THE CABBAGE CROP. 337 



tropolitan journal who says tliat no arable farm should 

 be without the cabbage : " The early varieties should be 

 prepared for early planting in the spring, or a portion of 

 the crop intended for early spring use might be planted in 

 the autumn. This, however, is rather hazardous as a field 

 crop, owing to the ravages from game, to say nothing of 

 the winter's vicissitudes. The better and more usual 

 course is to sow the seed in July or August, or early enough 

 to produce a strong plant for transplanting in the autumn, 

 when they are planted out thickly in beds, in some shel- 

 tered situation, there to remain till required for field plant- 

 ing; or the seed may be sown thinly in beds, and the 

 plants to remain undisturbed till field planting commences. 

 The former, however, is the better way to secure strong 

 healthy plants. The land for early cabbage should be pre- 

 pared in the autumn. On good land little is requisite 

 beyond ploughing it up after wheat or other crop, and 

 cleansing it by harrowing, picking, &c. It should then be 

 ploughed into lands or stetches as for winter ploughing. 

 In the early spring it should be manured with from twelve 

 to fourteen loads of good rotten dung, to be immediately 

 ploughed in, and the planting to follow without delay. 

 Perhaps the middle of March is the most suitable time, if 

 the season is altogether favourable ; if not, it is better to 

 wait till such time presents itself; by all means get them 

 well planted. 



" The later varieties are more readily provided for. The 

 seed should be sown in March or April, in beds; and the 

 beds ought to be slightly covered with straw, to prevent the 

 attacks of birds. As soon as the plants attain a strong 

 broad leaf, the straw must be carefully removed, when they 

 will grow freely. Nothing further is required till the time 

 of planting, in June or July, for which, indeed, everything 

 should be prepared, so that advantage may be at once 

 taken of a favourable rain, which, in fact, it would be wise 

 to wait for, however long in coming, even at the hazard of 

 losing the season. The land simply requires the manage- 

 ment of all ordinary fallowing lands, and freely manuring 



