THE 104 
GARDEN YARD 
will soon start growing and be ready for trans- 
planting to the field early. The only drawback 
to this method is, that the plants being really 
old when spring comes, you are apt to lose a 
good many by their running to seed. For this 
reason, another method is rather to be pre- 
ferred. Use the same variety of seed, but sow 
in hot-beds in February, and as soon as the 
plants are three or four inches high, transplant 
to cold-frames. If they are not too crowded, 
they will be ready for planting in rows in the 
field by April 1. But you must remember that 
the cabbage is a heavy feeder and that your 
soil must be rich and full of humus. 
One noted cabbage-grower in New Jersey 
says he plants his cabbage with a potato planter, 
which makes the rows 3 feet apart, distributes 
the fertilizer, and makes the ridges for the plants 
all at one time. He levels down the ridges 
with a plank drag which covers two rows at a 
time. The fertilizer is of high grade, applied 
at the rate of 1000 pounds to the acre. If 
plants are set 20 inches apart, it will require 
10,000 for an acre. He cultivates thoroughly 
until the cabbages begin to head; then while 
cultivating once more, he applies nitrate of 
soda at the rate of 150 pounds to the acre, 
putting it on the row close to the plants, but 
