Cabbages and cauliflowers — Context and Discussion

From Wild Cabbage to American Strains

Gregory traces all cultivated brassicas to the wild cabbage of Europe, Brassica oleracea, found on chalky sea shores. He then catalogues dozens of varieties, distinguishing between foreign and American types. The American varieties, he argues, have been so improved through careful selection that they appear distinct from their European origins, a difference recognized by the adjectives "American" or "English" in catalogues. He lists over twenty American sorts, including Early Wakefield, Marblehead Mammoth Drumhead, and American Green Glazed, each with specific traits. For instance, the Early Schweinfurt is noted for its variability in size depending on cultivation, while the Red Drumhead is described as difficult to seed in the U.S., with French growers more successful. Gregory’s tone is evaluative but grounded in practical experience, as when he notes that the Little Pixie is earlier than Early York but smaller.

Pests, Soil, and the Gardener’s Vigilance

The treatise devotes considerable attention to the enemies of cabbage, including the green worm and club root. Gregory describes the maggot that attacks the stump, and offers remedies drawn from his own practice. His advice on soil and manure is equally concrete: he specifies how to prepare the ground, apply manure, and make hills for planting. The care of young plants is detailed, with warnings about protecting them from pests. Gregory’s language is direct and instructional, as when he states that the Red Drumhead is "very tender" and, were it not for its color, would be excellent to boil—adding, for those willing to eat with their eyes shut, the objection does not apply. This blend of practical guidance and wry observation characterizes the manual’s voice.

Marketing, Storage, and the Economics of Cabbage

Gregory does not stop at cultivation; he addresses the entire cycle from field to market. He includes sections on marketing the crop, keeping cabbage through winter, and even forcing heads in winter. The economics are never far from his mind: he notes that the Early Schweinfurt, though not hard, has proved profitable where markets are near and do not insist on rock-solid heads. He also discusses raising cabbage seed, cooking, and making sour-krout. The final chapters extend to cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, and sea-kale, treating them as part of the same family. Throughout, Gregory’s perspective is that of a commercial grower and seed merchant, concerned with yield, reliability, and market preferences.

Gregory’s treatise is best read as a period document of agricultural practice, rich in specific variety descriptions and pest-control methods that reflect late-19th-century knowledge. Readers interested in the history of horticulture or heirloom varieties will find precise details on strains like the Marblehead Mammoth Drumhead or the St. Dennis Drumhead. The work also offers a window into the commercial seed trade of the era, with Gregory’s own introductions and his candid assessments of foreign versus American stock.

Flipping through the 1889 seed merchant’s notes on cabbages, I was struck by his quiet patience for soil—how he read it like a familiar letter. That same unhurried attentiveness surfaced in my memory of Crops and Methods for Soil Improvement — Story, Setting & Ideas, where the earth itself feels like a companion. Two old friends, talking dirt.