78 BEGINNER'S BOOK OF GARDENING 



if the best results are to be obtained. It is true that 

 Cabbages can be and are raised under almost every condi- 

 tion, but to grow them well deeply worked and thoroughly 

 enriched soil is necessary. 



Cabbages 



A full supply of Cabbage may be had from January 

 to December if proper varieties are selected and the 

 sowing be successional. They like best a rather heavy 

 soil, but in any case the ground must be heavily dressed 

 with manure a few months previous to planting. The 

 seed should be sown in beds in an open spot. The ground 

 should be thoroughly broken up and the surface levelled. 

 The seed should be sown in drills one inch deep, the 

 drills being about eight inches apart, and as soon as the 

 young plants are above ground hoeing should be practised 

 between the rows. The seed is commonly sown much too 

 thickly, but it is most important to allow room for each 

 seedling to develop. When they are about five or six 

 weeks old the seedlings will be ready to plant out into 

 their permanent quarters. In planting out the hole 

 should be made for each plant by means of a round- 

 pointed stick, eighteen inches being allowed from plant 

 to plant, the rows themselves being about two feet apart. 

 The ground should be thoroughly soaked with water 

 immediately after planting, and during the first week 

 abundant water should be given morning and evening. 

 The surface of the ground between the rows should be 

 kept ruffled by means of the hoe. For the earliest 

 spring Cabbages, small sowings should be made from the 

 middle of July till the end of August, Ellams and 

 Dwarfs early spring being reliable and of good flavour. 

 These early sown plants should be planted out about 

 the end of September, the ground being made thoroughly 

 firm after planting. For autumn supply the Rosette and 



