32 CABBAGES, HOW TO GROW THEM, ETC. 



somewhat dry, when it can be mostly removed by sharp 

 blows against the stump given with a stout stick. In 

 loading do not bruise the heads. Select the place for 

 keeping them in a dry, level location, and if in the 

 North a southern exposure, where no water can stand 

 and there can be no wash. To make the pit, run the 

 plough along from two to four furrows, and throw out 

 the soil with the shovel to the requisite depth, which 

 may be from six to ten inches : now if the design is to 

 roof over the pit, the cabbages may be put in as thickly 

 as they will stand ; if the heads are solid they may be 

 either head up or stump up, and two layers deep ; but 

 if the heads arc soft, then heads up and one deep, and 

 not crowded very close that they may have room to 

 make heads during the Winter. Having excavated an 

 area twelve by six feet, set a couple of posts in the 

 ground midway at each end, projecting about five feet 

 above the surface ; connect the two by a joist secured 

 firmly to the top of each, and against this, extending to 

 the ground just outside the pit, lay slabs, boards or poles, 

 and cover the roof that will be thus formed with six 

 inches of straw or old hay, and if in the North throw 

 six or eight inches of earth over this. Leave one end 

 open for entrance and to air the pit, closing the other 

 end with straw or hay. In the North close both ends, 

 opening one of them occasionally in mild weather. 



When cabbages are pitted on a large scale this system 

 of roofing is too costly and too cumbersome. A few 

 thousand may be kept in a cool root cellar, by putting 

 one layer heads down, and standing another layer 

 heads up between these. The common practice in the 

 North, when many thousands are to be stored for Winter 

 and Spring sales, is to select a southern exposure hav- 



