EARLY CABBAGE 



61 



to pile up a layer of sods, say a foot deep, then add a foot of rotten 

 manure, then another layer of sods, and so proceed. Where sod is 

 not obtainable, select a good piece of land, manure it heavilj^ plow 

 and harrow until ground is fine, then add another coat of manure, 

 plow, harrow and roll again, continuing this process until sufficient 

 manure has been worked into the soil and the ground is in fine mechan- 

 ical condition. Then screen the dirt and haul to greenhouse or store 

 in protected place until needed. 



The flats used are made by sawing in sections tomato cases or 

 other second-hand canned goods boxes. We try to buy all tomato 

 cases, as this gives us a uniform sized flat and one which fits in nicely 

 in the greenhouse, cold frame, and wagon. Years ago we used the 

 old "Armstrong" method for sawing the boxes, but now we hitch 

 a gasoline engine to a circular saw, which makes short work of the 

 box business. Large sized shoe cases are purchased, taken apart, 

 and used for bottoming the inner sections. For cabbage plants, the 

 flats are made two and one-half inches deep; for tomato plants and 

 especially for re-transplanted plants, we prefer to have the flats an 

 inch deeper. 



We use double cold frames in preference to the single frame. 

 They are made deep enough to allow one-half foot fresh horse manure 

 in the bottom, furnishing some bottom heat which is very desirable 

 while the plants are young and the weather severe. 



Instead of using mats to protect plants on cold nights, we use 

 steam-heated cold frames. These frames are built so as to pitch 

 four inches in one hundred feet. A three-inch main feed pipe runs 

 from the boiler across the ends of the frames and a two-inch pipe 

 carries the condensation back to the boiler. At the centre and lower 

 end of the frame, a one and one-half inch raiser is taken off the main 

 flow pipe and runs directly around the frame, connecting with the 

 main return pipe. Valves are placed on the flow and also on the 

 return pipe, and a pet cock placed on lower end of return pipe to allow 

 escape of air. We first tried the automatic air cocks, but found them 

 to be unsatisfactory. Steam-heated frames have proven entirely 

 satisfactory and much more economical than the use of mats. 



Cabbage is not at all particular in regard to soil. It will do well 

 on almost any kind of land, providing it is not wet and soggy. The 

 ground should be well drained either naturally or artificially. Land 

 with a loose gravelly sub-soil, however, is not desirable. Cabbage 

 is a rank feeder, and the main thing is to have the soil filled with 

 available plant food. If sod land is used, plow it early in the fall and 



