88 PICTORIAL PRAGTWAL VEGETABLE GROWING, 



bap[)en, and if be is on the alert lie may perhaps be in time to avert 

 the catastrophe by piercing the stem with the point of his knife just 

 beneath the lower leaves, and passing the blade right through, thus 

 forming a slit ; but the plan is not always successful. 



It should be remembered, however, that some varieties are 

 always much more liable to bolt than others, and tliis brings me to 

 an important point— the selection of sorts. Three very fine 

 Cabbages to sow for a spring crop are Ellam's Early, Buttons' April, 

 and Webb's Emperor. 



The spring crop of Cabbages may be accelerated in two ways : by 

 commencing to hoe early in the year, and by applying a little 

 nitrogenous fertiliser, such as nitrate of soda or sulphate of 

 ammonia, at the rate of 1 oz. per square yard (see Manures). It is 

 necessar}^ to utter a word of warning regarding the use of these 

 stimulants. Be very careful to keep them off the leaves. So very 

 powerful are they that even when the salt has been instantly shaken 

 off the leaves on which a few particles have fallen the foliage has 

 browned. 



Cabbages are not held in much esteem as a summer crop, but 

 have their value in autumn. To come in then a sowing may be 

 made in April or early May. The little St. John's Day Drumhead is 

 very nice for this purpose, and a village gardener once remarked to 

 me, with ill-concealed gusto, that it tasted like pickled pork and 

 Cabbage together ! This may or may not recommend it to the 

 reader. 



There are many excellent strains of Cabbage for spring sowing. 

 I cannot say that any particular one is better than all the rest, but 

 after testing many I can confidently say that any one of the 

 following may be chosen with the certainty of giving satisfaction : 

 Carters* Heartwell Marrow, Daniels' Defiance (if a large one is 

 wanted), Improved Nonpareil, Mein's No. 1, Suttons' All-heart, and 

 Wheeler's Imperial. 



While on the subject of Cabbages, one or two connected crops 

 may be mentioned. 



First there are the Coleworts, Hardy Green, and Rosette, the 

 latter for choice. These may be sown in May for giving sweet and 

 useful bunch greens. 



Then there is Couve Tronchuda, the Portugal or Braganza 

 Cabbage. We all know that Charles II.'s consort came from 

 Braganza, but we do not all know that a somewhat peculiar Cabbage 

 comes from there. Th^ large leaves have very thick midribs, which 

 form an agreeable disb, and cause this variety to be spoken of as the 

 Seakale Cabbage at times. Seed should be sown under glass early 

 in spring, and the plants put out in rich soil. 



Thirdly, there is the pickling Cabbage, of which the Red Dutch 

 is a good variety. This should be sown in August to give massive 

 hearts the following summer. 



