The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-11-01
AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Wintering the Cabbages-It used to be
thought necessary to store cabbages in a
cellar, or in some kind of pit, method
of wintering now rarely followed. The
usual way of keeping them is to select
dry place, if the bed where they grew is
not so, and place tho cabbage heads
downward. They are sometimes placed
together in single rows, running across
the bed or field, and furrow thrown up
to them on either side. The more COM
mon method is to lay them down to form
bed eight feet wide. and by the
use of the pillow and shoves, cover the
heads and a part of the stumps. Inc
Savoys, with their curled and wrinkled
leaves, do not keep 80 we'll as the Drum
heads, when laid down in this way. For
those ridge may be thrown up with o
pillow, and the cabbages laid against 1t,
heads up; earth is plowed to the roots,
and thrown in to partly cover the
stumps. When cold weather comes the
heads are to be covered with oornsta!ks,
leaves or other litter. Neither
of these methods allows head
or two to be taken readily
for use. It is we'll to have the family
supply in some place near at hand. II
there is an unused pit or cold frame, the
cabbages may be set in them upright,
and covered with shutters, or with straw
or leaves. A trench may be dug and
used in the same manner. Those who
like cabbage greens should prepare for
them by gathering up the stumps from
which the heads have been cut, and
covering them with earth against ridge,
or otherwise give them partial protec-
ton. They are less hardy than the
heads, and will not grow we'll if exposed
all winter to the weather.
Young Fruit Trees Many seem to
think that when they have planted an
orchard, they have done all that the trees
require. A neglected old orchard is a
sorry sight, but q neglected young one is
much worse. A stray animal or two, es.
pecially when snow is on the ground,
will disfgure many trees in short time
by browsing their tops or gnawing the
bark. Fences and gates need look
ing to. Young trees, especially those
set last spring or this fall, should have o
mound of earth at the base. not o mere
heap thrown up carelessly, but made
smooth and firm, in the form OF
q sharp cone, II or Is inches high.
This will not only aid in keeping 4
the tree upright, but will prevent the at
tacks of mice. Should snow be deep
enough to cover the mound, mice may
work under it while it is light and newly
fallen, and it will be necessary to go
through the orchard and press the snow
around each tree with the foot. Rabbits
will work on the snow. not only barking
the trunks, but we have known them
when the snow was sufficiently deep, to-
cut off the end of every twig within their
reach. These animals have a great aver
sion to blood. and will not touch trees
that have been smeared with it. In large
orchards, blood is procured at slaugh-
terhouse, and applied to the trees by
means of a swab, made by tying a few
corn husks to a stick. Rabbits are in
good condition this month, and the use
of traps will both prevent mischief and
afford material for an excellent pie or
fricasee. Sometimes snow is very damp,
and as it falls, lodges on the tops of trees
and accumulates there. If this be al
lowed to freeze, the branches will be
badly injured should there come strong
wind. When snow thus gathers, it
should by all means be shaken out of
the tree before il has time to freeze.