The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-12-04
Storing Root Crops.

North and South are alike interested
the proper preservation OF y~y,.t.hie.
whether they are intended for tall. m +.
ne winter feed Of live stock. In the ",
tliern States lrost Is the chief danger I,
the Southern, too much keat and mois,,.
render thar safe storage almost email,
diiflcult. Changes Of temperature an, II
both cases the main sources Of danger a.
probably the occasional frosis which MI
south m farms are almost as destruc,iy.
as the frequent ones which occur ~ ~
North. In one region they are not count.
upon a part OF the regular progrsmrns
while in the other thew are habiruslI,
though too often Intellectually, guard.
against.
Potatoes, rs the most important Of an,
root-crops, deserve especial care. Tonre
serve them in the best condition the,
must be X pt dry and cool. They .honli|
be taken from the ground as soon a M.
sible after they are fully ripe. although
they may be left in the ground for sorne
time without necessarily detrfiuraiino
As rule. however, IL is safest 10 dig then
during the first availsble dry weather
leaving them spread over the ground IL
dry for two or three hours ~
fore gathering. Sorting l. mos,
ersily done while the crop is thu.
scattered, and then the large anal
small can be thrown into the cart divide Il
for this service into two compartments Nv
a board and hauled to the place OF storage
In good order for separate disposal. MI
mild climates, and in all climates during
mild season, potatoes are i'm danger OF
making second growth If they are left
too long in the grond after ripening. i'll
t,.o A.. =
so long rs there il no danger from frost
and when they are buried in the earth
venthole should be left open AT the top oil
the heap as long as possible. IL j. better
10 avoid placing great many potatoes To-
gether either in BINS or heaps. and in al
cases light should be excluded a. much a.
possible.
With turnips and beets low tempera-
ture is more important than absolute iry
ness, although any thing like excessive
dampness is Ia be carefully guarded
against. These crops are not ordinarily
gathered until danger from outside heat /.
pretty well over. but their own capacity
for generating heat must BE- looked out
for. If laid in large heaps those on the
sides are often frozen on "A sharp night.
while those in the center may be a ~
same time I, rmenting with their own hea,
This Is especially the case with turnip..
Carrots should be gathered and topped
before the crowns have been fro1en.
dried until the soil falls of easily. and ihfn
kept at as low temperature a. possible
short Of actual freezing.
Frost does not injure parsnips in most
localities indeed il usually improves
them, so that If not needed for winter a.e
they may be- left in the ground Until
spring. II gathered in tire fall they shsulf
he packed in moss or leaves. and stored in
cool and not over-dry cellar.
Celery is. by a majority of gardener.
carefully taken up with the soil aihering
TO its roots. and rs.$et in trenches foo;
wide, and deep enough to be easily covered
The punches should be set nearly upright.
and close together. and covered viii
straw or other frost-shieid when cold AZ
proaches. In this connection We mas
quote correspondent of the Germantown
Telegraph who thus describes another
plan: "a friend of mine has kept ti,
celery through the winter now Tor several
wears by standing II IN spring iratsr about
an inch In depth and kept thus IL cir-
tinues 10 grow and send up fresh branche..
so that he has cut nicely blanched. tender
tops two or three times Ina winter"