182 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



early sorts, of which the Cory and Minnesota are types, are han- 

 dled in the same way as tield corn, with the exception that they 

 are bagged and carried to the seed house to be husked as soon 

 as gathered from the stalks. Varieties that are late for any 

 locality, as soon as the kernels are fully grown have the husks 

 stripped down, but not torn from the ears, while the stalks are 

 yet standing in the field, to give them a fortnight's exposure to the 

 sun before gathering. When gathered, after husking they are either 

 spread as long as the weather will permit, on frames, or on floors, 

 two deep in well aired seed houses, and turned daily. By the use 

 of carpenter's horses several openwork floors are made one above 

 another, with just sufficient space left between to permit a person to 

 crawl on hands and knees and turn the ears. The drying house 

 must have its sides all openwork, for no ordinary barn, however 

 well windowed, will admit sufficient air to keep the ears from 

 moulding. Very green corn may be saved b}' putting it on lath 

 frames supported just below the ceiling of a room artificially heated. 

 Carrying Seed Stock Through the Winter. — Cabbages it is 

 usual to bury. First, plow a furrow, going and returning with 

 a large plow, and throw out soil to six inches in depth. Take off 

 some outside leaves and set the plants in the furrow. Plow a sec- 

 ond furrow, and throw soil from it, with shovels, on top of the first 

 row of plants. Set another row of plants and so proceed. Rows 

 can be set each side of the first row, and repeat. The soil thrown 

 out covers the plants four inches deep. Lastly, plow a furrow all 

 I'ound the bed and against it, and a branch furrow also for drain- 

 age. When the covering soil is frozen hard enough to bear up a 

 man, cover with two inches of forest leaves — oak is the best kind 

 — then lay from six to ten inches of meadow hay, covering down 

 to the ditch. Branches trimmed from trees should be laid on the 

 hay to hold it. Onions are best stored in a dry,- cool cellar in bins, 

 or on shelves about ten inches deep. They may be placed in an out- 

 building in a heap eighteen inches high and frozen. In such case 

 cover with meadow hay fifteen inches thick, both top and sides, 

 and leave till opened for planting. Most will come out sound but 

 will yield one-quarter less crop of seed than if not frozen. Beets 

 are easily wintered either in outdoor pits or in the cellar, care 

 being taken to keep from freezing or drying. Two feet of earth, 

 with corn stalks on top of the beets will protect them when buried 

 outside. Carrots nuist be kept cool or they will rot. Sprinkle sand 



