St. Landry democrat., 1881-12-31
Keeping Bulbs and Tubers.

Differences in climate necessitate diff
ferent methods of treatment of the
same species of bulbs or tubers, in Or
der to preserve them from one season
to another under artificial conditions,
| For instance, the common potato in
cool climates is one of the easiest of all
tubers to preserve in sound condition
| from one season to another; but in hot
climates it decays rapidly after reach
ing maturity in the fall. The chief
condition necessary for its preservation
is cool and dry place. and when this
can be secured the tubers will remain
sound, not for six months or year,
but for number years. for in the ma
tive habitat of the potato droughts
frequently occur, lasting two, three, or
more years, and the wild plants remain
in an entirely dormant condition until
the rains come and force the tubers
into growth. We have in our possess
sion some tuber5 of the wild potato
which we gathered two years ago in
one of the canons of the Rocky Mount
aims in New Mexico, and they are as
sound as when first taken from their
native soil. They have been pre-
served in dry sand in tin box, depos-
tied in a cool cellar, conditions which
are unfaVorable to the growth of the
potato.
The potato, as is now we'll known to
botanists who have travelled in the re-
gions above named, is native of the
Rocky Mountain range, commencing in
Colorado, and extending southwark
fhr0noh oil ha nd
in South America; but we believe it is
found in all cases at high elevations,
where the climate is naturally cool, and
often very dry. In some parts of this
region no rains will fall for several
years, and when this occurs the tubers
of the wild potato remain dormant
until conditions favorable to growth
return. This fact gives us key to
the most favorable conditions in which
to preserve the domesticated or inn
proved sorts, namely, in dark place,
excluded from air, and at a low tenn
perature. By low we do not mean a
freezing temperature, because it is
doubtful if the wild tubers become
frozen even where the temperature
of she air falls ten to thirty degrees
below zero, because the soil is so dry
during winter that the cold does not
penetrate to any considerable depth.
The sweet potato, being tropical
plant and native of lower and moster
climates than the Virginia, or, more
properly, American potato, requires
entirely different conditions for its
preservation. 1t must be kept dry and
warm, as cold. even above the freezing
point is often destructive to its vitality.
In warm climates it is only necessary
to bury the tubers in dry soil in the au-
tumn in order to have them come out
sound in spring; but in cool climates.
as in our Northern States, little arti-
fetal heat during the winter months is
required. Packing in dry chaff or kiln
dried sand is perhaps the best method,
after which place the barrels or boxes
in dry room or cellar where a fire can |
be occasionally kindled to drive out
moisture and raise the temperature to
sixty or seventy degrees. The tubers
WilLnot sprout even at higher temper
allure unless considerable moisture is
present in the materials used for pack
ing.
Turnips, beets, carrots and all similar
bulbs and tubers, natives of cool eli
mates, should be kept cool and not so
dry as to cause them to lose their nat
ural moisture by evaporation. If placed