Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-12-08
HARVESTING POTA TOES.

Various opinions exist Us to when is
the proper time to harvest potatoes.
Some believe that il is best to let them
remain in the ground as long as posi-.
bio before digging, thinking that they
keep better than after they are dug.
Upon dry ground, provided tho wea-
ther continues dry, quite likely this
would be good way to manage, but
almost always in autumn We have
heavy rains which thoroughly wet the
ground and keep 1t saturated much Of
the time In such cases the potatoes
would be likely 10 decay. II, more
over, they were upon wet claycy
piece of ground, the danger of decay
would be far greater.
Other persons practice digging their
potatoes as soon as they are ripe, and
place them in a cool dry place. We
have tried this method for several years
and met with better results than by
the old method Of letting them remain
till latc in the ground. We have dug
them the last Of August or the first Of
September, and during the rest of the
month, and put them in the cellar.
They kept well, and decayed but very
little, and were nearly as good the next
summer as when first dug. One ad-
vantage in digging them before the
autumnal rains come on, is that the
potatoes are smooth and bright, and
the DIRT does not stick 10 them, and If
dug and housed in q pleasant day, there
is very little dirt or moisture carried
in with them. If left in the ground
after they are ripe, they become wet
by the rains, and the dirt sticks TO
them, and they do not look so nice nor
are they 80 mealy as when dug earlier.
If the weather should be warm very
likely they will rot badly, and those
which remain will be sodden, mIsera-
BILE things to eat. lfpotatoes are left
in the ground after they are ripe, it
should be no longer than till they be
conveniently dug, unless they are upon
dry land, and the weathercontinues dry
Some may be afraid to dig potatoes
so carly, lest they should ret. We
feared that this would be the case be-
fore we tried it, but after thorough
trial during several years, we feel con
vinccd that they keep tar better and
arc of superior quality. 1t looks rca-
sonable that the time to dig potatoes
is as soon AZ they are ripe, the same as
we harvest all ether products. Apples
are not benefited by remaining on the
trees after they are well ripened. AZ
Ter ripcning, the next stage is to begin
to decay, and they keep the better if
gathered before quito fully ripened.
Our grains and vegetables generally
we gather as soon as ripe, or as soon
as they cease to grow. Now, we would
advise all to dig their potatoes as soon
as they are ripe, and house them in
shallow bins or casks. If any feel
afraid TO risk all their crop, let them
try part of them and see which lot
keeps the best. A writer last year
recommended that potatoes should be
kept in the ground, not only as late as
possible, but even all winter, claiming
that the earth was their natural ele-
ment, and best preserved them. All
that we see that is Objectionable in this
view, is the proposition to keep them
in the ground oil winter, or till late in
the fall, sven. If the earth could re-
main dry, we do not doubt that, if pro-
tected from the frost, they would keep
well. We thought his suggestion that
the earth is the natural element of the
potato and its preservative, worthy Of
remembering and trying. Now, would
it not be well to try potatoes packed
in dry earth in boxes or barrels, and
even upon the bottom Of the cellar 7
We have noticed that potatoes which
happened TO bc covered with dirt upon
the bottom of the cellar, kept nicely,
and appeared much fresher in the
spring than others which were uncov-
cred. This suggestion is worth acting
upon, and may be of considerable val
ne. - Erchauge.