VEGETABLES CABBAGE AKD CAULIFLOWER. 147 



the utmost importance. Although many of the large 

 market gardens in England are yet dug with the spade 

 or digging fork, it is rare that anything else is used with 

 us than the plow and harrow. We ourselves are so 

 satisfied of the superiority of the plow as a pulverizer 

 of the soil over the spade or digging fork, that we would 

 not allow our grounds, for any purpose, to be dug, even 

 if done for nothing, and no digging is ever done on our 

 grounds in any spot where horses can be worked. 

 Experience has shown us that it is always beneficial for 

 the Cabbage crop to plow land in the fall, not only be- 

 cause when thus thrown up in ridges it gets pulverized by 

 the action of the frost, but also that the turning up of 

 the soil exposes the larvae and eggs of insects also to the 

 frost, which tends greatly to lessen their numbers the suc- 

 ceeding year. 



Manure for the early Cabbage crop should always be 

 spread on broadcast, and in quantity not less than 100 

 cart loads, or seventy-five tons to the acre, which will 

 leave it^ when spread, about two or three inches in thick- 

 ness. It is not unusual that much choice can be made 

 in stable manure, but when such is the case, equal por- 

 tions of cow and horse manure are preferable, not that 

 there is much difference in value, weight for weight, but 

 that it is advantageous to have the manure of the cow 

 stable mixed with that of the horse, so as to prevent the 

 violent heating of the horse manure, which, if not 

 repeatedly turned, will generate heat so as to cause -it to 

 " fire fang" or burn, which renders it comparatively use- 

 less. Always bear in mind that the more thoroughly 

 rotted and disintegrated manure can be had, the better 

 will be the results. When manure is thoroughly rotted 

 and short, it may be turned in by the plow just as it 

 is spread on the land, but if long, it is necessary to 

 draw it into the furrow ahead of the plow, so that it is 

 completely covered in. After plowing in the manure, 



