Cabbage 



75 



Seedlings of cabbage (X %). 



loss is small, four acres may be set from one pound of 

 seed. Intervals between the rows under general farm con- 

 ditions are commonly 3 feet and in the row 22 to 24 inches. 



The plants need 

 tillimg very often if 

 they are to grow 

 rapidly. It is well 

 to go through them 

 the jB.rst time with a 

 hand cultivator, as 

 the plants are so 

 small that a horse 

 cultivator will cover 

 some and damage 

 others. But when 

 the plants are well started, 'the horse and cultivator are 

 employed. As the plants are but two feet apart for early 

 crop, and the cultivator needs careful handling, let a 

 hoy lead the horse. Nearly all the work is performed with 

 the horse, except a very little near the plants. Although 

 they are very strong and rapid growers, few plants are 

 more sensitive to neglect than the cabbage, or more favor- 

 ably affected by extra good care. For very intensive work, 

 the small early cabbages are sometimes set as close as 15 

 by 24 inches; in this case, hand tools are mostly used. 



Harvesting; storing. 



To harvest, the head is bent over and the stalk severed 

 at the base of the head by means of a large sharp butcher- 

 knife. The stumps are usually left standing until the 

 field is cleaned for winter or for another crop. The trim- 



