ON VEGETABLE CULTURE. IO55 



Cabbages. 



For convenience of reference this section is treated under 

 three headings — viz., Autumn-sown, Spring-sown, and Red, or 

 Pickling Cabbage. 



Taking the Autumn-sown first, some judgment must be exercised 

 as to the best time to sow. In the North and in other cold 

 districts the third week in July will be a suitable time ; while 

 in the South and warmer parts of the country, from the 

 beginning to the middle of August will be the best time. If 

 sown before, the Cabbages would be apt to mature too early, 

 especially if the autumn and winter proved mild and favourable 

 to growth. The seed may be sown either in beds or in drills 

 thinly, in an open sunny situation ; thence the plants should be 

 planted out in rich soil, i8in. apart each way, the position, if 

 possible, being a warm and sheltered one. Drawing the soil up 

 well to the plants when large enough is very beneficial, and to 

 some extent acts as a gentle protector to their bases. In the 

 spring — say about March — an application of ioz. of nitrate of 

 soda to each square yard will hasten development considerably ; 

 in fact, that fertiliser is of great assistance to all this family 

 when the plants are in active growth. Earliest of All, Mein's 

 No. 1, and Ellam's Dwarf Spring, are most reliable varieties for 

 sowing in the autumn. 



Spring-sown. In some establishments Cabbages are required 

 during the summer and autumn months. Where this is the 

 case, a first sowing should be made about the middle of 

 March of such varieties as Earliest of All and Improved 

 Nonpareil, followed a month later by Christmas Drumhead 

 or London Market. All these varieties should be treated as 

 recommended for the autumn-sown Cabbage, except that the last 

 two should have a little more room between the plants. If only 

 one variety is desired, Christmas Drumhead should have the 

 choice, being a most useful and fine-flavoured variety, and of 

 good constitution. 



Red, or Pickling. The Red Dutch Pickling is probably the 

 best and richest-coloured variety of this class. It should be 

 sown and planted out as advised for autumn-sown Cabbage, the 

 only difference being that the plants should have twice the 

 distance between them when planted out — i.e., 3ft. 



Savoys. — See page 1073. 



The Large White Butterfly (Pieris brassicm), or, rather, its 

 larva (Fig. 679), is one of the worst pests of the Cabbage — 

 indeed, of the entire Brassica family. The butterfly itself is too 

 well known to need description, while its bluish-green caterpillar 

 should be almost equally familiar. The pupa-stage is passed 

 either on or very near its food-plant, such as under walls, eaves 

 of outhouses, palings, and the like. It is of the shape shown 

 in the illustration. The insect is double-brooded, appearing first 



