The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-06-29
HOW TO GROW WINTER CABBAu%4

I wish to SOW an acre in cabba g.
to head up in October, and wish te
ask when to SOW. what variety i
best, and il it is better to SOW anC
transplant, or to SOW them where the,
are to grow The land has neVe
been cultivated. l had it grubbed, an(
then the stumps taken up. and expec
to put about 100 bushels stable manur
on it and 500 pounds S-4-4 guanO
The growth was cut off a year ago
DO You think it would pay to lime it
and would you broadcast the sta bl
manure? The land is medium Hgh
and is underlain with red clay.
Wayne Co., \. c. O. S.
| ana using this letter to redeem M,
promise to tell about growing winter
cabbage in the South You saw vol
is earlier than YOU can head them
well IA your climate. and if you coulG
they would not keep for winter Ear.
~ December is as early as YOU should
nave the cabbages head anyw where (ex.
cept IN the rountains) south of Vir-
glnla Failures in growing winter
cabbage in the South have been due
IN the first place, to starting the
Northern directions for sowing in
spring and carrying the plants
through the summer. and in the Sc
coma place, to lack Of water during
etiV 81 owl I'll O1 the plants.
In the first place, the soil must be
suited to the growth of the late cron.
a soil more inclined to clay than sand
or strong clay loan that will retain
moisture well. Then it should be
thoroughly ploWed and manured and
prepared, for, While collards may grow
in any sort OF soil and with little ma
nurlng, caDbaSes want a fat soil and
You cannot get them in any other l
would plOW the soil deeply after put
ting as much manure broadcast as I
could fairly turn under. On land not
full of hnInus ] would SOW an early
variety Of peas broadcast and would
turn them under the last of August
and harrow in a dressing of lime, for
you do not need to set the cabbage
plants till September | would add
to the manure 500 pounds per acre
OF acid phosphate, and with this and
heavy coat Of manure YOU will need
no potash fGr abbage on your red
land
Now, IS % tha plants. The best
plan is to burn bed down near a
branch, where water is handy. Burn
it as you would for tobacco and fer
tilize it well. Sow seed of the Pre-
miuTo Flat Dutch cabbage, in rows in
the bed about the first of August
Now see to il that the plants never
suffer for lack of water. If the
v,
Keeping the soil continually moist, for
you want them to grow rapidly so
that you can nave strong plants ready
to set in early September. If the
plants get stunted in the bed, you
will make small cabbages. After set
ting in the field keep them growing
rapidly by rapid cultivation. for on
much of the success. On soil natural
ly moist and heavily manured YOU
can actually make them grow faster
than the S16"n caterpillarS can eat
them. But at the same time you
should be ready to fight the green
worms, Paris green, mixed one part
green to SO parts of flour. can be used
until the plants begin to head. But
alter heading begins [ rather prefer
TO dispense with the poison Then
aust the cabbage over with air-slack-
ed lime in which a little salt has been
m!Hfd, say one part of salt to 40 parts
"f liane. If rains washes it off, re-
new 1t. The lime and the salt will
aSite with the cabbage. l have kept
IN" plants white with this mixture in
nay @arden III Raleigh, and had hardly
"orm hole in the cabbage.
II well grown and well cultivated
op to the first of December. the cab
PAGE should begin TO head. and if they
ar" stow in heading take small
ru1l the pioT deeply between the rows.
l ms WlH check rapid growth by cut
t!hS some oI the roots. and will throw
them into heading But / would not
care to have them head until De-
cefhper, SO that they will keep we'll
IN winter But any that are not head
Td by the middle of December can be
made to head during the winter.
we never have weather severe
enough to hurt cabbage before the
fnIddte OF December. Then turn each
plant over by loosening the roots some
with the head towards the north !
sank the earth over the stem and low
er part OF the head. leaving the top
!ust exposed. They will keep better
III .thas way in the South than if taken |