64 REPORT OF COMMITTEE. 



soil, patient and honest industry and near a good market, probably 

 no crop for a series of year will pay better ; but the application of 

 manure, keeping the ground in good tilth and the non-cultivation 

 of weeds must not be lost sight of. 



CABBAGE. 



Fifty years ago and even since that time it was supposed that 

 the only place for cabbage to make anything like a respectable 

 growth was in very low, deep soils ; consequently the lowest 

 part of the farm was selected for the cabbage yard. This was 

 all very well as this crop generally does well on such soils ; such 

 Icca ities receiving the wash from the neighboring lands, the soil 

 would be richer than elsewhere ; and as the cabbage delights to 

 work in a rich, friable scil, this was a wise selection. 



It is now generally conceded that any good corn land is also 

 good soil for the cabbage, provided it be well mamu-ed \ reclaimed 

 meadow and swamp lands are also excellent soil for this crop when 

 the water level is kept at a proper distance frcm the surface ; say 

 from twenty to twenty-five inches. Within a few years we have wit- 

 nessed as good fields with as solid and compact heads, as on any 

 soil mentioned. 



The cabbage, unlike the ciiion, generally requires a strong, 

 heavy soil, and good animal manure, — any animal except the 

 hog ; if this be used, especially on wet soil, stump-foot generally 

 follows, and this is death to the crop. If five or six cords of ma- 

 nure only, are to be used, it is far better to apply the whole to 

 half an acre, not only for the sake of saving a large amount of 

 labor, but for the purpose of securing a better return, and leaving 

 the field in better condi.ion for the next year's crop; it is the last 

 twelfth cord to the acre that gives the hard head and the heavy 

 crop ; but with half manure, we may expect loose, spongy heads, 

 and a light return. 



From what we learn about growing this crop, it appears that 

 with a dee]) surface soil resting upon a clayey bottom, with a liberal 

 supply of barn manure and fertilizers, any f:irmer need not de- 

 mur or stand in fear of over-stocking the market or selling at 

 a losing price, as almost all farmers have or may have a home 

 market, by feeding them to stock; twenty tons per acre is not 

 a heavy crop. 



