SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 477 



people were better informed in regard to the delicious quality of the Savoy 

 cabbages there would be less eagerness to secure mammoth drumheads, whose 

 only merit lies in their size. The Savoys are generally small, but can be more 

 closely planted, and, therefore, give more heads to the acre than the big coarse 

 kinds. In delicious taste they are only excelled by the Brussels sprouts, a 

 form of cabbage producing little heads up the stem. The latter, however, are 

 not reliable in this country. 



I 



The Family Pickle. — James J. Baird says that a square rod of ground, 



well exposed to warmth and light of sun, is sufficient for production 

 of as many cucumbers as a family will use. Sink a barrel, its sides 

 well perforated, just beneath the surface of the ground; fill it with 

 compost of stable manure — if poultry manure is mixed in all the better; 

 cover this with a little straw. Then plant on the outside near the bar- 

 rel four hills of cucumbers, the hills being well stirred and enriched 

 with good soil; give good cultivation. Lay brush around for vines to 

 run over. Keep the contents of barrel well watered, and an abundant 

 crop may be expected. For usual mode of cultivation : Form low, flat 

 hills of rich soil; if not rich make it so with compost of well-rotted manure 

 and rich soil ; that from the woods is best. Poultry manure so composted 

 is as good if not better. Thoroughly mix the compost with soil. The hills 

 should be as much as three feet across and eight or ten inches deep, and not 

 more than four inches above ground. Plant about fifteen seeds in a hill one 

 inch deep, the soil lightly pressed down on them. When well up thin out 

 to two or three plants of the most vigorous growth. Cultivate with a hoe, 

 and preferably in the early morning. Cotton, paper or rags, saturated with 

 a solution of salt and copperas, laid around the vines — not touching — over 

 this a little dirt, to hold in place and to retard evaporation, is perhaps the 

 most effectual against the insect pests. Dusting with gypsum is very good. 

 Cucumbers may be started early under glass or by kitchen fire ; plant three 

 or four seeds in sod turned bottom up, and when plants and weather are 

 ready set the sod out in the hill. 



Celeky foe Home Use. — Prof. C. H. Davis tells readers of the N. Y. Tri- 

 bune that for seven months — from August 15, 1885, to March 19, 1886 — he 

 was not without good celery, white and crisp; for five months he had an abun- 

 dance for a large family. As this supply was raised in a common garden, with 

 no special soil or appliances, for home use only, a plain statement of how it 

 was done may be of service to those who suppose the culture too difficult for 

 'prentice hands. The ground was plowed the latter part of April, soon as dry 

 enough; planted to Little Gem peas, in rows four feet apart, When fairly up 

 they were cultivated, and Early Ontario potatoes planted in rows between the 

 peas, except that two spaces were set with early celery for summer use, 100 

 plants. The last week in July alternate rows of potatoes were dug, and rows 

 of celery set eight feet apart, 300 plants, for fall use. About August 10, 200 

 plants for winter use were put out. This last planting should have been 300 

 plants to make a full supply for winter and spring for a family of ten to fifteen. 

 The plants were set six inches apart in the row; eight inches would be better, 

 where the ground is made as rich as it should be. 



As the soil was not more than ten inches deep and underlaid with clay, he 

 made it deeper by throwing out for the celery rows about six inches of top soil 



