40 CABBAGE. 



To give a clearer idea of the amount to be 

 obtained from an acre, and why there is such a large 

 percentage of heads, we must give some of the details 

 of cixltivation, which will also show the soil's capa- 

 bilities of production. Between the two rows of 

 cabbage plants, and alternating with the cabbage in 

 the rov/s, lettuce plants are set, which gives about 

 35,000 heads of lettuce to the acre. This makes the 

 rows of plants one foot apart, which seems to require 

 considerable from the soil. But the gardener is still 

 unsatisfied, because experience has taught him that 

 the soil will honor every reasonable demand made 

 upon it, providing the plants have sufficient room 

 for development. He, therefore, sows a row of 

 radishes between the rows of lettuce and the rows of 

 cabbage and lettuce. Now the plants are but six 

 inches apart, which is about all he can or does expect ; 

 he is satisfied, so is the soil, for it has all it can do 

 without growing weeds. 



There is a great benefit to be derived from this 

 method besides the amount obtained from a given 

 acreage; the soil is at all times just sufficiently 

 shaded to prevent evaporation through the sun's 

 influence, and the soil is kept cool and moist, which 

 are the requirements for tender vegetables. The 

 moisture that comes from below is caught up by the 

 plants, and it cannot well escape. When this method 

 is adopted the seeds must be sown thinly, or the 

 plants thinned out to the proper distance apart before 

 they have formed their second pairs of leaves. The 

 radishes should be thinned to about four to an inch. 

 In three weeks these will be ready for use, and not a 

 moment is lost in getting them to market. The 

 lettuce then begins to require the room the radishes 



