Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1875 — The Way to Start Cabbage Plants. [ARTICLE]

The Way to Start Cabbage Plants.

Thousands of families know nothing of the luxury of cabbage as an article of delicious food, simply because they do not understand how to start the plants. As plants cannot always be obtained when a supply is needed, no cabbage heads are raised. Then, again, when plants are offered for sale at one’s door the pripe is usually too exorbitant. Hence no cabbage js raised. As we have just been ’ sowing cabbage seed it wiH doubtless interest many readers to learn how easily 10,000 plants can be produced at an expense of only one hour’s manual labor. In the first place, a five-cent paper, of prime seed was put in a coffee cup and allowed to soak for twelve hours in tepid water. Then an area about four feet square was spaded deep where the ground was rich, and a liberal sprinkling of fine manure was raked into the mellow soil. As the ground was unusually dry, several pailfuls of water were employed to give the seedbed a thorough drenching. Next, about two bushels of ashes, coal dust and a little mold were collected where a brush heap had been burned, and these accumulations were spread over the seed bed, and all the lumps and sticks were raked off and the surface smoothed. With the edge of a board drill marks were then made about five inches apart, in which the cabbage seed Was evenly scattered, after which fine and mellow soil was spread by hand over the surface, thus covering the seed about half an inch deep. If fowls have access to such a seed-bed let four narrow boards be placed on edge around the little plot, the corners nailed together and the top covered by long pieces of brush or lath, .or a piece of canvas or old blanket may be stretched from one board to another. If canvas is employed let it be removed at night in warm weather and during wet and lowering periods. Where cabbage seed is planted in this manner the young shoots will appear in a few days, the leaves and stems will grow rapidly and the plants will be readily accessible when it is desirable to plant cabbage. In case the seed-bed becomes dry on the surface apply a pailful of warm water with a watering-pot every evening. Never water plants when the sun is shining on them. If water is applied at evening it will descend to the roots of the plants and the surface of the seed-bed will not become dry and hard as it -will if water is applied when the sun is shining. Turnip p lants may be produced in the sapae manner.—A. Y. Herald.