4 j§ STOKES SEED FARMS COMPANY MOO REST OWN, NEW JERSEY 



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PETSAI SHANTUNG 



Petsai or Chinese Cabbage 



Although of the genus Brassica, Petsai is not of the cabbage family. Strictly speaking, it is a 

 mustard. Petsai has been grown in China for forty centuries, where, up until very lately, their farm 

 labor cost $21.00 a year. Being one of the most important vegetables of that country, this in itself 

 testifies as to economy in production. There are many varying types. Records show that it was 

 brought to America shortly after 1850. The lamented plant explorer, Meyer, was responsible for 

 bringing several distinct varities of Petsai to America. Thorburn was the first to introduce it 

 commercially in 1885. For twenty years it was offered by probably less than a dozen seedsmen. At the 

 present nearly all the seedsmen in America list it. The name Petsai is not varietal. As was the case 

 with many vegetables introduced into this country in the early days, no distinct varieties were offered. 

 At the present time, perhaps five are known commercially. We list the two which we believe are the 

 most desirable at the present time, viz., Shantung and Wong Bok. As a salad to be served with 

 mayonnaise or French dressing, we emphatically urge its more general use. It may also be cooked 

 in the same manner as spinach or Swiss chard, giving a dish which resembles cabbage in appearance, 

 but tasting somewhat like Brussels sprouts. It is not only more nutritious than lettuce but is a 

 better keeper and is far cheaper to grow. Mr. Charles F. Seabrook, General Manager of the Seabrook 

 Farms Company, the largest vegetable growing organization in this country, claims that Petsai 

 can be grown and marketed for one-half the cost of lettuce. The spirit of the times in this country 

 is surely lining up on the side of economy and there is every reason for believing that Chinese Cabbage 

 or Petsai will be in more and more general demand by the American consumers. The last twenty 

 years have given us the grapefruit, the avocado, the ripe olive, the casaba melon, French endive 

 (chicory) and many other table dishes entirely new to this country. Petsai may be grown success- 

 fully in practically every part of the United States and it is only a question of developing the markets, 

 and this alone is the only drawback to its more speedy adoption. To quote Dr. Fairchild in the 

 "Journal of Heredity", November, 1918, "In the Chinese Petsai we have a rival of the lettuce in 

 so far as any vegetable can rival another. It deserves at least to be given the serious consideration 

 of Americans as a supplement of lettuce. It can be produced for about half the money. It can be 

 grown everywhere throughout the country. It is a better keeper than lettuce and, pound for pound, 

 contains much more nutritive substance. Furthermore, in appearance it is more attractive." 



No. 142. Petsai Shantung. 18 inches tall. 



No. 144. Petsai Wong Bok. 12 inches tall. Price of either variety. Pkt. 15c, oz. 45c, 

 M lb. $1.35, lb. $4.75, postpaid. 



PETSAI AND LETTUCE COMPARED — Above is shown a head of lettuce at the left and a head of petsai at the right. Below is lettuce salad at the 

 left, petsai at the right. 



— Courtesy of U. S. Department of Agriculture, through the American Genetic Association. 



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A row of Petsai will be valuable in any garden 



