Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-10-03
Agricultural.
Preservation Of Vegetables.

correspondent requests US TO give some
Information as 10 the preservation of vegeta
b.es and roots, and We are happy to comply
with the request, the subject is one of con
siderable importance. one winch has taxed the
skill and Judgment of farmers to a great ex-
ten:, on which opinions somewhat diff
fer.
The Hrst requisite is to secure a dry atmos-
phere and low temperature. This is the
leading idea, we understand it, of the fruit
houses for the preservation of fruits and othe r
perish bic articles from decay 1t is not enous
that the temperature be low or uniform. 1t
must be dry, also.
have NJ DOUBT that the nearer We can
come to the principles and practices adopt
ed by scientific fruit preservers, by which they
are enabled to keep the most perishable kinds
OF fruits, like grapes, peaches oranges, etc., for
many months beyond their limit under ordin.
AIRY Circumstances, the longer and the more
perfectly can we keep our roots and vegetables
from waste and decay.
As to potatoes, there is probably no better
way than storing In heaps covered with earth
that is in case the owner has not sufficient
cellar room to store them properly. Potatoes
ehould never be exposed the light, and
when dug they should be carefully kept from
the sun. Stored away cool as fast they
are dug, or With as little heat as possible, they
in the sun and air. II is not half so impor-
tant, even to dr. them, as it is TO keep them
from the sun and wind. Tney have been TAX
en- from the field in raicy day and IN a mud
dy condition, and kept well. But if dried il
the ard stored away warm, they heat in
the pile and soon begin TO decay.
Potatoes will keep better If covered with
earth. sufficient to fill In all the spaces between
the iube.s and keep them dark and cool
This is the case even 10 the cellar, but where
it is necessary to store them outside, they may
be put in piles, Of from twenty [" thirty bushels
on a level place, where no water can reach and
stand at the bottom Of the pile, and covered
say eight CT ten inches deep with straw when
earth may be thrown on. making the covering
q foot or more in thickness. This should be
done before the ground is frozen. Outside OF
this covering straw or rubbish may be thrown
on, and held il place by poles or boards.
Sometimes when warm weather occurs after
storing in this way, it becomes necessary TO
ventlate the heap by wisp OF straw or other
wise extending through the earth covering.
We know many Instances where this way
of storing has been adopted with perfect sue
cess. TIE secret OF success IL to keep them
cool and dark from the time OF leaving the
ground. Prof. Nyce, the inventor of the cele-
brated fruit house system. keeps the air in bis
houses al about thirty -four degrees of FahreI-
heit We believe, and secures the perfect dry
ness OF the atmosphere By artificial means.
And so with the various root crops. A good
root cellar near the cattle stalls Is desirable bu
many nave Lot this great convenience, and are
obliged to store them IN tire house cellar or
elsewhere. Many cellars keep them admIra-
bly,, others no not. A good plan, when short
of storage is that described In the q" TURNER'S
Encycioa aedia" % Select convenient and
4 l. f,Iix r,th
their crowns outside, IL row about six feet
wide at the bottom, and Terminating in mar
row ridge at the top; then dig a trench com
mencIuy Immediately at the edge OF the roots
two feet vide and one foot deep, turning the
mould from the heap /; tnatch the latter care
fully with straw, commencing IN the trench, so
that all the rain may drain of he heap into II.
The heap may be left two or three weeks IN
this state that the evaporation from the roots
may escape the mould already taken out OF
the trench Is then to be laid on the straw,
commencing at the bottom OF the thatch, and
covering the heap twelve inches thick through
out, finishing with sharp edge. Halt the
trench originally made, will of course, by thi-
plan, be filled up with straw and mould the
other half will remain as channel for the wa
ter falling Of the heap; and as sufhclent
mould will not have b. en- raised from the orig
iuaI excavation il will be advisable, IN procur-
ing more, to make the channel left round the
heap few incne. deeper, as we'll as wider
The leaves like those Of the mangOids, are ex-
csedingIy nu,rltive, and when given to milch
COWS cause a greatly increased flow of rich
milk. Care should be taken that all dirt Is
shaken from them before giving to the ami
mais.''
We like the plan of citing caboages and
swedes in sand in the cellar. They keep well
IL in fPesh and sound [
i. great thing to have good dry cellar. Ii
saves great deal of trouble and loss. gooI
cellar is worth taking care of by keeping il
clean and dry al all times-Ptoughmun