CABBAGE. 



fown fufficiently early to have tlie plants of a proper fize, as 

 about fix or feven weeks growth at the time of traiifpianting. 

 About the middle of March, or beginning of April, maybe 

 the moft proper periods. The feed, in thefe cafes, flioiild 

 be fown very thin, and the weak plants afterwards thinned 

 out, till they are left at not lefs than three inches dillance 

 from each other. Five or fix ounces of feed will, in general, 

 be a proportion fufficient fur affording plants for fetting out 

 an acre of ground. In the drill method, the fame propor- 

 tion of feed may alfo in common be fufficient, which (liould 

 be put in the foil about the begiiming or middle of April ; 

 but if fown later, as in May or June, it frequently fucceeds. 

 In the broadcaft mode, from the plants not coming quickly 

 to the hoe, the latter end of March may probably be the 

 moll proper period of fowing ; the proportion of feed be- 

 ing fomewhat increafed. 



The planting in thefe crops may be performed either up- 

 on the plain furface of the prepared ground, or after it has 

 been thrown up into ridges in the manner firll defcribed ; 

 but the latter is by much the btft method, efpecially where 

 the land is inclined to moifture. The moft eligiblt time for 

 executing the bufinefs is, as in the common cabbage, when 

 the land has had a good fhower of rain, the operations of 

 ploughing and fetting out the plants proceeding together ; 

 but Dr. Dickfon obferves, that " neither operation fiiould 

 be attempted when the ground is much foaked with rain, as 

 much injury is not only done to the land, but the plants fel- 

 dom thrive well." 



In planting out, different diflances are praftifed ; fome 

 preferring the diftance of two feet from row to row, and 

 eighteen inches apait in the rows, where the foils are good ; 

 but in thofe of inferior qu.ility not more than twelve; while 

 others advife their being planted two and a half or three 

 feet afunder, on two-bout ridges, the plants being placed as 

 nearly as poffible in the middle, immed'.atcly upon the dung, 

 as recommended in the culture ol the common cabbage. 



The after culture in the crops mull be performed in dif- 

 ferent ways, according to the methods of fowmg or plant- 

 ing that have been praflifed. When the feed is put in by 

 the hand, the crop can only be kept clean by means of the 

 hand-hoe, which (hould be applied as frequently as is necef- 

 fary for the purpofe. But in the drill method, as well as 

 where the crops are planted out with broad intervals and 

 narrow d-ftances in rows, it may be convenient to make ufe 

 of both the plough or horfe-hoe, and the hand-hoe, employ- 

 ing the former in ftirring and clearing the intervals, and the 

 latter in keeping the ground between the plants clean. 

 When planted on ridges, it is recommended, that as foon as 

 the plants have become firmly eftablifhed in the foil, and 

 weeds begin to appear, to throw a furrow from each fide of 

 them by means of a fmall plough that is narrow behind, ftir- 

 ring the parts not thus moved by the hand-hoe, and after 

 the decay of the weeds thefe turned down, but before the 

 plants get too large to return them to their former fituation, 

 care being taken, not to cover the hearts of the plants with 

 the earth. Thefe operations may be repeated as frequently 

 as the ftate of the crop may require. But as this plant forms 

 its bulb above the furface of the ground, the earth or mould 

 (hould never be laid up fo much to the roots of the plants 

 as in the common cabbage, as it may not only prevent the 

 fwelling of the bulbs, but caufe their dellruftion. It has 

 been fuggelled in the work juft noticed, that in dry feafons 

 this plant may probably be cultivated with greater advantage 

 than that of the turnip, as not being fubjedl to the deftruc- 

 tive attacks of the fly, and being lefs expofed to danger from 

 other animals that are liable to dellroy crops of that fort. 

 When fituatcd clofe to turnips that have been wholly de- 



voured by the fly, it has never been perceived tint plants of 

 this kind were in the lead touched by it. The bulbs or 

 roots of Ihcfe plants frequently attain a confiderable fize 

 where the foils are good, the largtll fometimcs weighing 

 eight or ten pounds, and are faid to he much more hardy 

 than the common turnip, though not fo much fo as the 

 turnip-rooted cabbage. The quimtity of produce on an acre 

 i.i not probably in general equal to that of the conunon tur- 

 nip, though it is very confiderable. 



The application of this fort of cabbage is chiefly in the 

 feeding of neat cattle and (lieep during the autumn or fpring 

 months, according as it may be fown more early or late ; 

 but the moft profitable appropriation of it is probably in 

 the latter feafon, as from the midulc of March, till it is re- 

 moved from the ground. In this way it may bicom.e an 

 ufefnl adiftant to crops of the turnip kind. In which ufe, 

 It poflVfies a particular advantage, in being formed, as it 

 were, upon a footftalk above the furface of the earth, as it 

 can on that account be more conveniently got at and re- 

 moved during the time of froft, or when fiiow is upon the 

 ground, than the common turnip. The proportion of nu- 

 tritious matter contained in crops of this fort is confiderable, 

 and of a rich quality. Cows thrive extremely well on it 

 when given in a proper manner. When fed off by fhccp, 

 the beil method is that of hurdhn;!, in the manner praftifed 

 for common turnips. In this Uiode of application they are 

 faid to require little or no hay, even where the intention 

 is to fatten the animals, as tliey make a greater progrcfs 

 on them than on any other forts of food, except that 

 of oats. Both cows and (hecp have been found to feed 

 upon the fprouts with avidity, after their having blofibm- 

 ed, and been cut and left to withei. But this praftice 

 fhiaild be cautionfly pradlifed, as much injury muft conftant- 

 ly be done to the land, by the plants being fuffered to run 

 to feed. When the bulbs are fhrunk and withered from be- 

 ing cut and packed up in houfes, they are faid to form a 

 nutritious food for horfes, but farther trials are wanting to 

 fully eftablifh the faft. It is obferved, in the "Annals of 

 Agriculture," that inftead of cutting off the bulbs below the 

 parts where they are formed, in order to prefcrve them in 

 houfes for the above purpofe, it is the praftice of fome cul- 

 tivators to plough them up wholly, ufing a common plough, 

 without any coulter, having only a round fhare with a blunt 

 edge for the purpofe. This is paffed along under the rows, 

 and performs the work with much eafe, and in a very ex- 

 peditious manner. 



Cabbage, tunup-rooled, in Botany. See Brassica. 

 Cabbage, tunup-rooted, in Agriculture, a plant of the cab- 

 bage kind, which differs principally from the former, in form- 

 ing its bulb, or protuberance, below the furface of the ground, 

 in having it; of an oblong fhape, and in the leaves bearing a 

 confiderable refemblance to thofe of the common turnip. 

 It has been introduced into field culture with advantage. 

 The foils befl; fuited to the growth of this fort of crops are 

 thofe of the more friable loamy kinds, or fuch as have been 

 formed by the gradual dcpofition of earthy matters from the 

 overflowings of large rivers, or the fea. But of whatever 

 kind, the parts of them (hould have been well broken down 

 and reduced by means of tillage, and not be too retentive of 

 moifture. In preparing the ground, it lliould be brought into 

 a confiderable ftatc of pulverization, or finenefs, by repeated 

 ploughings and harrowings ; and enriched by the application 

 of manure, in the proportion of eight or ten waggons' load 

 to the ftatute acre, which ftiould be turned in with the lall 

 ploughing, in forming the one-bout ridges for receiving the 

 plants. This is fometimes performed by the common 

 plough ; but it probably may be executed with more exaft- 



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