34 



CABBAGE. 



soil fine to as great a depth as it has been plowed. 

 A day spent at this work is labor wisely employed. 

 After the harrow has finished its work, put on the 

 roller, making the surface as smooth as the house 

 floor, then cover to the depth of four inches with 

 coarse litter from the stable; or seaweed, if it is 

 easily procurable ; or any convenient mulch that will 

 prevent evaporation. 



The benefits arising from this method are many 

 fold. In the first place the work is done on time and 

 the bed will be in readiness for the seed when 

 wanted, in the next place the soil will at all times 

 be moist underneath the mulch, so that the seed can 

 be sown at the proper time, no matter how dry the 

 season may be; and there will always be moisture 

 enough in the soil to carry the plants until they are 

 sufficiently large to transfer them to the field where 

 the crop is to be grown. 



There is another important consideration which 

 must not be overlooked. Moisture is constantly 

 rising from below, and, when prevented from evapo- 

 ration by the mulch, it must be retained, and to as 

 great a depth as the soil has been worked. At the 

 same time all the small lumps will become so com- 

 pletely pulverized that the soil will be to the touch 

 as soft as the finest sand, and fully charged with 

 sufficient plant food. 



Remove the mulch when the seed is to be sown, 

 then proceed as we have already stated. We would 

 again urge the importance of covering the seed with 

 fine white sand to prevent the soil from baking, as 

 well as to prevent evaporation. We have found no 

 better covering for the seed bed after sowing than 



