Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-11-27
Agrnnltard.
Storing Root and Other Crops for
Win1er.


Since the increased cul,1re Of the root
crops, their modes Of preservation hsSs be-
come important, as many crops bear higher
prices later in the season than IN pscem-
Ter, while o,hers, if badly stored, end ran
,lered Of comparatively Iiitle value The
strap set, red TOP, AID other nds of white
tsrnips are amoGg those requiring the great
est care, fcr if stored in TOO large bulk,
without proper ventilation, they become
pithy 10 short time. Many methods are
appealed 10, but the one which We found
successful. lie to place ridge Of tcrniPs on
the surface Of the ground, three feet v ide at
ihs. base OF any required length, and form
ing point at the top like a letter This
should be covered with so'l dug from the
sides, so as TO leave fiat fourteen inches
wider than The heap, and surrounding it.
thus leaving ditch around the pile TO pre-
vsntssthe admission of moisture 70 the base
On which the turnips are placed. The irst
covering should not be more than four inches
in thickness. Or Iop Of the heap, at dis
tsnces not greater than FIVE feet, tufts OF
holes for ventilation. suffering the escaping
moisture to pass eff during the sweating of
the turnirs When the weather becomes
more severe, more dirt may be put an, unit!
the whole thickness is twelve inches, which
will prove entirely sufficient for the severest
we;tier. If the turnips are Slightly sweated
in this heap before being covered, and are
permitted to dry off before covering, they
will keep sound untilrequired for ute. The
end of the heap mfy be opened, and this
should have a southern OF southwestern ex-
posure. As the turnips are removed, eI-
posed portions should BE- covered with straw.
Carrots, beets, and ruta bagis may all be
preserved in this manner.
In soils that are very dry and sandy, and
thoroughly uDder-drained. pits may be dug
go IS TO place the roots below the surface
of the ground. They may also be kept in
cellars covered with dry sand ard properly
ventilated. Carrots should be comparatively
slowed. with small an"unt of earth BE-
tween them. Where roots can be placed
under sheds. covering of dry charcoal dust
viii be lld sufficient for their .prsserrs-
fien, although the side Of the shed may De
opened to the weather.
To preserve apples, they should be placed
In heaps, and covered with plank or straw,
TO induce swesting; this covering should
then be removed, and the air suffered to pass
freely among them. They will lose eight
per cent. of their weight, without shrinking
~. fp he
sweating will occur; and if the atmosphere
should then not be as low as the freezing
point. the second drying will prepare them
:or being kept in safety by any Of the or
dinsry methods. Indeed, if shipped imme-
diately after sweating, provided the apples
be nol bruised; they will keep for a voyage
Of FIVE weeks. and on the sixth week the
sweating will again commence, and is no;
properly srated, decay will rapidly follow
The object should be to keep them as near
the freezing point as possible, but always
above it. :. .Delicately favored apples should
never come in contact directly with the soil,
for if il contains much clay OF carbon, il
will abstract The aroma of the apple, and
render it comparatively favorless; indeed
it will o@:en impart gronnd-like smell and
taste to fruits. The root crops are not so
injured.
Psrsnips may be preserved in the man.
ner named for turnirs: but Il is only neces-
sary for the purpose OF keeping them clean
and free from rains. as freezing does not in
iure this root; indeed, they are nat fit for
Use until they have been frozen. Market
gardeners usually leave part of their pars-
nIps in the ground 'or their early spring
sales, and III, Sc that have been thus expos
ed all winter, are sweeter and better than
those dug in the fall. The property of soil
fer extracting odors is so great, that fishy
duck buried in it over night, may be cooked
zext day, and will be found to be free from
this Objectionable favor. Dry Goldfish is
often anne liorated in flavor By such treat
ment. Indeed, the clothes of those who
have died of the plague may be worn by
Others, without the fear of communicating
disease, after they have been buried in the
soil Few hours Working Farmer.