282 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



from small areas of high fertility. With approved 

 methods it should not be less than 15 tons an acre. A- 

 Colorado grower in 1908 averaged 25 tons an acre on a 

 12-acre field and the net returns were $340 an acre. This, 

 however, is much beyond the returns of most growers. 

 The eleventh census report states that the net profit an 

 acre of the 77,000 acres grown in the United States is 

 $118. The large proportion of early cabbage grown in 

 the South is doubtless responsible to a great extent for 

 this good showing. It is generally conceded that early 

 cabbage is more profitable than late. Northern growers 

 often clear $200 an acre. Prices for the late crop are ex- 

 tremely variable. When sold out of the field the price 

 ranges from $2 to $15, and out of storage from $8 to $60 ; 

 when sold by the head, the price runs from $2 to $6 a 

 hundred, and 60 cents to $3 a crate or a barrel. 



CHICAGO WHOLESALE CABBAGE PRICES* 



Nov. Dec. Jar. Feb. Mar 



*06-'07 $4-5 $ $ $ $ 



05-'06 15-20 18-22 19-24 21-24 30-36 



04- '05 4-8 4-11 8-11 7-10 12-15 



'03-'04 7-9 20-25 35-38 50-55 55-60 



02-'03 4-6 6-7 10-12 6-9 7-9 



'01-'02 10-12 9-11 10-14 14-16 17-20 



'OO-'Ol 10-11 11-14 8-14 16-18 19-20 



'99-'00 12-14 14-17 25-26 22-25 28-30 



'98-'99 6-8 8-10 16-18 28-30 35-40 



The usual estimates for the cost of producing and 

 marketing an acre of cabbage are too low; $125 an acre 

 for early cabbage and at least one-third this amount for 

 late are not too high. Large net returns are seldom 

 secured without a liberal outlay. AVith favorable mar- 

 kets or good shipping facilities it is unquestionably one 

 of our most profitable vegetables. 



363. The cabbage maggot (Pegomya brassicae) was in- 

 troduced from Europe early in the nineteenth century. 

 It feeds upon various 'cruciferous plants, but is espe ; 



* American Agriculturist. 



