140 TRUCK-FABMING AT THE SOUTH. 





 SEEDS AND SOWING. 



Cabbages from imported seed are thought to be more 

 certain to head, and in the vicinity of Savannah, those 

 from Germany are preferred, however it may be in other 

 localities. 



It is of more importance to have seed of a good strain 

 of the cabbage than of any other vegetable. Poor seeds 

 of any of the genus Brassica are dear at any price. 

 J#i consequence of its good keeping qualities, the cab- 

 bage can be and is used in the United States throughout 

 the year. The South is supplied with Northern grown 

 stock during the hot summer months, and in the winter, 

 the first shipments arriving about the middle of July. 

 In turn, the North procures its supply from us after the 

 exhaustion of the stores of wintered cabbages, dating 

 from about March 1st, and continuing until June. 

 Owing to its universal consumption, the markets have 

 never yet been glutted with cabbage. Were its use less 

 universal, as the Florida, Georgia, and Carolina crops 

 are all marketed during the same period, the price might 

 fall below a paying standard. The opening of the west- 

 ern and north-western markets for the less perishable 

 articles of the truck-farmer, by lower railroad freights 

 and safer transportation facilities, makes it probable that 

 many years will elapse before sufficient areas are appro- 

 priated to the cultivation of such vegetables, as to cause 

 the supply to exceed the demand. Cabbages are also 

 grown to supply other than the Northern markets, of 

 which we will speak hereafter. The seed to produce 

 plants for the more important shipping crop is best sown 

 between October 1st and 15th. It may be sown later; 

 but as the plants are subjected to severely cold weather in 

 December, it is important that they be large enough at 

 that time to withstand hard frosts. When the ther- 

 mometer falls below twenty-four degrees, they are likely 

 to be killed. 



