1 8 CABBAGE. 



development of vegetable forms, from causes he may 

 not know or understand. 



SELECTION. 



A familiar illustration of this principle may be 

 seen in the history of the development of the cab- 

 bage. Changes in form, through climatic influ- 

 ences, are shown to have been greater in this than 

 with any other vegetable. In a wild state the parent 

 of our cultivated forms of cabbage has but few 

 leaves, which are loosely arranged, but all that are 

 necessary to protect the germ of the coming season's 

 growth, which is to produce seed for the perpetua- 

 tion of the species. When taken to a colder climate 

 more protection becomes necessary. This is fur- 

 nished by additional leaves, which are of a finer tex- 

 ture and more compactly arranged. The result of 

 this care is the solid head of our present varieties of 

 cabbage. From two or three distinct types intro- 

 duced from Holland early in this century a large 

 number of varieties, more or less distinct, have been 

 produced wholly by careful, and in many instances 

 systematic, selection. 



To more clearly illustrate this principle let us 

 note some of the points in the development of forms, 

 where the cabbage is grown to the greatest perfec- 

 tion. Long Island, N. Y., is probably the most 

 congenial home of the cabbage to be found in this 

 country. Nowhere else is it so generally grown, or 

 of a better quality, and here is where the greatest 

 number of truly distinct varieties have originated. 

 There is probably a greater variety of soil to be 

 found in close proximity here, than in any other part 



