168 TRUCK-FARMING AT THE SOUTH. 



PROTECTING. 



Bright sunshine tans or tarnishes the snowy whiteness 

 of the " curd," deteriorating its quality. As soon, there- 

 fore, as the head commences to be visible, it should be 

 protected from the light, either by tying up all the large 

 leaves over the head, or by pinning two of them together 

 by a little stick. Protection is given, more expeditiously 

 and the light excluded by using one of the larger leaves, 

 torn from the plant to cover the ' ' curd " closely, tucking it 

 between the head and surrounding leaves. If there are 

 any caterpillars of the cabbage-butterfly on the plant, 

 they are likely to be found on the lower surfaces of the 

 covering. When the cutting of the crop has been com- 

 menced, leaves for covering are to be taken from plants 

 already cut. If the protecting leaf has been carefully 

 adjusted, the operation need rarely be done more than 

 once, as the heads mature three or four days after they 

 become plainly visible. The several lobes forming the 

 head should not be allowed to separate, or the head to 

 become loose and expanded, before cutting for market; 

 solidity being one of the requisites of good quality. 



CUTTING AND PACKING. 



When the "curd " is mature, the leaves will be seen to 

 spread out. The proper instrument for cutting is a 

 strong sharp knife, or small hatchet. A couple only of 

 the larger leaves are left, which are folded over the head 

 for protection against bruising in the packages. Heads 

 less than four inches in diameter, those tanned by the 

 sun, or of an " off color " from any other cause, or blem- 

 ished by crickets, cut-worms, or cabbage-worms, or too 

 much expanded, should be classed as culls, and packed 

 separately. If white and compact, a small size is less 

 objectionable than bad appearance. Each ' ' curd," at least 

 of the first quality, should be covered by a piece of 



