Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-12-14
tULTURE OF VEGETABLES.
BY CHARLES 4. PEABODY.


!
CADBAaE.-All the varieties Of cab
bage, caulitlower, broccoli, collard and kale,
sprang from a wild sea shore plant, indig-
enot;s to Europe. Cultivation has produc-
ed tho soli! head cabbage, and the pulpy
delicate caulinower, and broccoli, from the
rough and scraggy sea shore kae. All
head cabbage run into 'long coliards" in
hot climates, to prevent this, and have good
firm heads, the seeds must come from a
more northern latitude. Few persons are
aware; that northern gardeners do not
plant, or northern scedr!cn vcnd, early
cabbage seed, of American raising. The
early york, early heart, carly sugar loaf,
&C., are almost invariably imported from
Eogl.nd, for the reason that they are
found to run into later varieties by Amer
can culture, soil and climate. Late Cab.
hage seed Of American growth, are supe-
ror to the imported; and produce fairer
a''d l'rger heads. Upper Georgia, Tennes-
sec and North Carolina, may raise their
cabbage seed to advantage. Early cab
bage seed may he sown from January 10
March if sown as early as the first Of
January, the plants should have slight
covering Of straw or leaves, to protect
them from frost and rs the weather be-
comes mild, uncover and transplant
Iiarly cabbage may be planted in drills,
two fec, apart, and thinncd out to eighteen
inches or two feet in the drills, and they
will head without transplan,irg. Fairly
cabbaye may also be sown in October,
AMI with some little protection through
the winter, will make very early sp,ing
ralh"se. Early cauliilower or broccoli,
Nil 30; come TO any thing in this climate !;
bur Tie later kinds may be cultivated as
successfully AS the late kind Of cabbage,
and by the same method Of treatment.
The late cau!iffowcr md tho late purple
cape brocoii are the proper kinds to cult
vate i'll the South. Tine solid bloom head,
before lhe blossom opens is the part eaten.
These boiled and dressed like asparagus,
arc considered by many equal to it. Late
cabbage may be sown in February and
March, and in July and August. That
which is sown early should not be trans
planted until June and July, and then
planted deep, if the stalk is two feet long,
put it in the groundup to the first leaf
and if the soil is rich, it will head finely.
And here I will state, that head cabbage
being an artificial production, the soil must
be rich, or they will run into collarJs.
have seen as fine heads Of the Begen and
late Drumhea ad varieties made here, after
the above method, as ever grew in "Der
Faderland." Late cabbages, cauliAowers
and broccoli may also be made from seed
sown in July and August. Cabbage will
head, planted this way, without trans
planting, ard may be cut fresh from the
garden although the winter. There are
many kinds of kale which can be cultiya-
ted successfully in tho fall and winter
months at the South. 1t is almost too
hot to succeed we'll with sea kaIe, but the
Scotch and Siberian, do remarkably well,
and will repay for their cultivation. Sibe-
rian kae is perennial, aud on this account
is preferable to the Scotch. It is cultivated
like the cabbage, and is cooked and eaten
like IL. The cabbage is biennial; and runs
freely to seed the second year; but there
'sno certainty of its producing its like in
this climate. Various msthods are pur-
sued to destroy the green worm, which is
50 destructive to our cabbage tribe. To
dust the cabbage well with ashes is an ex-
celIent plan, and the free use Of gypsum
over the growing plants, is found to be o
great service IN keeping down the ravage.
o the worm. Wherever mari abounds,
I there, can ,he cabbage be grown 10 grea
perfection 10 worm will trouble the cab
!, bagsi if masl is freely used in the soil
: Another method of destroying them is I,
admit q brood of chickens, the hen bsinl
8 cooped near, 20 that the chickens can hav
I free access to them, and they viii pick ou
all the worms without ihjuriug the cabbage
9 Tbose. who wish very early cabbage, AM
( are wiling to incur little expense ap'
!, trouble, may plant:in 6 hot bed: sbou
. christnaas, and they viii have plsuts Ct t
8 h4nspiant IN tho open gtouud in Februar!
aud ,March~-iSoutaets 6altivator.. ~
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