The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-10-20
AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Wintering the Cabbages used to be
thought necessary to store cabbages in a
cellar, or in some kind of apt, method
of wintering now rarely followed. The
usual way of keeping them is to select o
dry place, if the bed where they grew is
not SO, and place the 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
a bed eight feet wide. and by the
use of the plow and shove s, cover the
heads and part of the stumps. The
Savoys, with their curled and wrinkled
leaves, do not keep SO we'll as the Drum
heads, when laid down in this way. For
those ridge may be thrown up with O
plow, and the cabbages laid against it.,
heads up: earth is plowed to the roots,
stumps. When cold weather comes the
leaves Or other litter. Neither
of these methods allows u 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
cabhages 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 Emit 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 neglected young one is
| much worse. A stray animal or two, es-
| pecially when snow is on the ground,
will disfgure many trees in q 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 8
mound of earth at the base. not mere
| heap thrown up carelessly, but made
| smooth and firm, in the form oi
sharp cone, IL or Is inches high.
This will not only aid in keeping
the tree upright, but will prevent the at
tacks of mice. Should snow be- deeE
enough to cover the mound, mice may
work under it while it is light and newly
fallen, and it will be necessary to gt
through the orchard and press the snow
around each tree with the foot. Rabbits
will work on the snow, not only barkins
the trunks, but We have known then
when the snow was sufficiently deep, t.
cut off the end of every twig within thei
reach. These animals have great aver
sion to blood, and will not touch tree
that have been smsared with it. In large
orchards, blood is procured at slaugh
terhouse, and applied to the trees b.
means of a swsb, made by tying fe,
corn husks to stick. Rabbits are il
good condition this month, aud the US
of traps will both prevent mischief an
afford material for an excellent pie o
frieasee. Sometimes snow is very damp
and as it falls, lodges on the tops of tree
and accumulates there. If this be al
lowed to freeze, the branches will b
badly injured should there come stron
wind. When snow thus gathers,
should by all means be shaken out o
the tree before it has time to freeze.