72 



Cole Crops 



in 1,000 parts water, has a repellent effect on the young mag- 

 gots. Two or three applications are required to keep the 

 plants free from injury. 



Hablequin cabbage bug {Murgantia liistrionica) . — A stink- 

 bug % i^i- loiig. mottled red, black or yellow-orange, that in 

 both the adult and immature stages attacks the plants, punc- 

 turing the leaves and stems, sucking out the juices and appar- 

 ently poisoning the tissues. Control: Practice clean farming; 

 destroy all cabbage stumps and other refuse after the crop is 

 harvested ; reduce hibernating shelter to a minimum ; leave 

 a few piles of rubbish in the field in the fall as traps. After 

 the bugs have collected in these piles they should be burned. 

 In the spring plant trap crops of kale, mustard or rape that 

 will come u]) before the main crop, and when the bugs collect 

 on these plants, kill them by spraying with clear kerosene. 



Cabbage is a major oleraceous crop. It is used in 

 one form or another in every household. It is both early 

 and late. It practically covers the year. It is adapted 

 to a wide range of country. It is useful for stock feed. It 

 is grown by the home gardener, market-gardener, trucker, 

 general farmer. A good cabbage head (Fig. 23) is a 

 comely and handsome object, with flowing lines, excellent 

 colorings, and attractive modelling. 



The cabbage crop produces an enormous gross tonnage. 

 Aside from the harvested heads, the leaves, stumps, roots 

 and discards make great bulk and weight. Land must 

 have good sustaining power to produce this herbage: and 

 as the major part of the weight is water, the moisture- 

 content must be unfailing. Make the land rich, prepare 

 good depth to hold moisture, and keep the cultivat-or mov- 

 ing. Use ever}" means to save the soil-moisture. If the 

 nearly mature heads cease growing and are then started 



