three-fourths of an inch, or one inch deep, with a hand drill in rows, fifteen to eighteen inches apart. On level ground sow in narrow "lands," say thirty feet wide, which will afford additional surface drainage. If the planting is to be on a large scale, the distance between the rows must be from thirty to thirty-six inches, according to the size of the cultivator. In sowing and weeding, bear in mind that each grain contains several seeds. Owing to its slow germination, beet seed is often soaked in warm water.-See chapter on "Seeds." The quantity of seed required to sow an acre is from four to eight pounds, according to the above-mentioned distances.

CULTIVATION.

The young plants should not be allowed to crowd each other. If the stand is close, it is well to chop out spaces in the row with a narrow hoe, and subsequently, when the plants are about two inches high, they should be thinned out to stand from four to six inches apart. Vacant spaces may be supplied; but transplanted turniprooted beets are not apt to make smooth roots. Subsequent cultivation consists in stirring the surface between the rows, working as near the beets as possible, and in keeping the crop free from weeds. Frequent hoeings. between the narrow rows and some hand-weeding will be necessary. For the wider rows, one plowing, the use of the cultivator twice, and one hoeing may suffice in favorable seasons, but more should be given if needed.

MARKETING.

Beets must be marketed while tender, and before they are full grown. When about three inches in diameter, they are large enough for shipment. The leaves are cut off within about three inches of the roots, which, unwashed, are then to be closely and regularly packed in well-ventilated barrels, covered with cloth. The prices

of the past season ranged from two dollars per barrel upwards; as much as seven dollars and fifty cents having been secured for some marketed from middle Florida. The beet is, in this country, remarkably free from insect depredations.

CHAPTER XV.

CABBAGE (Brassica oleracea).

Chou pommé, or Cabas blanc, French; Kopfkohl, German; Kool, Dutch; Cavolo, Italian; Berza, Spanish.

The Cabbage was a favorite culinary vegetable of the Romans, who introduced its cultivation into England before the Christian era, although it grows wild along the sea shore of that country, particularly near Dover, where it is abundant on the chalk cliffs.

Cultivation has evolved from the wild plant very many sorts and varieties. Of these, the truck-farmer of the extreme South is at present concerned with only a few select varieties of the common or heading cabbage and with the cauliflower, kale being grown only at Norfolk and vicinity. Possibly the large German element in the populations of the Northern cities may in time provide a market for kohl rabi.

VARIETIES.

Climate affects the cabbage more, perhaps, than it does any other vegetable; and a variety growing, as to appearance, indifferently well in both countries, may be considered superior in England, and be discarded as worthless in America, while some sorts, which grow satisfactorily in one region, may fail in another not very distant.

A variety suitable for cultivation should (1) be sure to form heads; (2) produce medium to large heads; (3) the heads should be very hard and compact; and (4) it should be a popular kind in the majority of the principal markets.

Some varieties, like the "Schweinfurth," are bulky and delicate, but of such loose structure as to be useless for shipment, as they would shrink very much in the package. On the other hand, a barrel properly packed with a solid-headed variety, would shrink to a very limited

extent in transit, and still be full upon arrival in market, to the satisfaction of the buyer. The two varieties that combine all desirable features in the highest degree, and at the same time are best adapted to our climate, are the " Early Summer" and the "Brunswick," with the preference for the former. It is somewhat smaller, but owing to its more compact habit of growth, a sufficiently larger number may be grown to the acre, to make up for the difference in individual size. The retail dealer will realize more money from a barrel of fine mediumsized cabbages, than from one containing a smaller number of very large heads. There is no better variety, if the seeds are of pure stock, for forming uniformly solid heads, than the "Jersey Wakefield," but it is small and liable to burst open when in vigorous growth in warm, rainy

weather following a drouth, particularly on high, sandy land. The remedy for this is "root-pruning," which is done by pushing the plants over slightly, to break some of the roots, or by cutting down alongside of

them with a spade. The Winningstadt, formerly so highly esteemed as a reliable, medium early kind, and even used as a winter sort, of late years appears to have degenerated, is liable to rot in the stem, and in warm weather its leaves turn yellow too readily. American seeds

are considered as producing more hardy plants than the imported; therefore, for a crop to head well in winter, the American "Flat Dutch" is the best variety, with "Fottler's Brunswick," which is an American variety of the German "Brunswick" cabbage, as second choice.

SEEDS AND SOWING.

Cabbages from imported seed are thought to be more certain to head, and in the vicinity of Savannah, those from Germany are preferred, however it may be in other localities.

It is of more importance to have seed of a good strain of the cabbage than of any other vegetable. Poor seeds of any of the genus Brassica are dear at any price.

In consequence of its good keeping qualities, the cabbage can be and is used in the United States throughout the year. The South is supplied with Northern grown stock during the hot summer months, and in the winter, the first shipments arriving about the middle of July. In turn, the North procures its supply from us after the exhaustion of the stores of wintered cabbages, dating from about March 1st, and continuing until June. Owing to its universal consumption, the markets have never yet been glutted with cabbage. Were its use less universal, as the Florida, Georgia, and Carolina crops are all marketed during the same period, the price might fall below a paying standard. The opening of the western and north-western markets for the less perishable articles of the truck-farmer, by lower railroad freights and safer transportation facilities, makes it probable that many years will elapse before sufficient areas are appropriated to the cultivation of such vegetables, as to cause the supply to exceed the demand. Cabbages are also grown to supply other than the Northern markets, of which we will speak hereafter. The seed to produce plants for the more important shipping crop is best sown between October 1st and 15th. It may be sown later; but as the plants are subjected to severely cold weather in December, it is important that they be large enough at that time to withstand hard frosts. When the thermometer falls below twenty-four degrees, they are likely to be killed.