Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-11-12

KEEPING CABBAGES IN WINTER-TO pre-
serve cabbageS through Winter and still have
them accessible at all times, select perfectly
dry spot, and open a trench with the spade or
plOw. Take up the cabbages with their roots
attached, lnverting them as you proceed to al
low the water to run ont from the heads Af-
ter pulling a quantity and standing them on
their heads until they are thoroughly dry, set
them out thickly in the trench, in their natu-
raj position, covering with earth nearly to the
head. Open another trench as near as the
heads will admit Of and set out second row.
Proceed in this manner until all are used, when
a temporary board shed may be erected over
the patch, four feet high in front, and sopng
to near the ground in the rear. This should
be sufficiently tight to carry off all the water,
but the ends may be left open for ventilation
closing with straw only in very cold weather.
Cabbages will keep in this situation until
Spring. If water is prevented from entering
the heads, the freezing will have no injurious
effect. When wanted for use cut off the heads
and if frozen soak in well or spring water for
few hours before cooking This will take
out the frost gradually and also remove amy
disagreeabe flavor.
Another and very common method is, to
stand them upon the level ground, with the
roots up, and turn furrow against the row
upon either side. An additional covering is
given by banking up the earth about them
with spade, until the heads are entirely buri-
ed. They keep well in this manner when the
ground is frozen hard.
Another plan which we have pursued with
success, is as follows :-Trausplant the cab
bageS into close single rows, say | , feet long
setting the heads nearly down to the surface
of the ground. At each end of the row drive
a crotched stake, and put pole across a few
inches above the heads. Lay upon each side
some straight straw, to make pointed roof over
the heads, and shovel on a thin lavcr of earth
at first, increasing its thickness as colder wealth
or comes on. The frozen earth can be chopped
away at any point, and the cabbagcs removed
as desired, closing the opening made with
earth or a bundle of straw The cabbages
will grow and increase in size all Winter. if an
opening be left at each end for the access of
air, closing it only in case of extreme cold
1t is necessary that the earth be packed so as
to shed off the rain, as the straw, becoming
wet, will rot and injure the heads, though it
ought not to be allowed to come in direct con-
tact with them. The mice sometimes get in
and destroy the eabbages If discovered by
their holes, they should be trapped immediate
ly.
Still another method we have found to an
swer well, and to require little time. Lay
down two poles or rails upon the ground, two
to four inches apart. Turn their heads down
upon these and cover them with few inches
OF earth, smoothing it off to shed water On
the approach Of very cold weather, PIT a
large quantity of earth upon that portion of
them desired for Winter use. We have re-
moved the snow, cut off the frozen earth with
an old axe, and taken out the cabbages in
fine condition during the coolest season of mid
Winter