CABBAGE TRIBE. 



163 



the face of tlie earth, of wMcli all are liarmless, and many- 

 are highly useful. 



For the seed-bed the soil should be a moist loam, but 

 more dry in the case of plants which are to stand the 

 winter. 



For final production most plants of this genus like a 

 fi-esh, moderately clayey loam, very rich. A moist cool 

 bottom suits them admirably; such of them as are to stand 

 the winter in the open ground should be grown in a lighter 

 soil, not over rich. Good well decomposed stable manure 

 is usually employed in preparing the soil for this genus. 

 Pure hog manure is objectionable, as it causes any of the 

 cabbage tribe to become clump-rooted and loose their 

 regularity of shape ; if mixed with a very large proportion 

 of leaf mould, or other carbonaceous matter, and thoroughly 

 decomposed, it ceases to be objectionable. A plentiful 

 application of salt the autumn before planting, say at the 

 rate of eight or ten bushels per acre, is very beneficial to 

 this tribe as it destroys the cutworm and keeps the soil 

 moist and cool. Bone-dust and especially superphosphate 

 of lime has a very surprising effect upon them, far more 

 than analysis would lead one to suppose. 



The ground is advantageously dug twice the depth of a 

 spade, and should be well pulverized by the operation. 

 All of the cabbage tribe are particularly benefited by 

 frequent and deep cultivation ; they especially like to have 

 the soil about them thoroughly worked luhile the dew is on 

 them. There will be a very great difference in the growth 

 of two plats of cabbages treated alike in other respects, 

 one of which shall be hoed at sunrise, and the other at 

 mid-day ; the growth of the former will surprisingly exceed 

 that of the latter. But you cannot hoe the cabbage tribe 

 too much for their benefit even if daily. The situation 

 must be open and free from all shade or drip of trees ; if 



