The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-10-22

The harvesting ought to be done in
cool, clear weather, when the soil is
dry and the potatoes will come out of
the ground clean. As potatoes are more
or less injured by exposure to warmth
and light, they should DO consigned to q
cool, dark place as soon as practicable
after being taken from the soil. Some
farmers remove potatoes at once from
the field to the place of storing. When
the roots are perfectly healthy and have
been lifted out of the ground in dry
weather no ill effects are liable to fol-
low, but the plan is hardly safe one,
especially when there are the slightest
indications of rot. A better practice is
that of spreading on barn floor Or 9TH
er cool place out of the sun. A very
common practice is tb Afpe of placing
the potatoes in heaps covering with
straw, so that they <@n 70 through the
sweat. When the sweat is over the
potatoes are transferred to cellar or
other suitable spot prepared for their
reception.
Underlying the many methods prac-
ticed for storing potatoes are the same
general principles-protection against
frosts and changes of temperature, free.
dom from moisture and avoidance of
heating caused by storing too deep.
When pits are employed it is important
that openings be left at the top for ven
tilation. When stored in cellars, barns
or houses specially constructed for the
purpose, it is advised not TO fill the bins
with roots to greater depth than three
or four feet, otherwise there is danger
of their sprouting. Farmers who have
granaries or corn cribs with lath floors
and sides find these a capital place for
the deposit of fresh-dug potates. These
spread in layers, say two feet thick, and
left until fear Of freezing, are in good
condition to finally store in bins or bar
rels in the cellar.
Potatoes may be preserved in dark
cellars or in pits with the temperature
not much above the freezing point. The
argument in favor of storing under
ground is that there is little, if any, loss
by evaporation. Various objections are
urged, however, against storing pota-
toes under ground. There is more or
less risk involved, for if covered too
closely the roots decay, while if not COW
cred sufficiently they spoil by freezing.
Then considerable labor is involved in
opening the banks when roots are re-
quired for use, consequently the custom
of storing potatoes in cellars and houses
built forthe purpose is yearly growing |
in favor. H. Ives, writing from Bats-
via, N. Y, in the american Cultivator
gives his plan for storing potatoes, which
insures all the advantages of the pitting
system without being subjected to the
disadvantages. The potatoes are put in
tolerably tight bins Of q capacity OF from
30 to 500 bushels each and ifneed be
three or four feet deep. As soon as
stored the potatoes are covered with
course of straw to prevent the top roots
from turning green; also to absorb the
moisture generated by the potatoes
while passing through the sweat. A few
weeks later a covering three or four
inches deep Of light, sandy loan is
placed over the straw. By this method
Of storage, Mr.. Ives says, the shrink
age is far less than by the open-bin
He recommends keeping the
storage cellar quite cool and removing
the covering early in the spring. This
same practice is adopted in storing other
onions excepted, by Mr..
Ives. -
For winter keeping, potatoes ought to
70 planted late; this insures late har.
1est and reduces the period of storing.
Early potatoes should be dug when ripe
md stored in cool, dry place, and
light covered with straw. There is al.
Ways danger of sprouting underground,
if q drought is followed by
'opious rains.-N. Y. World.