HENDERSON'S GARDEN GUIDE AND RECORD. 13 



CABBAGE. 



1 oz. will produce 1,500 plants; half-pound to transplant for an acre. 

 The early varieties of Cabbage in our Northern States must either be sown in hotbedg 

 in February, or, what is sdll better, wintered over in coldframes ; for this purpose the seed 

 is sown from the 10th to the 20th of September. In four or five weeks from the time of 

 sowing they will be fit to transplant into the coldframes. In planting it is very important 

 with Cabbage or Cauliflower that the plant is set down to the first leaf, so that the stem 

 is all under ground, for, if exposed, it may be split by the action of the frost. The plants are 

 set out from the middle of March to the middle of April, in rows about two feet apart, 

 and eighteen inches between the plants in rows. This earliest crop matures in June. 

 For second early the early kinds should be sown first week in April and planted out in May. 

 This crop matures in July and August. Late Cabbage for fall and winter use, sow from 

 May to June. The plants are set in July, at distances of three feet between the rows, and 

 two feet between the plants. This crop matures September, October or November. 



CAULIFLOWEK. 



1 oz. will produce about 1,000 plants. 



The soil and cultural requirements of Cauliflower and Cabbage are similar. 



The seed may be sown in September and wintered over in the same manner as described 

 for early Cabbage. Where this is not practicable. Cauliflower may be had nearly as well 

 by sowing the seeds in the hotbed in February or March and transplanting the plants 

 two or three inches apart in a coldframe, until such time as safe to be planted in the open 

 ground, which, in the latitude of New York City, is from the loth of March to the 10th of 

 April. If properly hardened off they are seldom injured by planting out too early. For 

 second and late crop sow at same date as given in the directions for Cabbage crop. 



CAKKOT. 



1 oz. for 100 feet of drill; 4 lbs. for an acre. 

 The Carrot, like other root crops, delights in a sandy loam, richly tilled. For early 

 crops sow in spring, as soon as the ground is in good working order; for later crops they 

 may be so^\ti any time until the middle of June. Sow in rows about fifteen inches apart, 

 thinning out to three or four inches between the plants. As Carrot seed is slow to germinate, 

 extra precautions must be taken to firm the seed in the soil, as described on page 3. 



CELERY. 



1 oz for 3,000 plants; 1 lb. to transplant for 1 acre. 



Sow in the open ground as soon as it is fit to work in April, and keep clear of weeds 

 until ti ne of transplanting in June or July. The tops should be shorn once or twice before 

 transplanting, so as to ensure "stocky ' plants. The lower half of the roots should also 

 be cut off before transplanting. 



Set the plants six inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. If the weather be dry at the time 

 of planting care should be taken that the roots are properly "firmed." Our custom is 

 to turn back on the row and press by the side of each plant gently with the foot. This 

 compacts the soil, and excludes the air from the roots until new rootlets are formed, which 

 wil' usually be in forty-eight hours. Nothing further is to be done for six or seven weeks, 

 except freeing the plants of weeds until they get strong enough to crowd them down. 

 This will bring us to about the middle of August, by which time we have usually that 

 moist and cool atmosphere essential to the growth of Celery. Then we begin the "earthing 

 up" necessary for the blanching and whitening of that which is wanted for use during 

 the fall months. The first operation is that of "handling," as we term it; that is, after 

 all the soil has been drawn up against the plant wth a hoe, it is further drawn close around 

 each plant by the hand, firm enough to keep the leaves in an upright position and prevent 

 them from spreading. This being done, more soil is drawn against the row (either by the 

 plow or hoe, to keep the plant in this upright position. The blanching process must, how- 

 ever, be finished by. the spade, which is done by digging the soil from between the rows 

 and banking it up clear to the top on each side of the row of Celery. 



Blanching Celery with Boards. Cele-y f^r early use is often bla'>ched with boards 

 10 to 12 inches in wi 1th, set on edge on either side of the row and close to the plants, the 

 top edges inclining together and resting against the i)lants so the boards are only 2 to 3 

 inches apart, in which position they are held with wire hooks or cleats naileil across. 

 Boarding is done when the plants are large enough to show a few leaves above the boards. 

 The foliage then soon fills the space excluding the light so that the stalks will be blanched 

 in from 10 to 20 days. 



CELERIAC. 



Sow about April 20th in latitude of New York, covering seeds about one-half of an inch. 

 Thin out to about one inch apart in the row, and when large enough transplant into rows 

 two feet apart and five inches apart in the row. 



