74 



Cole Crops 



Propagationj tillage. 



For the early crop, the plants are raised tmder glass. 

 For the main-season or late crop they may be started in 

 seed-beds in the open. Seeds for late cabbages are some- 

 times planted directly in the field where the crop is to 

 stand, but this is unwise for the young plants cannot re- 

 ceive proper care and the bugs get them. See that the 

 young plants are stocky. It is customary to set the plants 

 in the ground up to the first true leaves, and gardeners 

 think that such setting gives better heads, but this opinion- 

 was not verified ia three years' tests at Cornell. It is im- 

 portant that the young plants make continuous growth, 

 for if stunted they do not give as good crops. Young cab- 

 bage plants withstand frost if properly grown. This 

 "hardening" is accomplished by removing the sash from 

 the hotbeds every day for a week or more before the plants 

 are transferred to the field, sometimes for a part of the day 

 and at other times all night if the weather is not too cool. 

 For the early crop, the plants are set in the field as soon 

 as the ground can be made ready. For the late or winter 

 crop, the plants may be set in midsummer, July in New 

 York. In small areas, transplanting 

 is by hand, but in the larger areas it 

 is performed by machines. Seeds 

 and seedlings are seen (Figs. 24,^25). 

 For general field crop, the early 

 setting is raised under cheesecloth at 

 the North, to protect from insects and 

 other dangers. The last transplanting in the field in cen- 

 tral New York for main field crop is seldom later than 

 July 1. If plants are grown under protection so that the 



24. Seeds of cabbage 

 (X6). 



