The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-31
CABBAGE CULTURE,

(Florida Grower.)

Cabbage is a staple all the year
round vegetable, as we'll as being one
OF the most profitable to grow if the
market is watched closely. There is
large southern market to depend
upon if the supply is made constant.
cabbage is no doubt one of the
easiest vegetables to grow from seed
that we have. 1t does not require a
cold frame to start the seedlings. al
thought it may be more certain to use
one. If grown in cold frame it is not
necessary to have bottom heat. and
the soil need not be as fertile as for
most other seedlings. To produce
stocky plants, the bed should be
slightly cool. If the plants do not
progress rapidly enough, to bring them
to the size desired by transplanting
time, stimulate them by the use of
liquid manure, or cottonseed meal. In
using the meal, be careful that none of
1t comes in contact with the plants,
as it is liable to cause d "damping-
off, in the bed when it begins to decay.
One-half to one ounce of seed will be
sufficient for one acre.
This is safe product to grow, as
there is no killing frost in Florida
that will affect it, and it may be more
profitable to grow the large varieties
In some portions the Premium Flat
Dutch, Charleston Wakefield and
Louisville Drumhead are considered
best. Early varieties. Jersey Wake
field and Early Winningstadt. 1t is
always a good idea to learn from your
commission merchant the variety that
is in most demand.
In sowing the seed the preference
is in drills, far enough apart to per-
NIT them to be worked either by hoe
or hand-plow. In Florida the right
time to sow for northern markets is
in September or October, depending
upon the varieties. This will bring
them in the market in February,
March and April, at which time the
northern crop has been about con-
sumed, and before the early spring
crop has matured. Make the drills
about three fourths of an inch deep.
When you find the seedlings break
ing through the ground, apply a lib
eral application of tobacco dust; re-
peat the busting every three or four
days. This will kill or drive away
some insects that will be found quite
numerous this time of year.
When the seeds grow we'll, the
plants will naturally become crowd
ed in the drills before they attain their
third leaf. The seedlings may be
transplanted at any time in their
growth, without losing any plants.
therefore they should be transplanted
to another bed as soon as they show
crowding signs. Before the height of
six inches is reached, they should be
transplanted to the field. To check
too rapid growth withhold the water
or shift to another bed.
Soil.
AS cabbage is a gross feeder, they
will succeed on soil where many other
crops fail. For successful growing the
soil should be made rich as possible
with well rotted manure or complete
commercial fertilizer. Plow the soil
some time in advance of setting the
plants so that the surface can be fire.
quently narrowed and made fine. Soon
as the plants become established after
setting them in the field or garden,
cultivation should be begun and fire.
quently repeated. so as to keep the
soil constantly loose and fine until
further cultivation would interfere
with or injure the heads. Frequent
cultivation will serve to preserve the
moisture in the soil during dry
weather, and in wet weather will as
sist the soil to dry of more quickly
helping greatly to keep it sweet and
light, thus promoting the growth Of
the plants. Large cabbage will stand
IS degrees F. without being killed. but
if recently set out should have some
light protection.
Fertilizer Formula.
Available phosphoric acid PER cent.
Potash $500. per cent.
Nitrogen $3.50, -. 5 per cent.
Use 1900 to 1000 pounds of the
above formula to the acre.
The following table will give the
amounts Of different substances il will
require to make the amounts Of the
fertilizer elements called for in the
foregoing table.
Pounds Of Different Material for One
Acre.
Element, Nitrogen-1.2e 200 to 1000 lbs.
cottonseed meal or $50 to 1900 lbs.
dried blood; or 500 to 500 lbs. nitrate
of soda; or 400 to $50 lbs. sulphate or
ammonia.
Elements, Potash-1.2Oo to 1900 lbs.
kainit; or 800 to 400 lbs. muriate
potashi S 500 t. 100 lbs SuIphate Of