CABBAGE. 



63 



is recommended to lioe tlie ground while the dew is on, 

 once a week, till they begin to head. 



Diseases and insects. — Cabbages are liable to a disease in 

 the roots, in which they become swelled and knobby, and 

 the plants of weak and imperfect growih. This disorder is 

 called stump footj fumble foct^ &c. It has been supposed to 

 be caused by the attacks of grubs, below the surface of the 

 ground; and the disorder is said to be chiefly prevalent where 

 the same sorts of cabbages have been raised on the same 

 ground several years in succession. Lovet Peters, Esq. 

 of VVestborough, Mass., say?, the cause of the stump foot, 

 is in the soil: — Few pieces of land, I believe, that have 

 been, for several successive years under the plough, will 

 produce a good crop of ^ ^ ' ,es, though there may be 

 exceptions. My methccl _ .sing them, vv^hich I have 

 practised several years with complete success, is the 

 following : — In the spring, take a piece of green sward, 

 of a good soil, and free from stones, and turn it over with 

 the plough as flat as possible ; then spread on a large quan- 

 tity of good manure : if it has been previously mJxed vdth 

 leached ashes, the better. Then harrovv^ greatly, and early 

 in June : if for winter cabbage, cut holes through the turf, 

 w^th a hoe, as near together as the cabbages ought to grow ; 

 fill the holes v>dth fine earth and manure, and then set the 

 plants, or put in a small number of seeds : I prefer the 

 latter, however,^ since it saves the labour of setting, and 



* Cultivators do not agree on the subject of transplanting cabbage plants, or 

 sowing the seeds in the spots where the plants are to grow. Dr. Deane, as has 

 appeared above, after having tried both methods, gave the preferei:ce to 

 transplanting. 3ir. Peters, we have seen, prefers the other mode. Mr. Eord- 

 ley relates an experiment, in v/hich he compa-'^ed cabbages transplanted with 

 others not once moved. The uninovetl grew, and vv'ere belier than the moved." 

 Mr. Cobbett sdLWS, to hB.\Q f iie cabbages Cif any sort, they must be (fzf/ce trans- 

 planted. First^ they should be taken from lbs seed-bed, (where they have been 

 sown in beds near to each other,) and put into fresh dug, well-broken ground, 

 at six inches apart, every v.-a}^ This is called pHcJdng out. By standing 

 here about fifteen or twenty days, they get straight, and stand strong, erect, 

 and have a straight and stout stem. Out of this plantation they come alL 

 of a size; die roots of all are in the same state, and they strike quicker into 

 the ground Vv^here they stand for a crop." According to Rees^ Cijcloyedia, 

 it was the practice of the celebrated BakewelL and other cultivators who 

 followed his example, to drill cabbage seed where the plants were to re- 

 main. Perhaps there vvould be no necessity for transplanting cabbages, 

 in order to make the stems straight and stout,'' according to Mr. Cobbett's 

 directions, if the plants v/ere not originally sown too thick, or were proper- 

 ly thuniei.i at an earl}^ period of their gro'Alh. An English witer. says, 



Much injury frequently arises to young cabbage plantS; from 'the seed being 



