192 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



April 



THE MAKBLEHEAD DRUMHEAD CABBAGE. 



Above we give cuts of three new cabbages. 

 We have not cultivated them, but are justified in 

 showing them to the world, and in giving the 

 propagator's account of them, by the high praise 

 bestowed upon them by some of the best market 

 men in Boston. 



"A variety of cabbage that has triumphed 

 over all other varieties, and established itself as a 

 standard in the markets of Boston and vicinity, 

 well deserves a history. These three engravings 

 represent the three standard varieties of the Mar- 

 blehead Drumhead Cabbage, when they have 

 completed their growth. No. 1 representing the 

 "Marblehead Mammoth Drumhead ;" No, 2 the 

 original "Mason," and No. 3 the "Stone-Mason." 



History. — In the year 1838, Mr. John Mason, 

 formerly of Marblehead, Mass., received a pack- 

 age of cabbage seed from John M. Ives, Esq., of 

 Salem, Mass., which that gentleman received, for 

 trial, from a firm of market gardeners in Lon- 

 don. The seed were planted, and produced many 

 varieties of cabbage, among which were two or 

 three heads whose strongly marked characteristics 

 so recommended them, that they were carefully 

 set aside for seed purposes. These two or three 

 cabbages were tlie originals of the Mason Cab- 

 bage, though I doubt not that its great reliability 

 for heading has been increased by great care 

 through a series of years in growing seed from 

 the centre shoot only. 



Stone Mason. — The farmers of Marblehead, hav- 

 ing succeeded so well with the "Mason," sought 

 to obtain a cabbage that should have all the ex- 

 cellent characteristics of the original Mason, with 

 an increase of size. By care in selecting seed for a 

 series of years, the Stone-Mason was produced, 



tne prefix, "Stone," being given in honor of Mr. 

 John Stone, Jr., through whose intelligent culti- 

 vation the result was obtained. 



Marblehead Mammoth Drumhead. — While en- 

 deavoring to increase the size of the "Mason," 

 some of our enterprising farmers resolved to con- 

 tinue enlarging it to the utmost limit possible for 

 a high culture under a New England climate. 

 The final result was the Marblehead Mammoth 

 Drumhead, without doubt the largest cabbage in 

 the world. 



Direction and Hirifs for Cultivation. — Plant, 

 if possible, on new land, and three or four years 

 should intervene between crops on same location. 

 Manure liberally, particularly for the Mammoth, 

 about two-thirds broadcast and one-third in the 

 hilL A compost of night-soil, muck and barn- 

 manure, thoroughly mixed, is excellent. Too 

 highly concentrated manure applied directly to 

 the hill tends to produce stump-foot; for this 

 reason avoid hog manure, though stable manure 

 on which hogs have run is excellent. A mixture 

 of ashes and guano is excellent for the hills. 

 Plant the seed in the hill in which the cabbage 

 is to grow. As soon as the plant is up, scatter 

 plaster, or lime well air-slaked, to keep off" black 

 fly. Hoe three times. When the fourth leaf is 

 developed, thin to two plants to hill ; when about 

 three inches high, to one in hill, leaving occa- 

 sionally two, to fill future blanks. If, after heavy 

 rains, heads when small show symptoms of crack- 

 ing, start the roots slightly, and they will soon 

 re-root and grow to double size. Plant Mason 

 2X2i in row ; Stone-Mason 3X2i or 3 ; Mam- 

 moth 4X4. For winter use, plant Mason, in lat- 

 itude of Massachusetts, from the 12th to 20th of 

 June i Stone-Mason, from 7th to 12th of June." 



