The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-07-09
THE CABBAGE FAMILY
AND ITS CULTIVATION
Good Soil ard TiHsee Are Both Neees-
say. Says Expert

Many years ago. writes an expert
cabbage grower in the Country Gentle
man began growing all the cabbage
family for market or for home use
have grown nearly ali varieties have
tried many methods OF culture. and
have learned that there are a few es-
sentials that must be complied With 70
attain the best success The needs or
the whole family - Cahbages. cauli-
flower. kale. Brussels sprouts and hroc'
coli-are 20 nearly alike that when
we have made conditions right for
growing one We can grow them al.
The old family garden Is not the best
place for growing cahhages. because
the soil Is infested with the germs
from which develops ciub-rOot often
IL is only by applying large quantities
of lime and solutions containing pol
sons around the plant that any good
heads can be grown. The farmer can
most easily grow good Cabhases He
can tOp-dress heavily a piece Of sod
ground tcl0ver SOD Is hestl perhaps
when he Is maturing his corn ground.
prepare the soil hy blowing early IN
spring. narrowing several times. until
time for planting corn. then SCI the
cabbages. and cultivate with horse and
cultiyator
think most people will succeed bet
Ter II they SOW plants out Of doors In a
seel-bed for most Of the crop. As soon
as the ground is ready fO work select
a piece OF mellow soil only fairly rich.
where cabbages have not been grown
for several years Spade IL and rake
IL down finely. then mark Il OF In lit
tie burrows an inch deep and twelve
inches apart. and SOW seed rather thin
ly. tread them in IL soil is dry. then
cover by drawing the back Of the rake
over the burrows Cultivate the bed
occasionally until the plants are three
or four inches hiEh OF until the last OF
May or the first Of June. when they
should Re ready FOR transpianting. 4
rather short stocky plant grown out
OF doors. which has had plenty Of
room. is much better than most plants
grown under glass I have found that
IL requires so much work 10 grow
plants under glass OF in the house. and
transplant and harden. that I would
not do il unless growing for an early
market
For family use the best cabbage
know OF IS the Savoy strain. This ha.
more loose leaves than other cabhages
but il will make a head Of fair size
and the quality is the best. The dari
green. Curied or wrinkled leaves arr
ornamental and even the outside
leaves are SO tender that they may b
cooked and eaten I would add Onl,
one other cabbage 70 ny list for hom'
use - the Early Winnilgstadt - 10
both early and late The highprice,
strains OF cau'ifiower seed are yer.
Lou .r.rfIl
seed the heads may not be so white o.
60 well bred up for eariiness and uni
formity The standard varieties o
tale and Brussels sprouts are all good
proccoli is so similar 10 caulifowe
that few care 10 bother with IL. a.
though Il is harder and more easil.
grown in some localities. Collards
another OF the family. is mostly grow
in the South
The conditions OF soil have Dc
fcribed are the most ideal for all varis
ties. but If I were compelled 20 plan
IN an old garden instead OF on fires
soil I should want 20 apply lime 70
part Of a. after taking on an earl
crop. as peas or lettuce. seed In Jul
10 clover Tin my locality and so pr
pare the soil for cabbage next yea
The main essential in transplanting
20 put the plants down 10 the first lea
and press the soil firmly around
with the feet
One can hardly cultivate cabbage
too often hut ! do little hand-hOeini
The fne-tooth horse cultivator and "a
den wheel hoe do the work rapidly an
well. Cauliiowers especially shoul
be kept growing would set them o
the best part of the ground. where n
soil is deepest and richest IL the Sc
son was dry ! would try 70 prevent
check In their growth by placing
mulch % manure between the rows
July This IS a good thing 10 do 4
all the cabbage family. and general
insures a good crop. Brussels sprou
are less commonly grown In the fart
er's garden. but their culture Is q
same a. for cabbages. only do not ri
them over.rich soil orthey may most
run 20 stems. Kale. or German greer
non heading cabbage. is very east
grown. and Is appreciated most
those who like boiled dinners.
Dairy Feeding Experiment.
The Wisconsin Experiment Stati