Vegetables with Edible Leaves or Stems 83 



September or October or later, depending upon the variety, 

 is the time to sow for the February, March, and April 

 markets of the North. This will bring the crop into 

 market after the northern stored crop has been consumed, 

 and before the early spring crop has matured. The drills 

 are made about f of an inch deep. As soon as the seedlings 

 begin to break through the ground, a liberal application of 

 tobacco dust should be given and the dusting repeated 

 every three or four days. This will kill or drive away the 

 insects that are numerous at this time of the year. 



If the seeds grow well the plants will become crowded 

 in the drills before they attain their third leaf. Cabbage 

 seedlings may be transplanted at any time in their growth, 

 without losing any plants; hence, they should be trans- 

 planted to a new bed as soon as they show signs of too 

 much crowding. They should be transplanted to the field 

 before the height of 6 inches is reached. If the plants 

 grow too rapidly, they may be checked by withholding 

 water or by shifting them to a new bed. 



Soils for cabbage. 



Cabbage is a gross feeder and will succeed on soil where 

 many other crops fail. Soil used for ordinary gardening 

 is considered excellent for this vegetable. If the land is 

 not level, a northern slope is preferred, as that is cooler 

 and keeps a more nearly constant temperature. Large 

 cabbage will stand 15° F. without being killed ; but that 

 recently set out needs some light protection. Seedlings 

 or plants in the seed-bed can stand about 20° F., but if they 

 are in rapid growth this temperature makes the leaves look 

 scalded. 



