144 THE MANSE GARDEN. 



falls most within the reach of human capacity the 

 early sugar-loaf cabbage, which is a light and tender 

 vegetable when taken at the size of lettuce and be- 

 ginning to change its colour from green to white 

 the main fault of the early cabbage is, that it usually 

 comes not till far on in May, when the sun checks 

 its growth and hardens its fibre into wood. In 

 March and April it is soft and juicy ; and the culti- 

 vator has himself to blame if it be not then in abun- 

 dance, constituting the chief wealth and luxury of the 

 garden. Make a plantation on a warm border early 

 in September, from seedlings two months old. In 

 ordinary altitudes not one plant will die in winter : 

 in spring some of them will show a disposition to 

 run to seed; but cut before they run, in the green 

 leaf they are excellent. Those planted out a month 

 later will succeed this first crop, and may be eaten in 

 all states, from the half blanched leaf to the solid boll. 

 The early cabbage is equally good in the end of 

 autumn, and for a considerable period of the winter; 

 and it is not a little preposterous, that the most com- 

 mon season of its use is just that in which it is least 

 fit to be eaten. Manure should not be spared, as the 

 quality of tenderness is in proportion to the vigour 

 of growth. 



The late cabbage is the most valuable crop for 

 cows which the garden can produce. All summer 

 the leaves are inexhaustible, and then the huge solid 

 and savoury bolls cause the brutes in very gladness to 

 overflow with milk. Cover the cabbage plot thick 

 with the richest manure. Nothing on either garden 

 or farm will make a better return. But the great 

 thing is to have the plants right. Some bunches 



