CABBAGE AS A TRUCK CROP 171 



the soil. This trouble, it is believed, is due chiefly to the fact that 

 excessive quantities of mineral fertilizers have been used in a 

 system of farming which has not provided a proper rotation. The 

 result is that the organic matter, which is naturally very low in 

 these soils, has been used up and is not present in sufficient 

 quantity to counteract or neutralize the effect of the mineral fer- 

 tilizers. As a result the plants are practically starved to death 

 in the presence of an abundant food supply because it is not 

 presented in the proper form. Investigations conducted by the 



FIG. 60. Cutting cabbage 



Department of Agriculture have clearly demonstrated this to be 

 the case, and from what we know of the value of organic matter, 

 such as stable manure and green crops, turned under in other 

 agricultural operations, is it not reasonable to suppose that the 

 benefits which have come from proper crop rotation in other 

 localities will be equally as great in the trucking region ? 



Harvesting the truck crop. Cabbage which is grown as a truck 

 crop is harvested as soon as it has attained sufficient size to be 

 placed upon the market, regardless of its stage of development. 

 The first shipments from the trucking regions consist of small, 

 immature heads, often having many loose leaves. As the season 



