St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-29
Keeping Cabbage in Winter.
le Cultivator and Country Gentleman

The Cultivator and Country Gentleman.
In answer to the inquiry made few
weeks ago in our columns for good way
to keep cabbage in winter, friend give:
in substance the following: He divides
the cabbages he intends for use. into tire.
different lots. He selects a few of the
first, and apparently the most mature, anc
places them on the damp floor of COO
cellar, where they will keep without harm
for few weeks as they are gradually
used for the table. The second lot, in
tended for mid winter, in larger numbers
have the roots and rough leaves trimmed
off, and are then packed in large boxes il
the cellar, all the vacant spaces between
them being closely filled with Slightly
damp moss. Chaf will do nearly as we'll
if the air of the cellar is not too dry. In
some cases, forest leaves answer quite
well, if not left so long as to rot. The
third and largest lot is buried out doors.
For long keeping this mode is best, as
they have the natural moisture and cool
ness of the earth, without much fuctua-
ton; the mode being similar to the use of
the large boxes, using the earth in dug
trenches instead of boxes. 1t is of course
important to select a gravelly and shell
tered place where there is natural drain
age, or else to provide drain on the lower
side, so that the bottom of the trench or
pit will be always free from water. The
trench may be three feet wide and foot
and half or two feet deep; and where
there are many cabbages to bury, it may
be dug with the aid of common and a
subsoil plow, the loose earth being SHOW
eled out. Place few inches of coarse
brush or small poles in the bottom, and on
these coarse straw. Trim the roots and
coarser leaves of the cabbages and then
place them upside down, compactly, in the
trench, three or four in width according to
the size of the heads and the width of the
trench. If this is deep enough, three tiers
may be placed in them, closely packed,
highest in the middle to give the form of
a roof. Cover with straw (stiff rye straw
is bes) and afterwards at first with few
inches of earth. A slight freezing will
not hurt them on the occurrence of a cold
snap, if the thawing is gradual. Ventila-
ton should be provided at the ends and at
regular intervals, by holes at the top filled
with straw; or if long rye straw is used,
the upper ends may be left uncovered to
serve for ventilation. Before the fiLal
freezing up for winter the earth covering
may be increased to nearly foot-the
thickness Of earth being less if there is
plenty of straw. More straw and less
earth is good rule, and the ventilation
will also be more perfect. Warm or open
winters will require more care in ventilat-
ing that continuous severe: winters, and
special care must be taken to prevent too
close confinement and rotting. The finer
the earth is pulverized, the more perfect
non conductor of heat it becomes when
used for covering.
The advantage of this mode of keeping
cabbages over boxes in the cellar is the
uniform low temperature, nearly down to
freezing, from the walls of the trench, at
the same time that the earth furnishes
enough moisture to supersede any of the
moss packing, the cabbages being in close
contact with it and with each other AS
soon as thawing weather occurs towards
spring, the cabbages will be found in ex-
cellent fresh condition; and if needed they
may be taken out during winter by break
ing the earth cover with crowbar A
of this mode of covering may
be adopted where plenty of evergreen
branches are to be had, by placing six or
eight inches of forest leaves on the rye
straw, and on these-to prevent the winds
scattering them, and to turn the rain
several inches of evergreen branches of the
right length, upside down.