The expense will depend materially on I time to get to growing again, and I have* 
ut the •cement Inyoiir locality. It will , |j novrn plants to be nearly ruined by the 
it four barrels ot the cement to do the r , . r j - 
m expert mason will put it on In hull a ! P r0C(?ss ; ' or t l0 saTllt ’ reason 1 ara opposed 
to putting water in the hole in which the 
plants are to be set. Eveu when the weather 
is damp at the time the plants are transplant¬ 
ed, it is better to transplant but a lew each 
day, as the suu is liable to come out at any 
lime and will the plants. When plants are 
set out immediately a tier sunset, they have 
the benefit of the dew and cool air through 
the night, which is of great benefit to them. 
A better way than to put water in the hole 
with I lie plants, is first to set out the plant, 
and then make a hole near it and fill that 
with the water. 
As soon as the plants get well established 
they should he hoed. By hoeing, I mean 
not only that the weeds should he destroyed, 
but also that the ground should he thorough¬ 
ly stirred between the plants. I believe that 
damp weather is generally considered to he 
the best time to hoc cabbages, hut T never 
could see that it made any difference whether 
they were hoed in wet weather or dry. But 
there is little or no danger of hoeing them 
too often. An occasional top dressing of 
manure is very beneficial, and a liberal 
watering with liquid manure will produce 
very large heads. 
Jn regard to varieties, there are many ex¬ 
cellent early and late sorts, too well known 
to need a description, and often there is lit¬ 
tle difference in value. Among the varie- 
ties which I have raised, the Early York is 
a good standard early variety, and probably 
one of the best. 
TjieWiningstaf.lt forms solid heads early 
in the autumn, and generally keeps well in 
the winter. It is the most sure to head of 
any kind I ever raised. It is a fair quality, 
but inferior in this respect to most other 
varieties. 
The Green Globe Savory T consider the 
best in quality, but does not form as solid 
heads as some. Mason’s Drumhead is one 
of the best late varieties of good quality, and 
forms a large solid head. 
The late varieties of cabbages head well 
in cold weather m autumn, and should not 
be pulled till the ground begins to freeze 
pretty hard. 
Every farmer should raise his own plants 
instead of depending on some neighbor, and 
unless lie raises his own seed, should buy 
only of reliable seedsmen. A large proper- 
arm (hcoitomn 
THE ROLLER. 
This implement, which has come into 
general use only within the lust ten years, 
is so useful that it now ranks with the plow 
and harrow, and no farmer cau consider his 
slock of agricultural implements complete 
without the possession of one of them. 
They are principally constructed on two 
plans. The one consists of a single cylin¬ 
drical piece of timber set in a frame in which 
it revolves; the other, of two such timbers, 
each of which is half the length of the single 
one. The latter is preferable in the turning 
of the angles of fields and lands. The 
objects to which it can be advantageously 
applied are various. 
Grounds which remain cloddy, after being 
plowed and harrowed, can Do reduced by 
the roller to a state of pulverization, which 
with the harrow only is out of the question. 
Crops succeeding Indian corn, may be taken 
off with much facility, particularly if they be 
heavy ami lodged, by having the corn stubble 
and other protuberances levelled by the 
roller. It is of considerable utility if used on 
mowing lands, by pressing the small stones 
into the ground. Grain that lias been frozen 
out during the winter may be benefited by 
passing the roller over it and bringing the 
fibers of the roots in contact with the earth 
again. In preparing grounds for corn the 
roller may he used to great advantage on 
any soil after being plowed, making the 
ground more compact, which will facili¬ 
tate the decomposition of the soil and render 
it less affected by drouth. In corn ground 
it prevents the furrows from being moved by 
the cultivator in the dressing of the corn, and 
reduces Ihu ground to much liner tilth than 
could otherwise he aimined with the same 
labor without the roller. 
Our advice to every farmer who has not 
used the roller is to make one thisspringand 
try it on his soil, and see If it will not pay to 
use it J.L. Heksey. 
Tuftenborough, N. H. 
Cider Mill Wanted.—O kobok H. Sprague, 
Haskinsville, N. Y., asks if there are eider mill- 
which press the eider out of apples by the use of 
rollers without grinding and u screw press. No 
answer given. 
Figure 2, 
sirable, when loading either hay or graiu, 
not to keep the center too fttll; it should he 
depressed, for a reason that is obvious. 
Boards composing the bottom of tbe rack are 
laid upon horizontal pieces connecting the 
bed-pieces at three points. 
In Figures is shown a rack having all the 
superior qualities of No. 1 and other points 
Of merit, rendering it, in a general sense of 
1 he term, the m plus ■ultra hay rack. The 
cross sections are four in number, 3x3, eight 
lbet in length, and in the form of a seg¬ 
ment of a circle, whose diameter is twepty 
feet. If convenient, this part should be the 
natural crook of the timber, rendering it 
much stronger and less liable to derange¬ 
ment than when sawed from a plank not of 
th is character. Boards, when properly nailed, 
keep tho cross-pieces any required distance 
apart. 'Hie standard is secured to the bed- 
pieces by bolts; when in use, it rests against 
the cross-piece; at other times, when passing 
view, the above engraving is furnished, which 
represents what at a glance seems to be a 
complicated rack. It is quite simple, and the 
very best rack for the purpose designed. 
The lower portion is a simple hay rack, 
(for which purpose it may he used,) the cross¬ 
pieces projecting, as shown, in which are 
morticed holes an inch or more in diameter, 
in which are inserted four stakes upon a side, 
four feet in length, to which arc nailed hoards 
six inches in width, in the form shown. 
Bed-pieces also extend a few inches beyond, 
as shown. They are also similarly provided 
with holes and stakes as the sides. When 
all are in place it represents a mammoth box, 
as oneendaud side, thus presented in the en¬ 
graving, clearly indicates. It is policy to 
hook each end of the frame together at the 
top, thus keeping it in its proper position. 
Do not fail to paint your hay rack, it will 
last much longer, add to its beauty, and will 
not absorb moisture. If other hay rucks 
®bc ©arbrntr 
CULTURE OF CABBAGES. 
Tiie cabbage is now generally admitted to 
be not only a delicious, hut also a healthy 
and strengthening article Of food, and I think 
the majority ol farmers do not appreciate its 
value, both for man and beast. With a little 
care in the selection of varieties, and preserv¬ 
ing through the winter, this line vegetable 
may he had fresh and good for at least eight 
months in the year, and it seems strange that 
farmers do not spend more time in its cul¬ 
tivation. 
The cabbage requires a veiy rich soil, and 
careful culture from the time t he seed is sown 
until the crop is harvested ; without good soil, 
and careful culture, it is useless to expect a 
good crop. Procuring plants of the right size 
for setting is a, serious difficulty with some, 
and many do not attempt to raise their own 
plants, but depend on begging a few from 
some more enterprising and energetic neigh¬ 
bor. By this method of obtaining plants the 
planter does not know what varieties he 
plants, whether they are large or small, or 
for summer or winter use. 
To obtain good plants, the seed should be 
sown in a warm, sheltered spot, on the south 
side of some building if possible. Sandy soil, 
with thoroughly rotted manure well mixed 
with it, I consider the best, hut they will 
grow well on any good garden soil. When 
the rough, or third leaf begins to appear, and 
sometimes before, the plants are apt to be 
attacked by small black bugs or flics, the 
same kind which sometimes nearly destroy 
whole fields of turnips. Ashes, soot, or snuff, 
will check them, and sometimes drive them 
away entirely. Bowing the seeds in a large 
box or barrel, filled with dirt, is also a good 
way, as the higher the plants are above the 
ground, the less liable they are to lu> attacked. 
Plants raised in the shade of a building, or 
fence, are seldom injured by the bugs, hut 
they are apt to become drawn, from which it 
takes them a long time to recover. About 
the best thing I ever tried, was to fill a barrel 
half full of manure, then fill the barrel full 
of water, and wet the plants once or twice 
a day with this liquid. The hugs do not like 
the smell, hut the young plants do like il, and 
will grow so fast that they will soon get out 
of the bugs’ way. 
The seeds may he sown in this latitude 
from the first of May to the middle of June, 
and some varieties even later; but unless the 
situation is quite warm and sheltered, the 
middle of May is about early enough. Earlier 
plants can be obtained by sowing in a bot¬ 
tled ; but unless constantly watched, and 
tended, the plants arc apt to grow weak and 
slender, and it lakes them longer l.o recover 
from the shock of transplant ing. 
The ground where the plants are to be 
transplanted, should be prepared by plowing, 
or dug deep, and thoroughly pulverized, and 
all stones and sticks should lie raked off, and 
manure should be thoroughly mixed with the 
soil. Decayed cow manure is the best, but 
any w ill do, even if rather coarse. A cloudy 
day should he selected, if possible, for trans¬ 
planting, but if the weather is dry at the 
time the plants become large enough to trans¬ 
plant, they will do very well by transplanting 
a few each day just after sunset. The plants 
should be set a trifle deeper than they were 
growing in the seed bed ; il is a good plan 
to put a small handful of line manure at the 
root of each plant. Moist dirt should be 
used to cover the roots, which should be 
slightly pressed around the plant. As soon 
as each plant is set, it should he moderately 
watered,—not deluged, for this causes the 
ground around the plant to become too hard. 
The next day, soon after sunrise, unless the 
day be w et, the plants should be covered. 
For this purpose, burdock, mullen, or some 
other kind of large green leaf is the best, 
but if these cannot he obtained, paper will 
do. Small wooden boxes, placed over the 
plants, will do very well if not set so close to 
the ground as to exclude the air. About 
sunset the covering should be removed, and 
the plants again moderately watered. This 
operation of covering, uncovering, and water¬ 
ing, should be repeated/or several days until 
the plants get well rooted. 
Some press wet soil around the roots of the 
plants when they take them from the seed 
bed, and set them out with this ball of mud; 
but I consider this a very bad practice. It is 
true, that plants transplanted in this way, 
will w ilt but little, but the roots are so firmly 
pressed together, that it takes them a long 
On page 220 of Rural is an inquiry from 
a subscriber desiring information relative to 
the construction of the best hay rack. In 
answer thereto 1 herew ith submil engravings 
of four styles of racks; the number could 
have been doubled, but those given embrace 
all the points of novelty, and are, when prop¬ 
erly constructed, unique, strong, and durable. 
Figure 3, 
to the field, or storing in winter, it can he 
folded over upon the bottom. 
As the engraving indicates, the cross-pieces 
arc not bolted or pinned to the bed-pieces, 
lull are secured thereto by six or eight iron 
hooka attached to the cross ties, and engaging 
in staples on the outside of the bed-pieces, 
care being taken that they do not all hook in 
the staples from the same direction, in which 
case, in moving up or down a declivity, the 
hooks arc liable to be disengaged. 
When not in use in the hay or grain field, 
the upper portion can, by unhooking, he 
easily removed, and you then have a conve¬ 
nient rack for drawing stones, rails, fertiliz¬ 
ers, &c. Owing to its peculiar construction, 
one man ol' ordinary muscular ability can 
place it upon the wagon. Farmers possess¬ 
ing heavy, cumbersome hay racks, requiring 
the utmost strength of two hands to place 
upon a wagon, will appreciate tills mode of 
construction. 
Figure 3, although old in form, lias two 
good points of recommendation. First, the 
hoops over each hind wheel prevent liay or 
grain from coming in cont act with the wheel, 
thereby lessening the draft, &c.; second, 
stakes being placed at each corner, very ma¬ 
terially aid in keeping the load in place while 
being drawn ; also serve as a proper guide 
and aid in keeping the corners of the load 
square, and at the Tight point during load¬ 
ing. Said stakes arc two feet in length, top 
not sharpened, placed at each corner of rack, 
passing through- ends of the outer board anil 
cross-pieces, as shown. 
possessing novelty of construction are 
brought to my notice, the readers of the Ru¬ 
ral shall reap the benefit therefrom. 
L. D. Bnook. 
llarrlrif ton, Yatos Co., N. Y„ 1S69. 
Utilizing Wight Soil. — A correspondent of the 
Country Gentleman says:—In a tight box 1 place 
galvanized iron buckets, built Haring, with two 
sets of loops, one set at the top and one at the 
bottom. The droppings are naught in these ami 
emptied asoften as necessary on.i heap of muck 
and worked in. If emptied in the morning, be¬ 
fore being disturbed, it is not unpleasant. VVhon 
fi’ozon, I hang thorn over the compost heap by 
the bottom loops, and pour a quart of boiling 
water over the bucket, and it is clean. A large 
pile of the bust of compost is the result. 
GROWING ONHjN SEED 
I uave seen several interesting articles of 
late in the Rural in relation to the culture 
of the onion, and I will also make a state¬ 
ment on the subject. The custom prevails 
generally of setting out old onions, in the 
spring, that are found in the cellar, for the 
purpose of raising seed, and for early use on 
the table. For the past six years 1 have 
kept and set the same bottoms from year 
to year, getting a good crop of black seed 
each of the first five years; and the sixtli 
(which was last year,) 1 got a large crop 
of the top seed, known as “buttons,” and 
I understand that for five crops I shall get 
the “buttons,” and then they will change 
hack to the black seed again. The “ but¬ 
tons ” are counted by some the best, as most 
sure to grow, and are very scarce in this 
section. If the above rule will hold good, 
and people would adopt the plan of saving 
their old onions for spring setting, (always 
adding some new bottoms left over,) they 
will have both top onions and black seed 
in abundance. 
1 have heard it stated that all the different 
varieties arc produced in this way. Will 
some of your numerous readers give further 
light on the subject? Subscriber. 
Lewiston, Wis. 
To Secure n Dry ("ellnr Hot I OIll.— A. Graves, 
Scott county, Pa., asks how ho can make the 
bottom of his cellar dry. Ulg twelve inches 
deeper, fill with small stone twelve inches and 
throe inches with course gravel; pound well 
and piaster over tt, a water linn* mortar one and 
a half inches thick ; cut a drain from the cellar 
to lead the water olf, by pipe or otherwise, and 
1 think you will have no more trouble with 
water. — Onto. 
In answer to A. Graves :-Take stones and 
break them up line, not leaving any pieces 
larger than » man's list. When the bottom Is wet, 
pound this down as long as it oun be pounded in 
with an iniplument made In this wise; 'taken 
-stick of hard wood, four or live foot long, six 
inches through; put an inch and a half pin 
through within about a loot of one end, for a 
handle. 
A I ter the stones arc pounded in, lot them re¬ 
main until the bottom is perfectly dry, then 
plaster it with mortar made of clean, coarse 
sand, (if gravel Is la it, all the better,) three 
SALSIFY OR OYSTER PLANT 
Tins vegetable, so named from a strong 
resemblance in flavor and taste to real oysters, 
is very refreshing in spring, as an addition 
to the usual and limited list of edible roots 
which have been kept over all winter. Here 
in the Northwest it will grow wild, seeding 
itself like a weed, and will thus be propa¬ 
gated and perpetuated indefinitely. When 
thus grown, it goes to seed the first year (the 
seeds having lain in the earth all winter,) 
and the roots are consequently lit for use. 
To grow it properly the seed should be 
sown in drills, in early spring, he thinned 
out to regular distances of four to six inches, 
and receive cultivation enough to keep tin, 
weeds down all summer. As vegetables --.re 
abundant during the fall, it is left i,i the 
ground all winter, receiving no damage 
from frost, and is dug in spring as soon as 
the ground can he worked. The roots aver¬ 
age ten inches in length, ^ml an inch or 
more in diameter. After washing and clean¬ 
ing, it is cooked by cutting across in thin 
slices and steaming with milk anil butter. 
HAY AND GRAIN RACK. 
parts, and water and lime, or cement, one part; 
spread this on at least one and a half inches 
thick; if two inches, all the better. If this is 
properly done, 1 think you will never be troubled 
ay-aiu with water oozing up through the cellar 
Many seasons the growth of straw is short, 
rendering its conveyance to the barn prepar¬ 
atory to threshing a source of much annoy¬ 
ance and loss thereby. With this point in 
