THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



105 



waslied to (he roots of the planis by the winter 

 rairip. [A more recent mode oC cuhiire, is to 

 plant the rods in single rows, on small ridgos, 

 four feel apart, ajid near the surface. The object 

 being the "enriching of the surface soil, and 

 encouragement of ihe surface-lbeding roots, in 

 opposiiion to the usual practice of dee|) trenching, 

 nnd deep manuring." Tlie plan is said to liave 

 answered admirably, but we doubt whetlier the 

 ridge system will answer as well in our climate 

 ns in Great IJriiain (where ii has been inirocki- 

 ced,) owing to llie greater sultriness and heat ol 

 our summers. We, however, sirongly recom- 

 mend Ihe surftce culture. Let trenches be pre- 

 pared from /bur to six feet apart, filled with ma- 

 nure, and the roots planted thereon, and covered 

 three or four inches. The excellence of the shoot 

 does not consi.-^t in its being blanched, but in hav- 

 ing a rapid growth. Those who may wish to 

 blanch Ihem, may earlh them up just before they 

 shoot, or adopt the Austrian mode, and [ilace over 

 each a hollow lube twelve inches long, 'i'he 

 large canes of our swamps would answer well lor 

 this purpose. The intervals between the rows 

 can be cropped, the working of which will be an 

 advantage to the asparagus. In the winter the 

 manure can be applied over the plants, or what 

 perhaps will be better, along the sides, and be- 

 tween ilie rows, which will also answer lor the 

 succeeding intermediate crop, for planis receive 

 nourishment only from the spongioles, or ex- 

 tremities of (heir roots. Saline manures, such as 

 sea-weeds, sedge, maish, &c., are strongly recom- 

 mended as manuie, as well as pickles from meais, 

 and even common salt. The produce from the 

 surliice system is said to be much greater and 

 finer than from the old mode.] J. D. L. 



KEW POST OFFICE IlEG UT.ATIONS IN ENG- 

 LAND. — SEEDS SENT BY POST. 



From tlio Gardeners' Magazine. 



We have lately received not only seeds, cut- 

 tings, and scions, but even entire plants, and yes- 

 terday a shrub, roots and branches, (Vaccinium 

 liumilYisum), in a penny letter. From Messrs. 

 Sang, of Kirkcaldy, we received a prepaid packet 

 very neatly done up, containing the seeds of 

 twelve kinds of annuals, each with the name 

 printed, and the price of the whole twelve only 

 Is. If this does not lead to the general distribu- 

 tion of every useful and ornamental plant ol which 

 seeds are procurable, the fault will be in the 

 public, not in government. We only wish that 

 the foreign postages could be lowered a little, that 

 our ornamental annuals might be sent all over the 

 continent; for, it is a lact that will not be denied, 

 that annual planis, even those of warm climates, 

 make a far more splendid appearance in Norway, 

 Sweden, Russia, and the north of Germany, tiiati 

 they do in England, owing to the brighter sun and 

 longer days of these countries during the summer 

 season. Great part of the Californian annuals | 

 might be naturalized in the woods of Norway and | 

 Sweden, and many superior varieties of bread j 

 corn, and of pasture grasses and herbage plants, | 

 miL'ht be introduced into these countries by post, j 

 if the postage abroad were oidy a liltie lower. 

 All inlerchange of seeds amongst all the curators | 

 Vol. IX.— 7-B 



of botanic gardens in Europe and America is a 

 result to be anxiously desired, not merely by the 

 botanist, but by the horticuliurisis and the farmer. 

 I ('ambassadors were what they ought to be, mat- 

 ters of this kind would have been attended to 

 long ago. — Cond. 



MODE OF PREPARING SAUER KRAUT. 



From tlie Penny Magazine 

 The Germans consider the cabbage a more 

 economical plant than even the potato ; but in its 

 natural state it could not form, as it does in Ger- 

 many, a principal article of diet amongst the 

 healthiest and stoutest part of the population, and 

 it therefore undergoes a peculiar preparation, after 

 which it is called "sauer kraut." Cabbage thus 

 prepared in the German fashion has been recently 

 introduced in the dietary of the British navy, and 

 occasionally it may be seen at table in England, 

 in the houses of private individuals. The follow- 

 ing recipe for making sauer kraut is from a work 

 entitled 'Germany and the Germans,' written by 

 a gentleman long resident in that part of the con- 

 tinent : — "When Ihe cabbage has arrived at 

 maturity, or even beyond it, that is, when white 

 and very hard (for the crops are left in the ground 

 till late in autumn), the outer leaves arc first 

 peeled off, the cabbage is then divided, and the 

 stalk entirely cut away. It is now placed in a 

 machine, wiiich sets in motion several sharp 

 blades, that cut it much in the same manner as 

 we do pickled cabbage, but finer. This process 

 being completed, the whole is closely packed in 

 barrels, and between each layer of cabbage is 

 placed a sprinkling ot' salt, carraway seeds, and 

 juniper berries. When the barrels are full, they 

 are closely covered, and pressed by heavy weights. 

 In three weeks or a month it is fit lor use, and 

 will keep good for years. Care must be taken, 

 when any part of it is removed, that the remainder 

 is lelt covered with ils own brine. During Ihe 

 season for preparing Ihe sauer kraut, thousands 

 of persons in Germany are employed in culling 

 the cabbage. It requires lour hours to boil, and 

 is usually served wiili salt meat. The Bavarian 

 method is, after it lias been boiled, to mix with it 

 butter and red wine," 



ON COMMON SALT AS A MANURE. 



From the Farmers' Series of the Library of Useful Knowledge. 



Silt of various fpialities is produced in several 

 countries, and known according lo the different 

 sources from which it is obtained — whether from 

 the waters of the sea, from salt-springs, or from 

 mines. It cannot, therefore, be strictly called a 

 mineral, unless when found in the slate of rock- 

 salt; yet partaking of the nature of that fossil, 

 and not having here lo consider its effecle in any 

 other light than as a manure, we deem it unne- 

 cessary to enter upon any discussion of its pecu- 

 liar properties when manulactured, and shall, 

 therefore, confine our observations to its effects 

 upon the soil. 



In consctiuence of the former excise duty, 

 which has been only la'e'y taken ufF, tlie use 



