150 GARDENING FOB PROFIT. 



paratively warm weather, which induces a quick and 

 soft growth in the plants, which, of course, renders them 

 very susceptible to injury from frost. When in that 

 condition we have seen them injured when the thermo- 

 meter only marked twenty-seven above zero, or but five 

 degrees of frost ; while if gradually hardened by being 

 exposed to chilly nights, they would receive no injury, 

 even when the thermometer marks ten or twelve above 

 zero. This will be well understood when we remember 

 that in midwinter, when covered with sash alone, they 

 sustain a cold often for days together of ten degrees 

 beloiv zero, but then of course they have been gradually 

 inured to it. In sections of the country where the ther- 

 mometer falls to fifteen or twenty degrees below zero, it 

 will be necessary to use straw mats or shutters over the 

 glass. At all times from the time of putting sashes on 

 in fall until taking them off in spring (which is usually 

 from March 15th to April 1st), abundant ventilation 

 should be given, so as to render them as hardy as pos- 

 sible. The sure indication that they are in the "frost 

 proof " condition is, when the leaves show a bluish color, 

 which they get when they have been gradually hardened 

 off. Although the most of the Jersey market gardeners 

 still use the cold frames for growing the bulk of their 

 early Cabbage crop, of late years the system of spring 

 sowing and transplanting, and sometimes even without 

 transplanting, is also used to a considerable extent. For 

 full instructions, on this point, see page 51, "Spring 

 Raising of Cabbage, Cauliflower and Lettuce." 



In the latitude of New York, Cabbage planting is 

 usually begun about the 25th of March and finished by 

 middle of April. It must always be borne in mind that 

 Cabbage, being a very hardy plant, when wanted for an 

 early crop, its setting out in spring should be done in 

 any section as soon as the land is dry enough to work. 

 As a guide, we may say that whenever spring crops of 



