608 PRACTICE OF GARDENING. Part III. 



3489. Estimate of sorts. The first five or six sorts are suitable for the earliest and secondary summer 

 crops ; and the middle-sized and large kinds for the principal summer, autumn, and winter supplies. 

 Thus, 1. For the earliest crops, allot some of the small early dwarf York, East Ham, and sugar-loaf, for 

 cabbaging in April, May, and June. 2. Raise more considerable quantities of the middle-sized kinds, par- 

 ticularly the large York, and large sugar-loaf, or the Battersea, Penton, Imperial, Antwerp, Russian, &c. 

 for general summer crops. 3. Choose the larger later sorts for succession, summer, and general autumn 

 cabbages. The large hollow sugar-loaf, oblong hollow, long-sided hollow, and large round winter (white), 

 are excellent for full cabbaging in August, September, and October, till Christmas : or any of the middle- 

 sized varieties may be eligibly sown for latter succession crops in summer and autumn, to cut in light young 

 growth ; also to cultivate for cabbage-coleworts, either with small hearts, or as open greens for family and 

 market supply in autumn, winter, spring, and returning summer. 4. The large round winter cabbage, 

 great drum, Scotch, and American kinds, all reaching a very expanded bulk in autumn and winter, are 

 not usually so well fitted for family consumption as the foregoing, being more commonly adopted for field- 

 culture, to feed cattle in winter, &c. 



3490. Propagation. All the kinds are raised from seed annually, of which, according to Abercrombie's 

 seed estimate, " for a seed-bed to raise the early York, and similar varieties, four feet wide by twenty in 

 length, two ounces" will be required. For a seed-bed to raise the large sugar-loaf, and other luxuriant 

 growers, four feet by thirty-six in length, two ounces. Sow at three different seasons, that is, spring, 

 summer, and autumn, and cover from an eighth to a quarter of an inch. Under a deficiency of winter- 

 standing young plants, for final transplanting in spring, or, in order to have some spring-sown plants as 

 forward as possible, a moderate portion of some best early sorts may be sown between the middle of 

 February and the middle of March, in a slight hot-bed or frame, to nurture the plants till the leaves are 

 an inch or two in length. Then prick them into intermediate beds in the open garden, there to gain 

 strength for final transplanting. (Abercrombie.) 



3491. Soil and situation, The soil for seedlings should be light, and, excepting for early sowings, not 

 rich. "Where market-gardeners raise great quantities of seedling-cabbages to stand the winter, and to be 

 sold for transplanting in spring, they choose, in general, the poorest and stifffest piece of land they have 

 got, more especially in Scotland, where large autumnal sowings of winter drum-head and round Scotch 

 are annually made, and where the stiffness of the soil gives a peculiar firmness of texture and hardness of 

 constitution to the plants, and prevents their being thrown out of the soil during the thaws which succeed 

 a frosty winter. Transplanted cabbages require a rich mould, rather clayey than sandy ; and, as Neill and 

 Nicol observe, it can scarcely be too much manured, as they are an exhausting crop. Autumnal plant- 

 ations, intended to stand the winter, should have a dry soil, well dug and manured, and of a favorable 

 aspect. The cabbage tribe, whether in the seed-bed, or final plantation, ever require an open situation. 

 Under the drip of trees, or in the shade, seedlings are drawn up weak, and grown crops are meagre, worm- 

 eaten and ill-flavored. 



3492. Early and main summer crops. The cabbage being a biennial, the largest crops 

 are obtained by sowing the year previous to that in which you expect to reap. Sow, 

 therefore, at the beginning of August, to raise plants to stand over the winter in young 

 open growth, for cabbaging early, and in succession, the following year. A nice atten- 

 tion should be paid to the time for sowing this crop, which is the first or second week 

 in August, being that most conducive to ultimate success, though some sow at the close 

 of July, to have the plants stronger before the approach of winter ; but of a crop so 

 forward, many generally run for seed in the spring ; therefore be careful to make the 

 principal sowing neither sooner than about the fifth, nor later than the twelfth, of that 

 month. For, if sown earlier, many of the plants are apt to run in the spring, as just 

 stated ; and, if sown later, they would not acquire sufficient strength before winter, 

 to enable them to stand severe weather so effectually as those a little advanced in firmer 

 growth. 



3493. Sow each sort separately in an open free situation, in beds of rich mellow earth, broad cast, 

 moderately thick, and rake in the seed evenly, lengthwise each bed. Give occasional watering, if dry hot 

 weather; or sometimes shade with mats, in hot sunny days, till the plants come up fully; after which, 

 continue necessary moderate watering, if a dry season, to forward and strengthen the crop. 



3494. When the plants have two or three leaves an inch or two broad in September, or beginning of 

 October, lift some considerable portion from the seed-beds, and prick into beds of good earth, about four 

 inches apart, giving water : all these are to remain in the intermediate bed during winter, to gain strength 

 for transplanting in the spring. Those left in the seed-beds will thus have more room to advance equally 

 for transplanting the most forward of the early sorts in the same year, towards the end of October, or in 

 November and December, and the principal supply in the spring, the last fortnight of February, or in 

 March and April. 



3495. In transplanting, continue to keep each sort separate, allotting the whole good ground; and, if 

 dunged, it will be repaid in the crop. Plant some of the dwarf early in rows, from a foot and a half to two 

 feet asunder, to admit of thinning for use in a young cabbaged state : those of the middle-sized, intended 

 for main crops, plant at two feet, or two and a half distant. The large autumnal kinds plant at least 

 from two feet and a half to a yard asunder, giving water at planting in dry warm weather. 



3496. In their subsequent growth, if any fail or run to seed, be careful to pull them up directly, and 

 supply the deficiencies with fresh plants. As the crop proceeds, give it two or more timely hoeings, both 

 to cut down all rising weeds, and to loosen the ground between the plants, drawing some earth round the 

 stems, which will strengthen and forward them considerably. 



3497. The different sorts will cabbage in succession from April till October. Some may be forwarded in 

 cabbaging by tying the leaves together, moderately close, with osier twigs, or strings of bass. The succeed- 

 ing main crops will not need that assistance, but will head spontaneously in due time. Of the earlier 

 dwarf kinds, some probably will be fit for cutting, in small cabbagy heads, at the close of April or begin, 

 ning of May ; and the others in full growth from May till July ; and the succeeding main crops in full 

 heads from July till October. 



3498. Early spring-sown crop. To succeed the crops of the preceding autumn sowing, it is requisite to 

 sow in the spring, to raise plants for use the same year, partly as young summer cabbages, and partly with 

 full heads, in autumn and winter. For this purpose, sow at the close of February, or in March, and the 

 beginning of April. A fewfor early summer use may be sown in the third week of February on a slight hot- 

 bed, or on a warm border under glass. In case no plants were raised the preceding autumn, or if the young 

 crop which has stood the winter be much cut by severe weather, there is an additional motive for sowing 

 a competent portion in the spring, of dwarf, middle-sized, and large kinds, according to the above estimate 

 of sorts. Sow the different kinds separately, and in the same method as directed for the crop to stand the 

 winter. Manage the plants in the seed-bed, and prick a proportion into an intermediate bed in the same 

 manner. When of suitable growth for final transplanting, in May, June, or July, (taking opportunity of 

 moist weather, if it occurs,) plant them out in rows traced from one to two feet asunder for the dwarf and 

 middle-sized, and for the larger kinds from two feet and a half to a yard distant. Give water at planting. 



