148 



MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



completely covered. Three lots of plants, corresponding to 

 those mulched, received frequent cultivation. So far as the 

 maturity of the heads was concerned or the per cent, of plants 

 forming heads, the mulching seemed to have no appreciable 

 effect. There was a slight increase in the size of the heads 

 favoring the use of the mulch, as shown in the following table: 



TABLE III. 





5 



5 



CD 



"3 



3 

 03 



<*> . 



3 5 





1.00 

 1.00 



1.07 

 1.00 



1.13 





1.00 



The differences are not sufficient to be very conclusive. It 

 will be noticed that there was no difference in the case of the 

 Lupton between the average weights of the heads from the two 

 lots, while the average weights of the other two varieties were 

 only 7 per cent, and 13 per cent, in favor of the plants which 

 were mulched. These differences are so small that we would 

 not feel justified in making too strong claims for the advantages 

 of mulching, as the variations might result from some other 

 causes, yet we may infer from the indications that a mulch can 

 be applied to advantage, especially in a dry season. 



4. Shallow vs. Deep Cultivation: — It has been our practice in 

 the cultivation of the cabbage, as in that of nearly all vegetables, 

 to use the horse-cultivator with much freedom, running the cul- 

 tivator as close to the plants as possible without disturbing 

 them. This, oftentimes, becomes in effect a method of root 

 pruning, giving rise to the question, — Does deep cultivation 

 affect the heading of the plants? For the purpose of ascertain- 

 ing, if possible, the effect of such treatment, four lots of plants 

 were cultivated as described above, while four similar lots were 

 given only such cultivation as could readily be furnished with 

 a common hoe. The various lots of plants were all cultivated 

 with the same frequency, the only difference being the depth to 

 which the soil was stirred. The following table gives the com- 

 parative results: 



