22 D. M. FERRY & GO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



CABBAGE 



For many yeai's cabbage seed has been a leading specialty with ns. Our cabbage seeds are all grown from approved 

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

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

 planters uniformly satisfactory results. 



The i-equisites for complete success with cabbage are: First, good seed; in this crop the quality of the seed used is of 

 the 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 

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

 as early as the ground is in good condit on, 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 

 necessary 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 Avhen 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 hoed every week and the ground stirred as they advance in growth, dra^^^ng 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 

 the 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 thinned to the consistency of cream. Stir the oil thorough- 

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

 five times as much water and apply once a week. 



Thecabbage worms which destroy the leaves and heads later may be killed by dusting Avith pyrethrum powder, slug 

 shot or Paris green. The last two are poisonous and should not be 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 



r> t J The earliest and hardest 



tarly Jersey heading of first early cab- 



WnL-Afi^^Irl bages. Most gardeners depend 



VV dUCllciu yp-Qjj j^ 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 prof- 

 itable and satisfactory results Our stock is 

 grown and selected with the greatest care; 

 there is none better and there are few as good. 



Head conical, very compact, solid and of excellent quality The thick, 

 stout leaves and compact habit of the variety make it the best sort for 

 very early setting Pkt. 5c; Oz. 40c; 2 Oz. 75c; h Lb. $1.25; Lb, $3.75 



Early Jersey Wakefield 



Charleston, or 

 Large Wakefield 



Early Spring 



A strain in 



which the 



plant is 



larger 



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. 

 The seed w^e offer can be depended 

 on to produce uniformly line, mar- 

 ketable heads, Pkt. 5c; Oz. 35c; 

 2 Oz. 60c; h Lb. $1.00; Lb. $3.50 



w-i , /-« . The earliest flat 



Larljf bprmg 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, smooth and of distinctive light 

 green color. The head is oval and 

 very lai'ge for the size of the plant, 

 nearly equaling many of the later 

 kinds. ( Verij sltort crop; sold out) 



