CABBAGE IN THE MARKET GARDEN 163 



weather to take care in ventilating the frames not to let the tem- 

 perature rise and cause the plants to start into growth, and also to 

 avoid keeping them in the dark too long at one time. The litter 

 or cover should be removed on bright days, and when the tempera- 

 ture rises above the freezing point, the frames should be opened 

 slightly to give the plants plenty of air. The object of thus win- 

 tering cabbage plants in cold frames is not to induce growth, but 

 to keep them in a dormant condition from the first of December 

 until planting time in the spring. The plants should not be started 

 into growth until about the loth or the I5th of March, at which 

 time the covers should be removed during the day and everything 

 possible done to bring the plants into slow and sturdy growth. 



Another method of handling plants to secure an early crop is 

 to sow the seeds in specially prepared hotbeds or in a greenhouse 

 about the first of March, and then to force the plants as rapidly 

 as possible until they are large enough to be transplanted to cold 

 frames, which should be the last of March or early in April. 

 Keep the plants in cold frames until they are thoroughly hardened, 

 give them plenty of air on bright days, and cover them carefully at 

 night to prevent injury from severe cold. The plants should be 

 carefully watered and ventilated until they have attained good size 

 and have become thoroughly hardened, when they will be ready for 

 planting in the open, which will be from the loth of April until 

 the 1st of May, according to soil and climatic conditions. 



Preparation for market-garden planting. Whether the plants 

 are grown from seed sown in the field or from seed sown in the 

 hotbed in the spring, sturdier plants will be secured if they are 

 transplanted at least once before being shifted to the field. This 

 is not essential, however, and is seldom practiced by commercial 

 growers of early cabbage. At the time of transplanting to the field, 

 lift the plants carefully from the cold frame or seed bed, with as 

 much earth adhering to the roots as possible. As they are lifted, 

 collect them into a compact bundle in the hand all that can 

 be grasped between the thumb and fingers of one hand with 

 the roots even. Then with a sharp knife cut the tops about half- 

 way between the tip and base of the largest leaves. This gives 

 a strong, stubby stem with about one half its normal leaf area 

 remaining. Place the roots of the plants so trimmed in a pan 



