274 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



to get the roots out until spring. All these root crops should 

 be gathered and " topped," being careful not to cut too close, 

 causing the roots to bleed, and stored temporarily in piles 

 so that they may be covered at night if there is danger of 

 freezing. To keep well for a long period they should not 

 only be stored in a dark cold place, where the temperature 

 may be kept well down toward the freezing point, but 

 should be packed in sand or moss. The only objection to 

 the former material is its great weight. Sphagnum or swamp 

 moss may be gathered free in most places, or a few bushels 

 bought from a local florist. It is clean, and Hght, and stays, 

 moist without being wet, for a long time, making an ideal 

 packing for the root crops. 



Cabbage. A small quantity may be kept in a storeroom 

 if it is cool and dark. A good way is to tie several heads 

 together, first removing the outside leaves, by the roots, and 

 suspend from a nail. Where any amount is to be saved, 

 however, it is usually "pitted." A common method is to 

 simply dig a trench wide enough to take two heads side by 

 side, and deep enough so that when another head is placed 

 on top, the roots will come about level with the surface of 

 the soil. Cabbages should not be trenched or pitted until 

 cold weather, and as hard freezing weather sets in should be 

 gradually covered up with meadow hay, corn stalks or other 

 mulching sufficiently deep to prevent their freezing hard. 

 Those to be kept over winter, through very hard freezing, 

 should have a layer of earth over the mulch, and a second 

 layer of mulch over this. The trench may be lined with 

 hay, straw, or boards to make more certain of keeping the 

 contents dry and clean. Brussels sprouts and kale may 

 be left where they grow, as they are perfectly hardy. 



Lettuce will stand more or less cold weather, and may be 

 had for several weeks later than usual by simply covering 

 it with bog hay to protect it from the first frosts, after 

 which we frequently have two or three weeks of good grow- 

 ing weather. Small plants, which were started in August 

 or September, may be transplanted to the cold-frames in 

 October, where by the use of double sash, they may be 



