LEADING VEGETABLE CROPS I 35 



lized in order to avoid infection at this stage. In 

 the rotation all cruciferous crops should be dropped 

 for a number of years. Heavy applications of lime 

 to the soil have given good results in many cases. 

 The infected roots, stems and leaves from diseased 

 fields should be burned to avoid the spread of the 

 trouble. 



Black rot is a disease only recently becoming 

 destructive in most cabbage-producing areas of this 

 country. This disease is bacterial in its character, 

 and once introduced into a locality spreads with 

 alarming rapidity. It affects all the plants of the 

 cabbage family. The presence of the disease is 

 first noticed by a decided yellowing of the foliage. 

 The leaves then begin to die off, the heavier veins 

 become brown or black, rot follows and the head 

 frequently drops off before it is mature. The 

 presence of the disease in the field may be easily 

 detected by the offensive odor arising from the af- 

 fected plants. The only remedy seems to be a wide 

 rotation of crops which excludes all plants of the 

 cabbage family, and thorough disinfection of seeds 

 and seed beds, thus insuring against infected plants 

 at this point. Planting on unaffected soils is also 

 essential. 



The varieties of the cabbage are almost endless 

 and many seedsmen recognize various groups or 

 families, each of which has a number of varieties 

 somewhat similar in their general characteristics. 

 Jersey Wakefield is without doubt the most popular 

 of the early varieties. Charleston Wakefield pro- 

 duces heads of larger size and is better protected 

 by outside leaves and matures from three to ten 

 days later. Winningstadt is a popular variety on 

 account of its solid heads and fine quality. It does 



