The Library of Work and Play: Gardening and Farming.Shaw, Ellen Eddy
General
The Library of Work and Play: Gardening and Farming.
Shaw, Ellen Eddy
Gardening -- Juvenile literature
"Brussels sprouts are a very popular member of this family. On account
of their size many people who do not like to serve poor, common old
cabbage will serve these. Brussels sprouts are interesting in their
growth. The plant stalk runs skyward. At the top, umbrella like, is a
close head of leaves, but this is not what we eat. Shaded by the
umbrella and packed all along the stalk are delicious little cabbages or
sprouts. Like the rest of the family a rich soil is needed and plenty of
water during the growing period. The seed should be planted in May, and
the little plants transplanted into rich soil in late July. The rows
should be eighteen inches apart, and the plants one foot apart in the
rows.
"Kohlrabi is a go-between in the families of cabbage and turnip. It is
sometimes called the turnip-root cabbage. Just above the ground the stem
of this plant swells into a turnip-like vegetable. In the true turnip
the swelling is underground, but like the cabbage, kohlrabi forms its
edible part above ground. It is easy to grow. Only it should develop
rapidly, otherwise the swelling gets woody, and so loses its good
quality. Sow out as early as possible; or sow inside in March and
transplant to the open. Plant in drills about two feet apart. Set the
plants about one foot apart, or thin out to this distance. To plant one
hundred feet of drill buy half an ounce of seed. Seed goes a long way,
you see. Kohlrabi is served and prepared like turnip. It is a very
satisfactory early crop.
"Before leaving the cabbage family I should like to say that the
cabbage called Savoy is an excellent variety to try. It should always
have an early planting under cover, say in February, and then be
transplanted into open beds in March or April. If the land is poor where
you are to grow cabbage, then by all means choose Savoy.
"Carrots are of two general kinds: those with long roots, and those with
short roots. If long-rooted varieties are chosen, then the soil must be
worked down to a depth of eighteen inches, surely. The shorter ones will
do well in eight inches of well-worked sandy soil. Do not put carrot
seed into freshly manured land. Another point in carrot culture is one
concerning the thinning process. As the little seedlings come up you
will doubtless find that they are much, much too close together. Wait a
bit, thin a little at a time, so that young, tiny carrots may be used on
the home table. These are the points to jot down about the culture of
carrots. I am saying very little about depths and distances because
these were all worked out by the boys last winter and tables may be had
for the asking.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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