters cross-cut are the places at which the plants 

 should be inserted. It will then be convenient to horse-hoe the 



