The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-11-29
IRISH POTATOES.
Approved Plans Suggested Fer
Keeping Them.

Nashville Banner.
No expensive house or great
preparations are necessary to en-
able you to keep in sound condition
the Irish potato. The farmers of
Tennessee until within a few years
past depended for their winter sup
ply upon a small planting ofsome of
the late varieties, such as Peach
blow, Russell or Bruce red; the lat
ter a good yielder and keeper, orig
mating in Tennessee near Nashville.
These varieties as a rule are plant
ed on the Doth of June in the lati-
tude of Nashville and dug just af-
ter frost. When they shit the
ield is enormous, frequently as
many as 400 bushels per acre have
been made, especially Of the Bruce
red variety ;but oftener they miss
We have seen this variety sell in
the Nashville market at 20 cents per
bushel and at other times at 50.
They are kept as easily as corn.
The amount demanded in the city
of Nashville for culinary purposes,
above what was produced in the
county up to 1879, was about TO-,
600 barrels annually; these were
brought from the north. However,
since the introduction of the sec
ond crop, very few are'imported for
that purpose.
The size and value of this second
crop with improved methods of cul-
ture and increased production OF
the late varieties have called for
more care and attention in keeping
this crop. Many growers use The
common bank plan.
This is done by leveling a circu
lar spot not more than five feet in
diameter; begin to pile potatoes
with centre gradually widening I'M
til you reach the outer edge of the
ground ieyeled off When finished
you have a round, cone-shaped pile.
Cover lightly with straw. Begin
a foot from the edge Of the potatoes
and throw up about four inches OF
dirt, until by September 10, not la
ter, be sure TO haye foot of dirt
over each part of Tie bank. Cover
this with loose boards, or low
temporary shelter, to conduct of
the rain. The removal of the dirt
for covering giyes q deep, wide
ditch around your potatoes, which
conducts all the water foot from
and below the base of your pile.
The bank can be entered from
the side any mild weather during
| the winter; few bushels taken out
and the hole well filed with dirt.
This is the faYorite way to keep
turnips, beets, OF any of the root
crops. Sweet potatoes arc SUCCESS
fully kept by this plan, if for few
weeks an opening is left at the top
for ventilation, The rats and the
colored brethren near the towns are
so bad after this tuber that it's
risky to leave sweet potatoes out. II
a hole is made in the bank and
earelessly covered the first cold
night Esettttllees the pile" If you
have large qantity of Irish pota-
tees to store, the rick plan is best,
which is as follows;
Clear off a piece of ground not
much wider than five feet, for any
length desired, slightly down grade
is preferred. Begin to pile from
from the centre and fill out to the
margin of the cleared land. Make
straw partition one fsot thick eve
ry ten feet. These are rot checks.
sssssaEk the potatoes to short ridge
and cover lightly with straw-this
only keeps the potatoes clean.
Cover with dirt, beginning ct least a
foot from the edge of your bank of
potatoes. Cover lightly at first, and
gradually pile on the dirt until you
get a foot over the entire bank by
December Is. Cover with boards
for shelter as with the cone
banks, or nail two ten or twelve
inch planks together, pig trough
style, and place on top of bricks
inverted,
Don't doIlike someof our 1eighbors,
who dig deep trenches, four feet
wide and two more deep, and fill the
trench full of patatoes, and cover
with dirt taken from the bitches; a
a ditch is made around the pile,
and the first heavy rain soaks
through, filling trench and running
the potatoes.
In this climate, put your potatoes
above the ground. Ordinary cellars
are too warm for potatoes in this
attitude.
Where only few bushels are to
be kept you can tack together
,hree planks making a square box,
With bottom and two sides, any
ength that your boards happen to
)e.
Fill these with potatoes andt
,lace one upon the other. Cover
ecurely with straw or hay as freez
ne weather approaches.
Any old out house or open cellar
ould be filed with boxes of pota-
oes on this plan, and can be enter :
d at any time during the winter
he potatoes can be sold off in i
to suit by boxes. They
Ould be handled in any kind of s
Gather and much easier in case |
ot should appear, than in large f
anks exposed to the weather.
-s ss------