268 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



which is incidental to this operation. On the other hand, 

 several disadvantages are to be considered. It is more 

 expensive to combat insects when the plants are scat- 

 tered than when confined to a small area. The expense 

 of tillage is increased, and the cost of thinning must be 

 taken into account. If the soil is heavy, it will become 

 compact before the roots have made any considerable 

 growth. This may result in reduced yields. In light, 

 friable loams the system may be used with entire suc- 

 cess, especially when the cost of labor is high and where 

 transplanting machines are not available. Sowing is done 

 most economically in this system by machines which 

 drop and cover about half a dozen seeds at the required 

 distances. Half a pound of seed is ample for an acre. 

 The rows should be checked to facilitate thorough tillage. 

 Sowing may be a week later than when transplanting is 

 resorted to. When the plants are three or four weeks 

 old they should be thinned, leaving the strongest at each 

 place. 



352. Soil preparation. For early cabbage, fall plowing 

 is generally desirable; heavy sods especially must be 

 plowed down in the fall for best results. The vegetable 

 matter will then be partly decayed by spring and of more 

 immediate value to the crop; the soil will be filled with 

 moisture, which should be conserved by harrowing as 

 soon as the ground is dry enough. This tillage opera- 

 tion should be repeated as often as may be necessary to 

 put the land in proper condition for planting and to re- 

 tain plenty of moisture to make transplanting successful. 



The most important factor in preparing soil for late 

 cabbage is the question of moisture. Many failures are 

 due to the late plowing of sods, followed by dry weather, 

 which sometimes continues long after the proper time for 

 transplanting. The only safe practice is to plow rather 

 early in the spring, working down the land, as explained 

 for the early crop. 



