KOHL-RABI 



165 



varieties does not exceed that of an average-sized orange, while 

 in others it nearly equals that of a man's head. The Kohl-Rabi is 

 not sufficiently known or valued in France or England, for it forms 

 an excellent vegetable, especially when used before it is fully 

 grown, in which state it is generally eaten in Germany, while in 

 Italy the swollen stem is often eaten before it has grown as large 

 as a hen's egg. 



Culture. — The kitchen-garden varieties are sown in a nursery- 

 bed from March to the end of June. When the seedlings are from 

 a month to six weeks old, they are permanently planted out, and 

 the plants may commence to be cut for use about two months 

 after. In planting them out, a space of from 14 to 16 in. should be 

 left from plant to plant, according to the variety grown. Some 

 varieties also are grown for cattle-feeding, and for this purpose the 

 largest and latest kinds are 

 employed. They are sown in 

 April, planted out in May and 

 June, and cut for use only in 

 autumn. 



Uses.— The swollen part 

 of the stem is eaten before it 

 is quite fully grown, when it 

 is tender and has the com- 

 bined flavours of a Cabbage 

 and a Turnip. 



Common White Kohl- 

 Rabi. — Leaves rather stout, 

 I ft. to 16 in. long, with white 

 stalks as thick as the little 

 finger ; ball very pale green, 

 almost white, and 6 to 8 in. 

 in diameter. In this variety 

 the ball takes a long time to 

 form — i.e. nearly four months ^^"^ 



— before it is large enough to Common White Kohl-Rabi, 



be eaten, and six or seven 



months before it is fully grown. The ball is sometimes flattened, 

 and at other times almost oblong in shape. The leaves, after 

 falling, leave behind them broad whitish scars. 



Purple Kohl-Rabi.— This differs from the Common White 

 Kohl-Rabi only in the colour of the ball, the leaf-stalks, and the 

 veins of the leaves. 



These Kohl-Rabis keep well during the winter, but being liable to 

 become hollow and tough, it is well to make use of them before March. 



White Goliath Kohl-Rabi.— A very late sort, producing larger 

 balls than the preceding. The skin is pale green, almost white. 



