A CATECHISM OF GARDENING. 
305 
sowed in September, and again in April and June, from which sow¬ 
ings young plants may be had to keep up a supply the year round. 
How are the seed-beds made P An open spot or border is chosen, 
well manured and digged ; the seed is scattered regularly, firmly 
trodden in and raked smooth. As the seedlings rise they must be 
guarded from birds, and kept from weeds. 
Is it necessary to transplant the seedlings to a nursery bed ? As 
it is an advantage to have plants of what is called a stocky, i. e. a 
stout, low habit, it is good management to prick out all the strongest 
into a fresh bed, not only that they may have ample room to spread 
their leaves, but because the underlings in the seed bed will be greatly 
benefitted by their removal. 
How is this part of the business done ? There are two modes 
practised. The first is, to prepare a bed thrice the size of the seed¬ 
bed ; on this the largest of the seedlings are carefully dibbed, four or 
five inches apart. Here they stand to gain strength till they are 
finally planted out in October. 
What is the other method ? The ground, or a part of it, intended 
for the principal crop of cabbage, is got ready as soon as the seed¬ 
lings are fit to prick out. Here they are placed in rows twice as 
thick as they should ultimately stand—say in rows ten inches asun¬ 
der, and the plants seven inches apart in the rows. About the 5th 
of October, all the ground being prepared for the reception of the 
supernumeraries, each intermediate plant in the standing rows, is 
transferred to its proper place on the vacant ground, to complete the 
plantation. 
Is there any other way of raising cabbage P Yes, some curious 
persons sow the seed thinly in drills, and, when the plants are fairly 
up, thin them to five inch distances ; by which treatment they grow 
strongly, and are in excellent condition to be finally set out in Octo¬ 
ber ; but this is a refinement in the cultivation which is not abso¬ 
lutely necessary. 
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What is the general management and its effects on a plantation of 
cabbage ? The bulk as well as the quality of the crop varies with 
the character of the soil. In light sandy and moderately rich ground, 
cabbages are earlier and sweeter in flavour though yielding smaller 
heads ; of course, in very rich land, and all the tribe require rich 
land, the crop is somewhat later and corresponding larger. But in 
any ground in good heart, if well digged and prepared, a crop seldom 
fails, if the plants are hoed among and properly earthed up. 
What are the usual distances at which cabbages are planted ? The 
smaller early sorts may be planted in rows eighteen inches asunder, 
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