The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-12
How to Raise Good Cabbage.

1 suppose there is more cabbage grown
and marketed every year than of any
other one vegetable and it is generally
supposed that any one can make a sue
cess of growing a crop of it if they only
try; but, like every other crop, there are
failures and successes attending its pro-
duction, says writer in Southern Plan
ter.
Cabbage, to be of good quality sound
and crisp, must be grown rapidly. From
the day the plant appears above the
ground until it is ready for market, it
must be kept steadily growing and not
be allowed to get any back-set in any way.
There is all the difference in the world
between a cabbage that has been growing
for four months or more and one that
has been produced in from two 10 three
months. The former is tough and leath-
cry, the latter crisp and sweet.
II there is any vegetable that does not
want to be fortified with stable ma
nure, it is cabbage and if there is any
vegetable that wants potash, and plenty
of it, it is cabbage.
The seed-bed must be well prepared and
made very rich; the seed sown in drills
eight or ten inches apart, so as to al
low of cultivation and wedding is nee
essary. After the plants get a good
satnd, a little nitrate of soda helps to
push them forward. The plants should
not be transplated into the open ground
until they are of a good size and able
to stand the shock of trasplanting. There
Is really nothing gained by being. in too
great hurry and doing this too soon
Cabbage does best to follow a crop of
corn or oats. 1t should never be planted
in succession, to itself, or other, crucifer-
Gus crops, such as turnips or kale as in
that case 1t is almost certain to be in
fected with culp root and is more liable
to attacks of lice. and othen diseases. The
land should always be deeply and well
ploWed ard prepared, and about eight
hundred pounds per acre of kainit should
be broadcasted and narrowed in a few
weeks before planting. This helps 10 XIII
any slugs or cutworms there may be in
the soil. mediately before planting
apply about half a ton per acre Of a fer
tllzer rich in potash and phosphoric acid
5 per cent. phosphoric acid, 10 per cent
potash, and 3 to 4 per cent. nitrogen is
about right. This, with the ka1nit added
would give nearly a ton to the acre l
find nitrate of soda the best form Of nitro
gen for cabbage, as it is very quick act
ing and stimulating in its effects The
soil, however, must be in the best physi-
cal condition for it, otherwise, / would
use cotton seed meal The nitrate of soda
is best applied alone mot composted with
the potash and phOsphoric acid, and in
small doses during the growth of the
plant! Cotton seed meal, to be most eff
fective, sould be used az least a month
before planting, as it takes that time for
nitriiication to become active. Some adj
vocate the use Of potash either as mu-
rate or sulphate) a long time ahead of
planting, but, as itais Immediately availa-
bic, have always found 1t best shortly
before, unless the land was of a very stiff
clayey nature, in which case it would suit
applied a few weeks in advance
After the plants begin TO grow we'll they
should have the most close attention. The
cultivator should be among them at least
once a week. and they should be kept
thoroughly clear of weeds. The cabbage
worm must be looked after and the most
effective remedy for him is to spray with
a weak solution Of potash water "a teas
poonful of kainit In five gallons of water;
little nitrate Of soda may also be added,
say, half the quantity OF the xainit. This
applied In the evening, when the sun is
not shining strong, a few times before
the plants begin heading, settles the mat
ter; In fact, the best Insecticides we have
are potash and nitrate Of soda. as they
are both Insecticides and fertilizers IN
one.
There Is more money Ia cabbage, n prop
erly manured, than in any other crop that