The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-13
Cabbage Growing.

There is hardly any other crop that gives
the gardener the pleasure and satisfaction
that a good crop of cabbage does; and by 8
good crop we mean when 90 to 95 per cent.
of his plants make firm. good-sized head.
of course 1t requires more skill to grow a
nerfect caulihower or perfect bunch of
gallery, but success with either of these does
not usually give any more pleasure than is
derived from The growing of a perfect cab
bsge head When grown successfully the
cabbage cropis a very profitable one, easy
to Market and it is a vegetable that every
4 one likes ia all seasons.
The rich and poor meet on common
ground to extol the merits Of cabbage.
Some like it raw, others prefer it boiled.
Some are amazing fond of it both ways,
and are not averse to it three times daily.
As a source of ''cold slawn it is simply ins
dispensable to the civilized world. There is
no danger of it going out of fashion.
Fine crops OF cabbages are dependent
upon the three requisites that are essential
to the success of any other valuable crop,
70 wit Good soil. good seed, good culture.
II the texture of the soil is not right it is
not easily remedied, but if the soil is merely
poor, it can be made rich by applications
Of proper manure. But 1t makes all the
Il difference in the world to grow a crop on
soil naturally rich instead of on soil arti-
fcialy enriched. In the first instance,
n the elements that constitute plant food
exist in right combination and proper
form to be assimilated steadily by the grow
ing plant without danger OF its being fired
H or burned in periods of dry weather.
II the soil is not rich heavy application
of manure is called for in order to grow
good crops of cabbage. All rank manures
should be applied broadcast, aud a mild
non-heating fertilizer used in the drill. For
the latter purpose mixture Of finely
ground bone and ashes, in the same old
cotton seed compost that has been WELL
fermented is good; in cooperating it
thoroughly with the main furrow. II called
for further application may be made about
the plant, but not close up TO it, four or six
weeks after setting out. This will be worked
into the soil by any hoeing, narrowing or
syeepngs that follow. Any good ammoni-
Il ated superphosphate is, of course, a proper
application. 1he thing is to give the crop
H plant food in proper combinations and in a
way that will not carry with it any evil
consequences, chief of which is firing in
dry weather.
Good old compost and plenty Of it is al
ways in order. Hog manure should not be
applied.
There are cabbages and cabbages; their
name is legion. We have no conception Of
how many named sorts might be listed. Let
thousand seed catalogues answer that
question. 1t does not matter under what
name q cabbage may be listed. The ques-
ton is, is it from good strain? Have the
seeds been grown from perfect head and
81 carefully selected Is the variety adapted
to the soil and climate of the grower? A
good variety of cabbage may soon be
brought into disrepute by careless seed
growers.
e Successful cabbage growing demands that
the very best seeds that IL Is possible to,
obtain should be used, and these we must
secure from reputable growers at the north.
One had better pay So or even $40 for a
pound of first-class cabbage seed than 30
use Inferior seed as a gift.
h Southern cabbage growing begins prop
erly in the fall; seed should be sown in
September or early October and the plants
put out in November and early December.
This natures the earliest crop in the spring.
A second planting is made in February from
plants raised in cold frames Other plant
n lngs are continued along until May, when
The late growing varieties like the Flat
Dutch are put out for the winter crop. OF
late years injurious insects have proved
iOoo SDotaS4o " LA4o ldGS ONOp duo luauJ
failures have been recorded. The cut
worms, green worms ana harlequin bugs
are the chief enemies to the crop; the latter
mentioned being more destructive than any
other in many localities. . ...
VI course thorough preparation of the
SOL Is essential at any season, but it is
speclally important that the soil be deeply
proken and we'll pulverized for such plant
lngs as are made after April No pains
t1ould be spared to get the soil in the finest
ti'h' when possible, blowing and CROSS
pIowIng and thoroughly narrowing the soil
betore laying of the rows. applying suitable
Fertilizer before narrowing. A good founda-
tion must be laid toward withstanding the
usual autumn drought. With well broken
toiI to start with, frequent shallow cuItiva-
lion Will enable the cropt to do this.