Part 6

Dry soil is then thrown on these heads to the thickness of five or six inches and the roots left sticking out of the top; this covering should be firmly packed, to prevent the entrance of water, and a small gutter should be dug round the heap to carry it off. If, after the cold weather has set in and the ground is slightly frozen, the heap is covered with three to four inches of corn fodder or litter, it will prevent the covering from freezing so hard, and will greatly lessen the work of getting out the heads when wanted for use. When heads are wanted, one end of the bank is opened and as many taken out as are desired; the open end is then carefully covered over with soil. Too many should not be taken out at once, as they retain their flavor better when buried in this manner than when kept where they are exposed to the open air. If it is desired to save some of the best heads for seed, the roots of the plant must be buried as well as the top; they can then be replanted early in the spring and a cross cut made in the top of the head to assist the flower stalks in bursting through, as the heads are sometimes so tight that they will rot before bursting.

EARLY VARIETIES--Extra Early Etampes.--This cabbage is the earliest heading variety that I have ever grown. The heads are small but round and very solid, and it is ready for use nearly two weeks ahead of the other early varieties.

Early Jersey Wakefield.--This has long been the chief favorite for the general crop of early cabbage, and is deservedly popular, as it is sure to head when the seed is good; the heads are of good size and shape, and the quality is fine.

Early Summer.--This succeeds the Wakefield, and has heads about twice the size of the latter; they are round, very solid and slightly flattened on top; it has few outside leaves and can be planted closely; this variety matures about two weeks later than the Wakefield, and a month after the Etampes.

VARIETIES OF LATE CABBAGES.

At the head of these I would place BURPEE’S SUREHEAD, which has done so well for me since I began planting it, never failing a single season, that I now plant my whole crop of it, instead of planting two or three kinds as formerly, to guard against poor seed or a bad season. It is an improved type of the Premium Flat Dutch, to which it is superior in the evenness and regularity of its heads and the “sureness” of every plant to form a fine head. With me the heads average larger than the Flat Dutch, are rather more rounding in shape and are of the finest quality.

SHORT-STEM DRUMHEAD.--This variety produces on extra short stems, only a few inches in height, very large solid heads, often twenty-five pounds in weight. It is from this kind that the very large heads seen at the county fairs in the fall are grown, and where the ground is heavily manured and well cultivated enormous crops of this variety can be grown; it is of fine quality, very solid and an excellent keeper.

The Best Second Early and Summer Cabbage.

Equally as Good For Winter.

COPYRIGHTED 1887.

BY W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO PHILADA]

DANISH BALL HEAD.--This variety has only been recently introduced, but bids fair to take a leading place as a winter variety; the heads are quite round and very solid; they are of medium size and very handsome appearance, which make it a good market variety, while the quality fully equals its good looks.

CAULIFLOWER.

The culture of this vegetable is the same as that for cabbage, in most respects, but it is not a certain crop in our changeable climate and hot, dry summers. It likes plenty of moisture, and if placed in a rather wet location or in a bed where it can be frequently watered, it will be much more certain to produce fine heads. Its superior quality and the high price that good heads command make it a most desirable crop to grow wherever it will do well. I have always found the short-stemmed, extra early varieties the best ones to grow, and as in the ordinary season but about half of them produce heads under ordinary garden culture, the rest of them maturing throughout the summer and fall, it is almost a continuous crop. The seed should be sown as early as possible, in the hotbed, and great care should be taken that the plants do not become either stunted or drawn, as none but the strong, healthy plants will produce good heads. It will greatly improve the appearance of the heads if some of the broad outside leaves are broken half through the stems and the tops bent over the heads while forming. This will blanch and keep them of that pure whiteness so attractive in this vegetable as grown by the market gardeners. The heads should be cut for use or sale as soon as they have reached their full size and before the buds begin to uncurl, as this spoils both the appearance and quality of this, the finest and most delicately flavored of the cabbage family.

VARIETIES OF CAULIFLOWER.

EXTRA EARLY DWARF ERFURT.--This is the best strain for general use; there are usually two or more grades of this offered in seed catalogues, but the best should always be purchased, even if you can only buy a single packet; by taking extra care of it you can make every seed count. This variety is quite early, has short stems, and makes good-sized heads of the best quality.

EARLY SNOWBALL.--This variety is quite early and makes fine large heads, of handsome appearance.

BURPEE’S BEST EARLY.--I have only grown this one season, but found it all that it was represented in earliness and good heading quality. Owing to a drouth early in the spring, the heads were not of large size; the quality was fine, and I think it bids fair to be one of the leading varieties.

CARROTS.

These are ordinarily little used as table vegetables, but will be found very palatable as an ingredient of soups and stews. They are very easily grown, the seed being planted in drills and the plants thinned to six or eight inches apart. The seed should be sown in April or May, and they will be ready for use early in the summer. For winter use they should be stored in the manner described for beets and turnips; they will retain their quality throughout the winter, and form a pleasant variety in the winter supply of vegetables. The rich yellow and red-fleshed varieties are the most popular, and retaining their bright colors when cooked, lend an attractive appearance to the dish of which they form a part.

VARIETIES OF CARROTS.

DANVERS HALF-LONG ORANGE.--This is claimed to have the greatest bulk with the shortest length of root, and is a remarkably heavy cropper. The root is of a rich, dark orange color, and grows very smooth and succeeds in all soils. It is quite a favorite market sort.

SHORT HORN.--The flesh of this variety is very fine grained, of deep orange color and superior quality. The roots do not penetrate deeply, and the top is small, which allows of their being planted quite closely.

S^T VALERY

DANVERS

3 OF THE BEST CARROTS]

EARLY VERY SHORT HORN, OR GOLDEN BALL.--The earliest variety; the roots are round, turnip shaped, of small size, deep color, and the quality is of the best.

OX HEART.--This variety is of large size, the roots being seven to eight inches in length and three to four inches in diameter at the top; it tapers gradually down to one and one-half to two inches at the bottom, making very little waste in preparing it for the table. It is of fine quality, while its size will render any surplus valuable for feeding to the stock.