4 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



with manure, and the reason is patent. The tender 

 seedling, say from October till early in the year, does 

 not need food, and all cabbages are much better grown 

 quickly. To promote a quick growth, food may be 

 given from the surface in the early part of the season in 

 the way of nitrates or liquid manure. Cabbages in rich 

 land, or loose at the collar, that is, not well firmed at 

 planting, make a gross growth, often run badly, and are 

 soon injured by severe weather. That is why I advise 

 a hardier system of culture at the start. Of course, 

 with field culture the plants do not get such rich food 

 as in a small plot of land in gardens ; moreover, the 

 situation is more open, the growth hardier, and there 

 are fewer losses. I am afraid that market growers have 

 to study size more than flavour, but in gardens the latter 

 should be the main point. The small varieties, most of 

 those noted above, may be planted somewhat close, 

 fifteen to eighteen inches between the rows, and nine 

 to twelve in the rows, as the produce is cut early. 

 Plant very firmly in light soil, or, what is better, 

 frequently hoe lightly between the rows, but go down 

 each side of the plant and tread or firm the roots in the 

 autumn. In heavy land the last advice is not so 

 necessary, but it is well in all cases to earth up the 

 stems in autumn well into the lower leaves, and to pro- 

 tect in severe weather, doing the work when the soil 

 is not too wet. I may be asked about the second sowing 

 advised. As I intended to note, this is to be employed 

 in case the first fails, and also as a succession. If 

 possible, sow on land that has not grown cabbage for a 

 time. Plant a larger proportion of the August seedlings 

 if any doubts should exist as to the earlier plants bolting, 

 or if insect pests have injured them, or heat and drought 

 weakened them. 



Autumn Cabbage. — The Coleworts play an import- 

 ant part in the autumn supply, and these delicately 



