The Red Cloud chief., 1879-10-09

7 BtrIftf.u{t TffrfEf-
PRESERVING VEGETABLES.
Now that the r,ppt haryc~, t~iuciujiHg
p~otatnr> among the r,-DJ,l J. near, >,
viii be useful To- consider the means -
preserving them in the best manner
while there i time for preparation. 70
atp should not hc left IA the ground
long after they arr ripe. l.>t q second
growth should Dccur, by which they
would bc injured. After having l--"n
dug, they require - be- dried by a few
hours exposure on the field, hu; nu,
more than that. after which they should
place a. possible. No other place J.
better for keeping POTATOES than "a root
cave: a pit IN the field ume next IA
usefulness 10 the cave. \ cave may is.
easily made in q hillside which j., dry
and slopes & the south. An excavation
NAV h.. made large enough Ia contain
the crop, hut rather than make very
large ones il will be cheaper io make
several uf moderate size. Tn. may
imum size would be- IL feet wid- and -
or 81 feet long. This would give about
inO square feet uf floor, holding isi
bushels for each | - feet in depth. or Nv
bushels in all. The room required for a
crop NAV. therefore, b. calculated un tins
basis. The i dug out two ~ three feet
below the lowest level If the ground.
i'm "A place where the slope i greatest, or
even where the ground J. level. having
the floor level with the doorway. Thi~
has the advantage If perfect aud secure
drainage, and freedom from flooding 10y
backing up If water from snow, or any
other accidental obstruction. \ number
Of split logs, plank~. or >lah~. arr ST IN
the excavation. i'm the form uf a letter \.
They may he pinned OF spiked " ridge
piece AT the top. but this : scarcely
needed if the top joints are well made.
The timber, arr covered with bark or
marsh hay. and the earth which has been
dug out i then thrown back upon the
building, covering it with a mound.
which should bc slopcd considerably and
>oddcd. 4 double door j. fitted in the
front. and a ventilatOr which can bc
closed should h" made in the apex If TIA"
roof. This gives fru~t-prsuf storage IN
the winter, and which l. hrat-pruuf in
the summer. IL will thus, if thoroughly
cleaned and ~swcetcncd. make an excel
lent milk-hou~e in the hot weather. such
root-cavcs NAV be- made in different
parts If the farm, wherever they may bc
needed. and a. no floor hut the bare
earth i used, they are not likely 10 har-
Dor vermiu.
The field pit i still cheaper, but
wholly temporary. protection for roots,
Ii j. made in the field where the roots
are gathered. The basis i a long trench
followed out with the pillow or scraper
upon a high and dry location. The
roots. dry and clean. are heapcd in the
trench about six feet wide and four and
a half feet high. They are covered
with straw. lcaVes, or coarse hay pine
or hemlock brush will answer in place
IF these. where ii can Ice more readily
procured. The covering J. made at
least six inches thick. Earth i thrown
on Ia this several inches thick. to within
a foot of the top, which Is left open I'M
Ill the heap has undergone the usual
fermentation and heating. during which
considerable moisture ESCAPES. II
closed before this. the whole mass would
heat. rot. and putrify. After a sufficient
time the top j. covered. leaving a space
of one foot uncovered at each six feet
in length of the pit and on the
extreme ridge. for the purpose Of nccesSa-
" ventilation. The final covering may
not he needed until December, or, ~
least. moi until severe fro>ts take place.
More substantial root-houses are made
Of with coarse. rough stone,
arched and covered with earth. but a.
these structures are not always required
in the same place. unless a permanent
central location i chosen. the more
rudelv constructed ones. or the pits. are
la be preferred. The chief points To be
observed are drynes> of the site, perfect
drainage, and absence Of danger from
flooding. walls and roof impenetrable
bv the severest and longest continued
frosts. and good ventilation. The last
is necessary 10 carry of the moisture
which is always rising from the heat en-
gendered by the collection IF large
quantities Of vegetables in masses. The
addition of dry lime scattered over the
heap absorbs a considerable quantity II
this. and is anti>eptic qualities add 10
its useful effect. In storing potatoes. n
good busting of lime over each layer Of
a foot in depth i always advisable
The roots should be ripe, sound and
dry when stored. otherwise decomposi-
ton begins in places, and quickly
spreads through the mass. II Is safe 70
put a few -four barrels. having holes
knocked In the side, OF some pieces Of
rails tied in bundles, here and there
through the mass of roots. This pro-
vides easy escape for the moisture and
heat from the roots, and keeps them dry
and sound. In pitting. the bundles OF
rails win be found Of the greatest Use.
and they should each connect with the
~ventilator, or project from the top and
form the ventila;or. The projecting
ends may be capped with q bundle Of
straw 10 exclude rain or snow
In opening a pit for use the end i
taken down and a sufficient quantity.
100 bushels perhaps. Is taken out a. one
time. This work should be done on 8
DRY, windy day, and when the tempera-
ture is not low enough TO injure the roots.
The open end may be closed with straw.
well packed, and q few boards NAV be
propped up against the straw. doubled
over the joints, and with some bags or