82 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  27,  1898. 
VEGETABLES  FOR  HOME  AND  EXHIBITION. 
{Continued  from  page  30.) 
Cabbage. 
No  apologies  are  needed  for  placing  tliis  amongst  the  most 
important  vegetaldes.  Early  spring  Cabbage  is  welcomed  as  being 
the  forerunner  of  other  favoured  vegetables,  and  the  market  grower 
produces  nothing  more  profitable  when  his  facilities  are  such  that  he 
is  able  to  place  spring  Cabbage  on  the  market  a  few  days  before 
his  neighbours.  The  plant,  broadly  speaking,  may  be  said  to  thrive 
anywhere  and  under  any  ordinary  conditions,  though  it  gives  the  best 
returns  in  fertile  soil  and  under  systematic  methods  of  culture.  All 
members  of  the  Brassica  family  are  gross  feeders,  and  the  Cabbage  is 
no  exception.  Good  farmyard  manure  is  the  food  it  revels  in,  and  the 
plant  will  appreciate  all  it  obtains  in  the  way  of  suitable  nourishment. 
In  the  cultivation  of  this  crop  one  important  point  should  never  be 
lost  sight  of— namely.  Succession.  The  first  sowing  should  take  place 
about  the  middle  of  February,  and  artificial  heat  being  then  necessary, 
it  is  best  to  choose  an  early  variety  and  sow  the  seeds  thinly  in  boxes, 
placing  this  in  a  propagating  pit  or  heated  frame.  When  large 
enough,  the  plants  must  be  pricked  out  in  light  soil  in  a  frame,  and  as 
the  season  advances  be  gradually  hardened  until  they  can  be  removed 
to  their  permanent  quarters.  The  soil  should  be  prejrared  beforehand 
by  deeply  digging  and  incorporating  good  manure,  then  lift  the  young- 
plants  with  balls  of  earth  attached,  so  that  there  shall  be  no  check  in 
the  growth,  and  all  other  conditions  being  favourable,  a  bed  of  useful 
summer  Cabbage  will  be  the  result. 
Sowing  number  two  is  for  the  autumn  supply,  and  should  be  made 
early  in  April,  though  in  this  case  little  protection  is  needed  when 
pricking  from  the  seed  boxes.  If  no  ground  is  actually  vacant,  the 
plants  may  be  placed  as  other  crops  come  off,  though  it  is  always 
well  to  have  a  reserve  plot,  as  leaving  them  too  long  before  trans¬ 
planting  is  not  an  incentive  to  their  well-doing.  Cabbage  from  the 
second  sowing  may  be  obtained  tender  and  fresh  late  into  the  autumn, 
and  it  is  questionable  whether  thg  vegetable  is  ever  more  appreciated 
if  we  except  those  from  the  earliest  spring  cutting. 
The  third  sowing  is  to  provide  spring  Cabbage,  and  is  allowed  to 
be  the  most  important  of  the  trio.  Locality  has  all  to  do  with  the 
actual  time  of  sowing,  as  in  warm  southern  districts  it  would  be  a 
mistake  to  sow  so  early  as  in  the  colder  north ;  therefore  no  hard  and 
fast  rule  can  be  enforced,  and  sowings  may  be  made  from  the  second 
or  third  week  in  July  to  the  middle  of  the  following  month.  Good 
strong  plants  are  wanted  to  withstand  the  rigour  of  winter,  but  rank 
overgrown  plants  are  the  first  to  succumb  to  a  severe  spell  of  frost. 
It  is  a  common  and  good  plan  to  make  two  sowings  during  the  period 
stated — the  first  of  a  Colewort,  and  the  second  of  a  good  hearting 
variety  of  Cabbage.  No  transplanting  is  necessary  in  this  case,  as 
the  plants,  raised  thinly,  may  be  removed  from  the  seed  bed  to  their 
permanent  quarters,  those  not  required  being  left  to  fill  up  vacancies 
in  the  spring. 
Quarters  that  have  carried  summer  crops  are  -well  suited  for 
Cabbage,  the  soil  being  rich  with  manure  and  fairly  firm,  as  if  too 
loose  and  friable  there  is  a  danger  of  that  rankness  of  autumnal  growth 
against  which  we  should  endeavour  to  guard.  The  distance  apart 
varies  according  to  the  variety,  though  from  a  foot  to  18  inches  is 
ample.  Planting  should  take  place  if  possible  during  showery 
weather,  and  failing  that  water  must  be  given  as  the  work  proceeds. 
The  plants  should  be  watched  in  severe  weather,  as  frequently 
flocks  of  half-starved  linnets  will  find  them,  and  very  soon  nothing 
remains  but  a  mass  of  riddled  stalks.  When  the  plants  commence 
growing  in  the  spring  keep  the  surface  soil  stirred  with  the  hoe  and 
draw  a  little  round  the  stems.  At  this  period  a  stimulant  applied 
as  a  top-dressing  works  wonders,  and  the  difference  in  the  growth  of 
the  plants  after  the  dressing  is  very  apparent. 
The  field  of  variety  among  Cabbage  is  a  wide  one,  and  for  size  and 
form  there  are  sorts  to  suit  all  tastes.  Small  conical  heads  are  much 
appreciated  at  some  dinner  tables,  and  where  such  is  the  case  Little 
Pixie  and  others  of  the  same  type  are  admirable  for  the  purpose. 
Ellam’s  Early  is  still  a  prime  favourite  as  a  spring  Cabbage,  and 
Mein’s  No.  1  and  Wheeler’s  Imperial  must  be  mentioned  amongst 
the  best.  For  size  and  weight  Enfield  Market  and  Defiance  are  two 
varieties  hard  to  beat  and  extremely  popular,  and  for  sowing  in  the 
spring  for  summer  and  autumn  cutting  Early  York  is  very  good.  It 
is  needless  to  make  more  than  a  passing  reference  to  the  usefulness 
of  Cabbage  sprouts,  which  form  after  the  heads  have  been  cut. 
Frequently  these  are  relied  on  for  succession  instead  of  planting  for 
summer  and  autumn  use,  though  the  latter  course  is  recommended. 
In  regard  to  exhibition,  I  still  stand  to  my  argument  that  the  best 
heads  of  Cabbage  for  the  dinner  table  are  the  best  for  show,  and  this 
theory  would,  of  course,  debar  those  monsters  of  culti  vation  that  one 
frequently  sees  obtaining  first  prizes  over  the  heads  of  smaller  Cabbages, 
though  superior  in  quality.  Very  large  Cabbages  are  rank  and  strong, 
and,  as  a  rule,  have  a  huge  tough  stalk  penetrating  the  heart,  which 
deteriorates  their  value  as  an  article  of  food.  Medium-sized  heads,  firm. 
well  filled  with  hearts  good  and  sound,  are  the  kind  one  v/ould  naturally 
choose  to  eat,  and  if  quality  is  to  be  the  main  thing  looked  for  by 
judges,  then  it  is  such  Cabbage  that  should  receive  the  first  considera¬ 
tion  on  the  exhibition  table. — Grower  and  Judge. 
FAIR  DEVON. 
{Continued  from  page  28.) 
The  Strawberries  relied  upon  are  few.  Sir  Joseph  Paxton  is  the  first 
favourite,  and  is  found  far  more  satisfactory  than  any  others,  though 
President  and  Princess  Alice  IMaud  are  included  in  many  plantations. 
Pioyal  Sovereign  has  found  its  way  into  some  of  the  holdings,  but  it  is 
not  much  more  than  under  trial ;  and  it  is  strange  that  more  varieties 
have  not  been  tried,  especially  in  the  early  sections,  for  necessarily  it 
is  mainly  upon  the  early  crops  that  the  producers  depend.  But  they 
find  Sir  J.  Paxton  so  uniformly  reliable  that  they  are  naturally 
reluctant  to  make  a  change  without  any  substantial  reason.  With 
regard  to  the  distances  for  planting  preference  is  given  to  2^  feet 
between  the  plants  in  the  rows,  thus  allowing  more  space  for  the 
gatherers  and  for  general  cultivation.  It  is  considered  that  the  planta¬ 
tions  continue  profitable  for  four  or  five  years,  and  some  point  to  beds 
that  have  been  in  bearing  for  ten  or  twelve  years,  but  the  latter  are 
exceptional.  In  my  experience,  and  I  believe  that  is  in  accord  with 
the  majority  who  have  a  large  extent  of  land  under  Strawberries,  the 
plants  are  very  little  use  after  the  third  year,  and  some  even  advocate 
treating  the  plants  as  biennials,  though  this  does  not  allow  much 
margin  for  losses  occasioned  by  bad  seasons. 
One  rather  interesting  fact  deserves  notice  in  connection  with  this 
part  of  the  subject — namely,  (October  planting  is  both  advocated  and 
practised  by  some  with  the  object  of  preventing  the  plants  bearing  the 
first  year,  as  it  is  found  that  the  second  crop  is  then  so  much  larger 
and  better  in  every  way.  One  very  observant  man  who  has  had 
considerable  experience  was  very  emphatic  on  this  point,  though  it 
differs  materially  from  the  opinion  of  many  growers  in  other  counties. 
It  is  usually  reckoned  that  the  finest  fruits  are  secured  from  the  one- 
year  plants,  and  this  is  undoubtedly  what  does  take  place,  but  whether 
the  crop  in  an  ordinary  way  pays  for  gathering  is  another  matter.  In 
favourable  seasons  with  very  strong  plants  early  rooted  and  early 
planted,  the  first  season’s  crop  will  give  a  good  return,  but  otherwise  I 
am  inclined  to  think  there  is  something  in  our  Devon  friend’s  practice. 
It  has  a  bearing,  too,  upon  spring  planting,  which  might  be  expected 
to  exercise  a  check  in  the  direction  of  non-cropping  in  the  first  season, 
and  for  my  own  part  I  would  sooner  plant  Strawberries  in  spring  than 
late  in  the  year,  especially  if  the  soil  and  weather  conditions  are 
unsuitable  in  autumn. 
Besides  the  Strawberries,  Cherries  of  the  small  black  or  Mazzard 
type  are  extensively  grown,  the  trees  presenting  a  beautiful  feature  in 
the  landscape  when  covered  Avith  flowers,  as  they  are  in  most  seasons. 
The  average  crops  of  fruits  are  also  very  heavy,  but  are  disposed  of 
at  low  prices,  Plymouth  providing  a  convenient  market  for  these, 
though  it  is  said  to  be  less  advantageous  for  Strawberries,  which 
secure  better  prices  in  London,  or  even  more  northern  cities,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  long  distance  by  rail,  with  the  cost  and  risk  of  carriage. 
Taking  it  altogether,  hoAvever,  this  fruit  district  is  an  extremely 
interesting  portion  of  Devonshire,  and  some  of  the  owners  there  must 
regard  it  very  favourably,  seeing  what  a  difference  it  has  made  in  the 
rental  of  the  land. 
A  traveller  in  Devonshire,  particularly  if  he  journey  by  road, 
cannot  fail  to  have  his  attention  arrested  by  the  peculiar,  usually  very 
picturesque  or  occasionally  prim,  hedges  and  wall-like  field  or  road 
boundaries.  The  “  stone  fences  ”  of  this  county  are  as  characteristic 
a  feature  as  the  “  dry  walls  ”  of  Derbyshire  and  neighbouring  counties, 
only  they  have  much  more  in  their  favour  from  an  artistic  point  of 
view.  It  would  not  be  practicable  to  construct  such  boundaries  except 
in  districts  where  stone  is  very  abundant  and  easily  procured  ;  but  the 
soil  in  many  pai  ts  of  Devon  abounds  in  stone  or  rock  of  all  sizes,  even 
the  arable  land  is  similarly  stocked,  and  the  local  saying,  “  Miss  a 
stone  and  meet  a  guinea,”  is  sujiposed  to  represent  equal  probabilities. 
The  ploughing  or  digging  of  some  of  the  land  would  puzzle 
cultivators  who  have  to  deal  with  the  mellow  stoneless  soil  of  the 
Thames  valley  for  instance,  and  the  mere  handling  of  a  true  Devon¬ 
shire  shovel  Avould  be  a  novel  experience  to  most  gardeners  in  northern 
counties.  The  instrument  is,  however,  well  suited  to  the  character  of 
the  soil,  the  long  handle  slightly  curved  downwards  towards  the  base, 
the  large  flat  heart-shaped  blade  being  turned  up  at  a  slight  angle,  and 
it  is  astonishing  to  see  the  amount  of  work  a  vigorous  labourer  can  get 
through  in  soil  that  could  not  be  dug  with  ordinary  straight-blade 
spades,  or  even  with  forks.  _ 
Returning  to  the  “  stone  fences,”  which  deserve  a  few  words  of 
description,  it  must  be  said  that  they  are  expensive  to  form,  but 
