276 



VEGETABLE GARDENING 



nearly always desirable to dispose of the flat cabbages 

 in the fall, although some growers succeed well in hold- 

 ing them for midwinter sales. 



Whatever method is employed, the aim must be to 

 keep the cabbage in a perfectly sound, fresh, crisp condi- 

 tion. One method may succeed admirably in preserving 

 soundness, but may fail to keep the heads crisp and 

 juicy, while another method may be successful in main- 



FIG. 69. NEW YORK CABBAGE HOUSE 



taining a fresh, juicy condition, but fail to prevent rot. 

 The ideal method must succeed in both of these re- 

 spects. The following conditions are essential to satis- 

 factory storage : 



1. The cabbage must be kept cool. Low temperatures 

 are unfavorable to disease germs, which cause decay. 



2. The air must be kept moist. A dry atmosphere 

 causes the cabbage to wilt, to dry out and to lose its 

 freshness and crispness. 



