82 CABBAGES. 



year, from his growing crop, some of the best-formed 

 heads to preserve for seed. The disappointment and 

 loss from sowing impure seed are vexations, and can 

 only be avoided by following the above method. Be- 

 fore sowing, the seed-bed should be well pulverized 

 and made rich by adding plenty of well-rotted ma- 

 nure, and forking it under, or by applying a liberal 

 dose of finely-ground bone or superphosphate. The 

 surface should then be raked level and smooth, re- 

 movfing any stones or hard lumps of soil. Then 

 make shallow trenches, about one inch deep and one 

 foot apart. The seed may be sown by hand in these 

 trenches, endeavoring to sow evenly, by taking a 

 small quantity of seed in the right hand and allow- 

 ing it to pass into the trench between the thumb and 

 fingers. Cover the seed by raking the surface of the 

 bed lightly with a wooden rake, drawing the rake 

 straight with the lines of the trenches. 



When the seed is fresh and the weather favor- 

 able, it will come up in ten days from the time of 

 sowing. At this stage of growth the young plants 

 require close attention. If the weather is dry, the 

 plants are frequently attacked by a small black in- 

 sect {Haltica striolata) resembling a flea in appear- 

 ance and deportment. I have known this little pest 

 destroy one hundred thousand young plants in three 

 or four days. In fact, if some measures are not in- 

 stantly taken to stop his career, there will be but 

 few plants left, no matter how much seed has been 

 sown. Dusting the plants, when they first come 

 through the surface, with flour of bone, and repeat- 

 ing it after each rain, will often keep them off. 



