62 
Garden Work 
for planting they ought to be put on ground which is 
not too rich; otherwise they may grow too rapidly and 
become soft, thereby being more liable to be injured by 
the severe weather during the winter. The Cabbage is 
a gross -feeding plant, and as it is the vegetable part of 
the plant which is eaten, and as this is more tender if 
grown quickly, it will be better to apply some quick- 
acting manure, such as nitrate of soda, in spring. This 
should be applied at the rate of 8 to 12 oz. per 10 sq. yd. 
two or three times during the growing season. It may 
be sprinkled over the surface of the soil during a slight 
rain. 
Liquid manure from the tanks, or from the made-up 
barrels, may be used for the same purpose. Given once 
or twice a week, this will be specially suitable during dry 
weather. 
Cabbages can be considerably hastened in forming 
good hearts if hand lights or bell glasses are placed over 
them. On very warm days these should be tilted on one 
side, thus allowing a circulation of air. If the ground 
can be spared in spring, when the cabbage has been cut, 
the root and the stem may be left. From this stem 
young shoots will break out, and if the plants have been 
vigorous, nice little cabbages will be produced later on 
in the season. When cabbages are wanted during as 
long a season as possible a small sowing may be made 
on an early, sheltered border in February. These will 
come on in succession to the autumn-sown ones. The 
main -crop sowing may be made from the middle to the 
end of March. Seeds should always be sown thinly, as 
the seedlings then get a chance to develop into strong, 
