West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-05-01
POTATOES.
a Discussion OF Points OF Interest Re-
speeding this EscuIent.

speeding this Esculent.
With many it is question when the
potatoes ripen, which il the better plan
to dig as soon rs they are thoroughly
ripe or wait until late in the fall, when
it is desirable to dig and tore away.
Ny rule has always been to dig when
they are ripe 1t always seemed to me
there was less risk in having the pota-
toes out of the ground than in allowing
them to remain in the ground. After
the potatoes are ripe a shower of rain
will cause them to sprout and start to
make second growth, and the whole
crop is injured, or they are liable TO rot
in the ground, and be Injured by worms
or other vermin. If pains are taken TO
dig and store away in proper manncr.
there is very little danger of losing
any Of the crop. They should be thor
oughly ripe before digging and then
he thoroughly dried before storing
away. Then care should be taken not
to put in too large piles, causing them
to heat and rot In digging ] find il "A
good plan to sort as dig. having boxes
or baskets to throw them into as fast as
they are dug; this always seemed TO be
the easiest way of avoiding handling.
L never like to have potatoes lie out in
the hot sun any longer than possible
The rays OF the sun shining directly
upon them Injuries them very RAPIDLY.
When dug early and it is desired to
keep them, they should be- dried thor
oughly in the shade and then stored in
dry loft where there is as free a C 'rcu
Iation OF air as possible. As ! said be-
fore. my plan is always to pick out my
seed potatoes when digging. Late po-
tatoes can be dug and dried thoroughly
and then stored away, excepting what
is designed to be marketed are sold
soon. prefer putting away i'm pit as
they keep much fresher and better than
when stored in the cellar IL stored i'm
the cellar they should be dried thorough
~ and then put in either boxes or bins.
They should be raised few inches
above the bottom of the cellar. and
stand few inches from the wall In
extreme cold weather covering of
straw over the top will help cons dor
ably In Keeping them from freezing.
In pitting potatoes Il location should
be selected that can be easily well
drained. II n small number Of bushels
only IS to be put in pit small pit is the
best, but II quite number Of bushels is
put together long pit is best pre-
Ter 10 dlg out very little on account OF
the risk of water setping in. put on q
llght layer Of clean dry straw or leaves,
PIE up the potatoes as evenly as poss BILE,
ON all sides, and then cover with thin
layer OF straw sufficiently to keep the
soil from getting down among tho
potatoeA Commence covering at tie
base OF the pile and cover AT least
eighteen inches thick By commenc,no
at the bottom all around and work NO
up evenly all around the work can be
done much hotter than any other plan +
have triei And this too is the st,resf
plan OF securing an uniform depth. or
covering. 1t is well enough TO level a
hole IN the top TO admit II ventilation
until later in the fall. when before cold
ireellDR weather sets i'm the straw can
he taken out and the hole filled up with
soil. Before the severe weather sets i'm
too cold 1t is n good plan TO have either
straw or coarse manure and cover well
al over lfslraw is used poles or boar Is
should be laid ON top 20 keep the wind
from blowing u away. find this all
ditional covering great help in keep
ing out the frost
Whether it's better TO put away and
save until spring or sell in the fail is u
hard question to determine This must.
Oi course. depend upon the supply and
demand, and ct best is only guess-work
My rule has always been to be- sure and
save W 'uiy for seed and for use i'm the
lam Isl. prefcrring to have few more
than needed than not sufficient and
then sell The balance when they we're
ready for market unlcs, The price was
very low and ! have good reasons for
believing they would be- considerable
higher in the spring. Keeping them
Oyer is always more or less risky, and
Away thought the farmer should be-
paid for running this risk And TO So
cure this, pay the interest on the mon ~
and the expense Of putting them away
aud taking out in the spring. would re.
quire considerable advance. more than
is often realized N j. S6ephard. y