The National tribune., 1894-03-01


strawberry should address the J. T. Lovett Co.,
Little Silver, N. J., who are introducing il and
whose advertisements will be found in another
column.
Of all the crops raised on the farm none de-
ponds so much on naturally rich land as cab
bage. The best soil is deep. black loose loan,
well drained, such as is found In the valleys Of
the smaller streams. 1t is plowed in the Fall
or 10 inches deep, in narrow lands. The first
10 days Of April is the time for sowing the
seed. The ground is narrowed only to level IL
as the action of frost during Winter has reduced
il to the fneness of ashes. 1t is them marked
off three feet each way with a corn marker.
With hoe enough soil is drawn up at each
cross mark to make a small, fat hill, little
above the general level. A dozen seeds are
dropped on each and pressed down by the foot
to bring the seed in close contact with the soil,
no covering being necessary. A day or two be-
fore the plants appear above ground, pass twice
through the rows with small tooth cuitiVator
as close as possible without throwing any soil
on the hills. This can be easily done, as tho
tracks of the marker serve as a guide.
plants are an inch high, and should be cross
wise of the first blowing, once in row. The
field should be thoroughly cleaned of weeds by
the time the plants are two inches high. Dis
erection must be exercised in thinning the
plants. If cutworms are numerous the hills
should not be thinned to one in a place until
the plants are four or five inches high; but at
no time should they be allowed to crowd ono
another in the hill. Some hills will be wholly
missing. These should be reset from the thin
nings, selecting the stockiest plants that come
up with good roots. The oftener cabbage Is
cultivated the better will be the crop. The
ground should be kept loose and mellow to q
depth of four or five inches. Twenty times Is
not too often to cultivate cabbage for the best
results. Two or three hoeings, only, are nee
esssry, and ths first is the only one that will
take much time if thoroughly done and the
cultivator is used as it should be. Breaking OF
the lower leaves is no detriment, and their be-
ing in the way should not deter the plowmsn
from running the shallow-cutting shoyels of
horseshoe close mp to the plants Cultivation
should cease before the heads begin to get solid.
Although few writers recommend sowing the
seed where the plant is to remain, still we be-
lieve few of these writers live where the Sum-
mer is long and dry.
The cabbage plant has long tap root so long
that the plant cannot be removed without
breaking it, and when once broken it will
never penetrate the soil SO deeply as before. In
1885 the writer had two and half acres of Late
Flat Dutch cabbage, grown without transplant
ing. that yielded 10000 marketable heads An
other acre of just as good land was planted with
the best plants thinned out on the large field.
The returns from this acre were not over 500
good heads and the results have been, with
more or less variation, the same through sue
ceeding years. Of course, this plan is advisable
for late cabbage only, az the early kinds are
and have usually headed before
dry weather commences.-AmericGH Agriealt-
lrtSt.
Currants need Deep rich soil Indeed, it
is useless to expect crop on poor or insult
able lands Cool, moist soils are better than
light or gravely lands, as the plants are ex-
sensitive to excessive heat or
1roughts. Partial shade is not q disadvantage,
though not essential to success. Heavy mulch
ing is our sheet-anehor. We prefer halfrotted
straw, cane grindings or similar material, and
apply heavily. This gives the proper condi-
lions of moisture and GOODNESS about the roots
which insures success. Plants should be set
five by six feet. the rows six feet apart. If
carefully planted they may be cultivated both
ways until they begin to bear. The cultiyator
nay be run between rows the wide way to
Keep down weeds and grass after bearing be-
.ins for this way will save mulch and prevent
he ground becoming too solid between rowa
In bearing patch stable manure can be used
or mulching with excellent results