Methods for determining the solidity of cabbage heads

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The terminal bud of a cabbage is the part of the plant that is put to commercial use. The inner leaves, pressed against the interlocked outer head leaves, vary at maturity in number and size, and so cause differences in solidity or tightness of head. A solid head of cabbage is desired by all who have to do with the vegetable—grower, shipper, wholesaler, retailer, and consumer. These people are not concerned with exact measurements of solidity, for only a few degrees are recognized by the trade in the range from slack to tight heads. But for accurate work, such as testing the effects of cultural practices on tightness of head, or for selection work in breeding, some exact measurement must be used which can be expressed numerically. Solidity can be expressed in exact terms of apparent specific gravity or density.

Review of Literature

Others who work with cabbage have recognized the value of such a measure and have used several methods in determining the solidity of the cabbage under their observation. (Kotowski (1923)) determined specific gravity by measuring the heads and calculating their volume according to the formula for an oblate spheroid. (Mack (1926)) immersed the heads in water and measured their volume either by weighing the displaced water or by determining their buoyance.