CABBAGE. 
33 
3t jerk. This leaves no chambering, (as gardeners call it,) no vacancy between 
tile plant and the soil. 
“ The state of the weather, when these operations are performed, is not a 
matter of indifference, and has been a subject of controversy; some recom¬ 
mending dry weather, others wet. As in many other cases of disputation, 
the truth lies between them—that is, moist weather is neither dry nor wet, 
and is precisely that which is best for setting out cabbages, or any other ve¬ 
getable. We ought not, however, to wait long for even this most favorable 
state of the atmosphere, since, with a little labor, we have the means of 
making up for its absence.’ 7 — Armstrong. 
“Dig the plants up, that is, loosen the ground under them with a spade, to 
prevent their being stripped too much of their roots. The setting stick 
should be the upper part of a spade or shovel handle. The eye of the spade 
is the handle of the stick. From the bottom of the eye, to the point of the 
stick, should be about nine inches in length. The stick should not be taper¬ 
ing , but nearly of equal thickness all the way down to within an inch and a 
half of the point, where it must be tapered off to the point. If the wood be 
cut away, all round, to the thickness of a dollar, and iron put round in its 
stead, it makes a very complete tool. The iron becomes bright, and the 
earth does not adhere to it as it does to wood. Having the plant in one 
hand, and the stick in the other, make a hole suitable to the root that it is to 
receive. Put in the root in such a way, that the earth, when pressed in, will 
be on a level with the butt-ends of the lower or outward leaves of the plant. 
Let the plant be rather higher than lower than this; for care must be taken 
not to put the plant so low as for the earth to fall, or be washed into the heart 
of the plant, nor even into the inside of the bottom leaves. The stem of a 
cabbage, and the stems of all the cabbage kind, send out roots from all the parts 
of them that are put beneath the surface of the ground. It is good, there¬ 
fore, to plant as deep as you can without injury to the leaves. The next con¬ 
sideration is, the fastening of the plant in the ground. The hole is made 
deeper than the length of the root, but the root should not be bent, at the 
point, if it can be avoided. Then, while one hand holds the plant, with its 
root in the hole, the other hand applies the setting stick to the earth on one 
side of the hole, the stick being held in such a way as to form a sharp trian¬ 
gle with the plant. Then, pushing the stick down, so that its point go a 
little deeper than the point of the root , and giving it a little twist, it presses the 
earth against the point, or bottom of the root. And thus all is safe, and the 
plant is sure to grow. 77 — Cohbett. 
After-culture. —Little more is necessary than to stir the ground pretty fre¬ 
quently, and keep it clear of weeds. It is recommended to hoe the ground 
while the dew is on, once a week, till they begin to head. 
Diseases and insects. —Cabbages are liable to a disease in the roots, in 
Which they become swelled and knobby, and the plants of weak and impel 
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