78 
Practical  Hints  on  Vegetable  Farming. 
plants  whilst  they  are  in  a critical  stage  of  their  existence, 
thus  promoting  leaf-formation  instead  of  flower-formation. 
My  custom  is  to  plant  Cabbage  soon  after  clearing  off  the 
early  peas.  The  ground  is  hoed  and  the  rubbish  removed, 
and  the  Cabbage  ])lanted  early  in  September  upon  the  ground 
previously  occupied  by  the  peas.  Such  soil  is  in  good  con- 
dition for  the  Cabbage,  which  quickly  becomes  established,  and 
continues  to  make  moderate  but  satisfactory  growth  during 
autumn  and  winter.  A rank  growth  during  autumn  is  un- 
desirable, because  fifteen  degrees  of  frost  during  winter  will 
destroy  it. 
As  this  crop  of  Cal)bage  is  cut  before  it  attains  its  full  size, 
it  is  unnecessary  to  ])lant  it  so  widely  apart  as  if  it  were  planted 
in  spring  for  use  in  June  and  July,  if  planted  in  rows  fifteen 
or  sixteen  inches  apart,  and  the  plants  twelve  or  fourteen  inches 
apart  in  the  rows,  there  is  ample  space  for  development  and  the 
ground  is  well  covered  by  the  crop. 
The  cro])  is  earlier  ready  for  cutting  if  there  is  shelter  in 
the  form  of  dwarf  apj)le  or  plum  trees,  or  in  some  other  form. 
Frequent  hoeing  between  the  ci'op  also  hastens  maturity  ; 
the  reason  for  this  is  not  so  well  understood  as  it  ought  to  be. 
The  frequently  broken  surface  of  the  soil  admits  the  rays  of 
the  sun  and  the  warm  air  to  the  roots  of  the  plants.  The 
broken  surface  of  the  soil  also  prevents  the  escape  from  the 
soil  of  moisture,  without  which  there  can  be  no  aj)preciably 
healthy  growth. 
Fertilisers  may  be  applied  in  February  and  March  with 
advantage,  and  should  be  hoed  in  at  once.  Fish  guano, 
nitrate  of  soda,  and  mixed  chemical  manures  are  each  used, 
and  each  kind  gives  good  I’esults.  A mixture  of  nitrate  of 
soda,  kainit,  and  superphosphate  of  lime  gives  the  darkest 
coloured,  sweetest  flavoured  and  most  comj)act  cabbage.  Fish 
guano  and  nitrate  of  soda  give  larger  but  not  heavier  cabbage. 
After  im])artial  trials  of  various  varieties  I have  not  found 
any  superior  for  earliest  cutting  than  the  true  Myatt’s  Early 
Offenham. 
Coleworts,  or  (bollards,  are  sometimes  very  useful  and 
valuable  as  a catch  crop  which  is  not  long  on  the  ground. 
Sow  seed  of  a (juick  variety  about  July  15th.  Plant  them  out 
a foot  apart  in  the  rows  and  fourteen  inches  between  the  rows. 
Draw  the  Coleworts  as  th('y  attain  a saleable  size  and  can  be 
disposed  of  advantageously.  The  ground  is  then  ready  for 
preparation  for  the  following  crop. 
