The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-12-18
STORING VEGETABLES.

STORING VEGETABLES.
A little freezing will not hurt cab
bages. To be KEEP; properly they should
be kept as cool as possible without freez-
ing or, at least, without much freezing,
for they need some ventilation. Many
judicious handlers simply pile their cab
bages away in cellars without any other
protection; some put them in racks or
open frames, reaching from the floor to
roof of cellar, so that the air can circu-
late about them freely. When put up in
this way they are cut off at the middle of
the stalks and stripped of the loose out
side leaves. Some gardeners pack them
away in broad, shallow pits, covering
first with straw or hay, then with earth,
till secured against freezing-that is, too
much or hard freezing.
We ourselves, however, practice
simpler metf I'd still, and which we find
answers we'll Take the cabbages up,
roots and all, and pile them just any
where on the ground without any exca-
vation where they grew, and where water
does not stand; pack them closely to-
gether, tops turned down on the ground
vi CNGn upOn OuC fuOthOl uS W
that matter, the roots standing above,
and if desired, extend in long, narrow
rows or put into broad beds, then
light covering of straw, where it is pre-
ferred, may be put on-we, however,
dispense with it-but cover with the
clean, fresh earth that lies at hand, and
our cabbages come from this dirt cover
ing firm, crisp and bleached white and
tender as celery. OF course it must be
understood that in all these out of door
storing the cabbages are to be taken up
by the roots and the leaves, except de-
cayed ones, left on.
Celery may be similarly treated For
family use a very good way to store them
is to stow the roots compactly in deep,
narrow trenches on rising ground in the
garden. Make the trench the width of
the spade and deep enough to nearly
take in the entire plants, roots and all,
the tops remaining just above the surface.
Take up the plants, leaving some earth
adhering to the roots, and put them
closely together in the trench. Slope
he earth from the edges of the trench so
hat the water will flow from it. A
emporary covering of boards should be
placed over the trench to keep out rain
and snow. And as the severity of winter
approaches cover over the roof well with
straw. So stored, it is an easy matter to
open at either end of the trench and take
out supply and again replace the cover.
Or, if it is preferred, celery may be kept
in deep, narrow boxes, the plants put
into them firmly, as directed for the
trench, and the boxes stored in the cellar.
In putting away in this manner keep con-
siderable soil about the roots that the
plants may commence growing, and then
blanching takes place. On the other
hand, if there be not enough soil about
the roots to promote growth, there will
follow gradual whitening of the stalks,
Beets, carrots and turnips can be safely
kept in cellars or in mounds in the open
air, as they can be so well covered with
straw and earth that frost cannot reach
them, and if it should it would thaw out
gradually with but little, if any injury.
Dig the roots carefully and cleanse
them, and let them dry in the shade,
throwing out all imperfect or decayed
! IOOlS WHEN SIOIluRs w z 1luu bldl Lutl
keep very well piled up in cone shaped
mounds, without sand or dirt used as be-
tween layers; then cover with dry straw,
then with earth till secured against freez-
ing. Then over all put a shelter Of
boards. Even where there are cellars for
storing such products it is in some re-
spects better to pile them out doors and
cover with fresh earth; it prevents wilt
ing and keeps them plump and fresh
Indeed, all roots and tubers preserve
their natural taste and freshness muci
better if covered with earth than if ex
posed to "A drying atmosphere.
AS TO storing apples, we put boxes
common goods boxes will do-of one sizl
into others of little larger size, filling
the space between them with dry dirt, o
anything that will serve to keep out frost
Then sort the apples WELL handling care
fully, and put them into the inner boxes
which we line with old papers,
new pine boxes, to prevent taintini
the apples with piney odor, then cove
with anything that will serve to keep tn
apples from freezing. We find, how
ever, fewer decayed apples in our bin
when we go to the additional trouble O
setting up in the middle of the boxes
frame of Stats nailed together, by whic
the apples are ventilated and better pre-
served The methods here pointed OF
are simple and convenient, and al
adapted to the wants of most familit
where more expensive arrangements al
ipexpedient or not necessary. America
Ie0al Honse.