M^VNURES FOU SPECIAL CROPS. 291 



land. On the poor land, the cabbage would not be likely to head 

 so well as on the rich land, and tlie green leaves of cabbage con- 

 tain more than half as much again real dry substance us the heart 

 leaves. 



The dry matter of the heart leaves, however, contains more 

 actual nutriment than the dry matter of the green leaves. 



It would seem very desirable, therefore, whether we are raising 

 cabbage for market or for home consumption, to make the land 

 rich enough to grow good heads. Dr. Vojlcker says, " In ordinary 

 seasons, the average produce of Swedes on our poorer fields is 

 about 15 tons per acre. On weighing the produce of an acre of 

 cabbage, grown under similar circumstances, I found that it 

 amounted to 17| tons per acre. On good, well-manured fields, 

 however, we have had a much larger produce." 



In a report on the " Cultivation of Cabbage, and its comparative 

 Value for Feeding purposes," by J. M. M'Laren, of Scotland, the 

 yield of Swede turnips, was 29| tons per acre, and the yield of cab- 

 bage, 47J tons per acre. 



" It is very evident," said the Deacon, " that if you grow cabbage 

 you should make the land rich enough to produce a good crop — 

 and I t;ike it that is all you want to show." 



" I want to show," I replied, " that our market gardeners have 

 reason for applying such apparently excessive dressings of rich 

 manure to the cabbage-crop. They find it safer to put far more 

 manure into the land than the crop can possibly use, rather than 

 run any risk of getting an inferior crop. An important practical 

 question is, whether they can not grow some crop or crops after 

 the cabbage, that can profitably take up the manure left in the soil." 



Prof. E. Wolff, in the last edition of "Praktische Diingerlehre," 

 gives the composition of cabbage. For the details of which, see 

 Appendix, page 345. 



From this it appears that 50 tons of cabbage contain 240 lbs. of 

 nitrogen, and 1,600 lbs. of ash. Included in the ash is 630 lbs. 

 of potash; 90 lbs. of soda; 310 lbs. of lime; 60 lbs. of magnesia; 

 140 lbs. of phosphoric acid ; 240 lbs. of sulphuric acid, and 20 lbs. 

 of silica. 



Henderson, in " Gardening for Profit," advises the application 

 of 75 tons of stable or barn-yard manure per acre, for early cab- 

 bage. For late cabbage, after peas or early potatoes, he says about 

 iO tons per acre are used. 



Brill, in "Farm Gardening and Seed Growing," also makes the 

 same distinction in regard to the quantity of manure used for early 



