The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-10-28
fur the fartaer.
STORING POTATOES.

Storing potatoes for Winter is risky business.
The experience of hundreds of farmers during
the past two three very severe winters has
been disastrous. Frost penetrated open ground
not covered by snow last Winter as deep as four
feet Of course most potato heaps were frozen
into and their contents destroyed. But not all
1t is possible with proper care to cover potatoes
SO that frost cannot get in. What Is needed rs
one or two extra layers of straw or other mate
rial to hold confined air between the potatoes
and the outer cold. This is the use OF the straw
or potato ton covering over the heap before the
earth is put on This confined air Is much
better non conductor of heat than eartil, ana ~
is the best reliance for protection 10 make 1t
more sure, after covering the heap win nSe OF
six inches more of earth add another covering
of straw. and then earth this as before. This
double wall of earth, with spaces of confined air
between is much more effective than solid
body of earth TO exclude frost We know pota-
foes which were unniured last Winter when
tins protected when it would have been almost
impossible TO cover them deep enough to insure
Il was difficult last Winter to save potatoes in
many cellars Frost penetrated where it was
never known before. Aside from frost there is a
further difficulty in storing potatoes in many
cellars which are too warm and dry towards
Spring, causing the shoots to start and the pota-
to shrivel and lose substance and flavor This is
especially true of potatoes of early varieties,
those kept late for seed The long shoots bro
ken of at planting time detract much from the
vitality of the potato, and If not broken off they
mostly shrivel and die after planting In either
case secondary eyes have to start, involving loss
of time and greater loss in the vigor of the plant
We believe late planting of the main crop impor-
tant as protection against attacks of the pOta-
to beetle; but to ibe effective, the late planted
seed must be perfect and ready to start aud grow
vigorously. In this respect potatoes carefully
pitted in the field generally excel, and at least
enough for seed should be so saved every year,
especially of early varieties most liable to spront.
If you afraid to risk pitting in the field store
the potatoes in the cellar, and cover the heaps
with fresh sod. The earth over the potatoes will
keep moisture from evapOrating, will protect
from excessive cold in Winter, and from too
warm an atmosphere in Spring. If the sod be-
comes too dry, sprinkle il occasionally through
the Winter with water We learned this hint
from finding Early Rose potatoes which had laid
on the bare ground in cellar to the LIST of June,
firm and in excellent condition for eating or
planting, while the same variety not in contact
with the soil, had sprouts foot long, and were
soft and poor. As it is the dry, warm air which |
causes the potatoes to sprOut, layer of sods |
over the heap will Obviate this difficulty, though
not half the potatoes are in contact with the soil
quick, vigorous growth of potatoes after plant
ing is necessary to get the start of the first crop
of potato beetles. Planting late in rich, warm |
soil, with good, firm seed, will do this; but it
quires some care aud fOrethOught to provide this |
good seed of early varieties for late planting. |
Now that farmers are gathering and preparing |
to store potatoes, is the time to attend to this |
Men Yorker.