KOHL-RABI 369 



round or oval head. They differ considerably in rapidity of 

 growth, and may be classified into early and late varieties. 

 Some of the early varieties reach maturity of 'head' in the 

 early autumn of the same year in which they are sown, while 

 the late varieties during the same period of growth are but half 

 grown and comparatively immature. 



They may also be classified according to the shape into (i) 

 Drumheads with flattened spherical 'heads,' which take up 

 lateral space and require to be planted some considerable 

 distance apart ; and (ii) Ox-hearts which have oval or bluntish 

 cone-shaped 'heads.' The latter varieties take up less space 

 and may be planted nearer together than the Drumheads. 



The cabbages are fairly hardy, but the 'heads' contain a 

 considerable amount of water (generally 89 per cent.), and do 

 not stand wet weather or frost so well as the open Thousand- 

 headed variety. Cabbages are largely grown for feeding dairy 

 cattle and sheep, and are more nutritious than white turnips. 

 They increase the flow of milk and in moderation are less liable 

 to give a taint to it than turnips, especially if the outermost 

 leaves are discarded. 



Savoy cabbages are more hardy than those with smooth leaves, 

 and are therefore more adapted for winter use than the latter 

 varieties. 



6. Kohl-rabi is a form of cabbage with a thickened turnip-like 

 stem which stands quite above the ground although in good 

 strains, often close to it. 



The fleshy part is developed from the stem above the 

 cotyledons, none of the hypocotyl or root being present in it : 

 it thus differs from the turnip, mangel and carrot. 



As Kohl-rabi suffers very little in the driest weather it is 

 sometimes designated 'the bulb of dry summers.' It re- 

 sembles the swede turnip in feeding-quality and yield, but 

 stands frost better. The leaves as well as the stem are useful 

 food for stock. 



2 A 



