CHAPTER XI 

 CABBAGE AND CAULIFLOWER 



ALSO BROCCOLI, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, KALE, KOHLRABI 



EARLY cabbage should be started in hot- 

 beds about February ist in the North 

 (earlier in the South), and transplanted 

 to coldframes in about a month. Do 

 not force cabbage along too rapidly; 

 aim to have short, stocky plants rather 

 than tall, spindling ones. (See Chapter 

 III for cultural directions.) If well 

 hardened off, the plants can usually be 

 transplanted to the open ground early 

 in April. A heavily-fertilized sandy or clay loam, 

 well drained and fine and mellow, is good. Applica- 

 tions of nitrate of soda or liquid manure are a help 

 in hurrying the plants along in the field (see Chap- 

 ter IV). The cabbage is a gross feeder and requires 

 large quantities of manure, fertilizer and moisture. 

 For hoe cultivation the rows may be about two feet 

 apart; for horse work about two and one-half feet. 

 Space the plants about sixteen inches apart (more 

 or Jess, according to variety; Early Jersey Wake- 

 field- ~the favorite very early kind is sometimes set 

 only fourteen inches apart in the rows, while Early 

 Summer, Succession, All-Head, All-Seasons, etc., do 

 better at eighteen inches). Young cabbage plants are 

 sometimes used for greens, and are then called "col- 

 lards" ; the true collard, however, is a kind of kale 

 much grown in the South. 



