l62 SOILING CROPS AND THE SILO. 



In some localities plants grow so readily and so 

 surely, that the crop may be grown by sowing the 

 seed where the plants are to remain. It may be thus 

 grown in many instances as surely and easily as a 

 crop of turnips or rutabagas. The western and 

 northwestern states have special adaptation for the 

 growing of cabbage crops by this method. In other 

 localities their insect enemies are so numerous that 

 it is almost necessary to start the plants where they 

 can be given protection, and then after they have 

 made a good start to transplant them into the field. 



The seed may be sown by first marking off the 

 ground, then using a hand drill which deposits the 

 seed in the line of the marks that have been made ; 

 som_e grain drills may be used to sow the seed with- 

 out the seed beng mixed with anything. With 

 other patterns of drills it is necessary to mix the seed 

 with some such bulky substance as salt. The rows 

 should not be closer to one another than thirty inches, 

 nor more distant than thirty-six inches. The seed 

 should be buried to a depth varying from less than 

 one inch to more than two inches, according to the 

 nature of the soil. A roller should also in nearly all 

 instances be run over the soil before and after sow- 

 ing the seed. 



The late varieties are to be preferred, and among 

 these the larger sorts ; as for instance, the Drumhead 

 and Savoy. The early varieties do not grow suffi- 

 ciently large. They are also lacking in an 

 abundance of leaf growth, nor do they keep so well 

 as the large and late A'arieties do. The best variety 

 for each particular Incation, however, can only be 

 ascertained by actual test. 



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