M. FERRY & GO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



CABBAGE 



19 



For many years cabbage seed has been a leading specialty with us. Our cabbage seeds are all grown from approved 

 Ptock seeds which are largely of our own development on our Oakview Seed Farm; they are all grown under our personal 

 spection and supervision. There is no seed more reliable, nor can any be more implicitly depended upon to give planters 

 ! i f ormly satisfactory results. 



CULTURE— The requisites for complete success are: First, good seed; in this crop the quality of the seed used is of 

 I lie greatest importance; no satisfactory results can possibly be obtained when poor seed is planted. Second, rich, well 

 prepared ground. A heavy, moist and rich loam is most suitable. Third, frequent and thorough cultivation. The ground 

 should be highly manured and worked deep. Cabbage is grown all over the country and specific directions regarding the 

 time and methods of planting applicable to all localities cannot be given. In general, north of the 40th parallel the early 

 .^orts should be sown very early in hotbeds, hardened off by gradually exposing them to the night air and transplanted 

 us early as the ground is in good condition, setting eighteen to thirty-six inches apart, according to size of variety. South 

 of the 40th parallel, sow about the middle of September, or later according to latitude, transplanting into cold frames if 

 ueeessai'y to keep through winter and setting in open ground as early as possible in the spring. 



The late autumn and winter varieties may be sown from the middle to the last of spring and transplanted when four 

 to six inches high. If the weather and soil is dry the late sowings should be shaded and watered in order to hasten ger- 

 mination, but it is important that the plants should not be shaded or crowded in the seed bed, or they will run up weak 

 and slender and will not endure transplanting well. 



Cabbages should be hoe I every week and the ground stinted as they advance in growth, drawing up a little earth to 

 the plants each time until they begin to head, when they should be thoroughly cultivated and left to mature. Loosening 

 tlu^ roots will sometimes retard the bursting of full grown heads. 



Of late years many crops of early cabbages have been destroyed by maggots at the roots. The best remedy seems to 

 be to remove the earth from around the stem and apply an emulsion of kerosene made as follows; Add one quart of 

 kerosene oil to two quarts of boiling soft soap which has been thiimed to the consistency of cr^am. Stir the oil thorough- 

 ly by churning or other method until it has united with the soap and forms a cream-like substance. Then dilute with 

 five times as much water and apply once a week. 



The cabbage worms which destroy the leaves and heads later may be killed by dusting with pyrethum powder, slug 

 shot or Paris green. The last two are poisonous and should not l:e used in large quantities, or late in the season, however, 

 should their use be necessary, care should be taken to remove the outside leaves before the heads are used. 



If the disease called club root should get a 

 foot-hold, do not plant the land with any of the 

 cabbage family for a year or two. This is usual- 

 ly an effective remedy. 



To preserve cabbages during winter, pull 

 them on a dry day and turn them over on the 

 heads a few hours to drain. Set them out in a 

 cool cellar, or bury them in long trenches in a 

 dry situation, covering with boards or straw so 

 as to keep out frost and rain. 



A great many of the varieties of cabbages are 

 simply strains rather than distinct sorts and 

 are really the same as some older and better 

 known kinds. We do not know of a single va 

 riety offered in this country which we have not 

 seen, both in trial and in fields and we are con- 

 fident that every good quality can be found in a 

 greater degree in the varieties we offer than in 

 any other kinds. 



First Early Sorts 



FavKr lAVcAir "^^^ earliest and hardest 

 i:«ciriy kiddcy heading of first early cab- 

 Walr<kl^itf>1r1 bages. Most gardeners depend 

 VV atveiieia upon it for the bulk of their ex- 

 tra early crop. Its exceeding hardiness not 

 only to resist cold but other unfavorable con- 

 ditions, insures the greatest likelihood of pro- Early Jersey Wakefield 



fitable and satisfactory results. Our stock is . . 



grown and selected with the greatest care; there is none better and there Cfisirlf^^frkn dY A strain in 

 are few as good. Head conical, very compact, solid and of excellent v^"a.fi*coi.u'ii vi which the 

 quahty. The thick, stout leaves and compact habit of the variety make I skv'ne^y^ silcf^r\tAA P'^^*' ^^ 

 it the best sort for very early setting. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 26c; 2 Oz. 40c; H Lb. 76c; *-*** & , tt a.ivciici« larger 

 Lb. $9.50 and a little later than Early Jersey 



Wakefield, the head being fully as 

 solid but less pointed and consider- 

 ably larger. Exceedingly hardy' and 

 on account of its earliness and size of 

 head with market gardeners and 

 shippers it is deservedly a very popu- 

 lar sort to follow Jersey Wakefield. 

 Pkt. 6c; Oz. 2oc; 2 Oz. 40c; 

 %Lb. 76c; Lb. $2.60 



I7«.iL.1«* C»«,«.Cm^ The earliest flat 

 Harly Opnng headed variety. 

 A wonderfully compact plant with 

 few outer leaves so that a great 

 number of fine solid heads can be 

 produced on an acre. Although it 

 does not come to full maturity as 

 early as Jersey Wakefield, it becomes 

 solid enough for use about as early 

 and is by far the best early sort for 

 markets that demand a large, flat 

 cabbage. The plant is vigorous, with 

 short stem. The leaves are large, 

 broad and of distinctive light-gl-JSM. 

 color. The b^M ^^ oval , and ve?y 

 [[sm large for the ipize of the plant, nearly 

 ■UmmS^^^Sm, n?any of the ^ liter kind?. 



Lb. m4m AS r)c(? .dJ ^ poOt .sO I' 



