The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-10-24
STORING POTATOES.
Farmer Who FavOrs Late Digging
Hints on Putting Away for the Winter.

a Farmer Who Favors Late Digging
Hints on Putting Away for the Winter.
Late digging of potatoes is condemned
by many farmers. But experience has
convinced me, says George L. Newell
In the American Agriculturist, that if
the tubers are lying in comparatively
dry soil and we wish to retain their dry,
starchy quality when cooked late into
the winter and spring, late digging is
to be preferred. Every farmer should
put at least two varieties of potatoes in
his cellar-Beauty of Hebron, Early
Rose or some other good early variety
Tor fall and early winter use, and q
good keeper for late winter and spring.
The exact time potatoes should be
harvested depends on the character of
the season and weather. Excessive wet
weather, followed by rotting of the
tuber, necessitates immediate digging
to save the crop. But in an average fall
with an even balance of rain and sun
shine it will be more advantageous to
put off the potato harvest to as late a
day as possible without danger of their
freezing. The tubers, from their long
Imprisonment in the earth after the
vines have matured and withered, have
become tough-skinned and fortified
against abrasion in future handling.
- Some years since l had an exception
ly fine field of Early Rose potatoes,
rbised on land from which had cleared
che forest during the year. When har-
vesting, matter of convenience, 1
put them in large heaps, and prior to
taking them to market covered the
straw-littered heaps with a thin layer
OF earth | used earth because in that
latitude as degrees) sharp freezes
were liable to occur any time after frost
had killed vegetation. The potatoes
lay in these heaps fortnight or more
before they wero drawn to market, and
during that time some very warm days
intervsned. On opening l found the
centers of the heaps badly heated and
rotted. Two-thirds of the potatoes were
affected and a large quantity of the crop
ruined. Since that day have learned
enough about potatoes to convince me
that theyneod a season long enough to
mature hefore frost; that when the
vines are 6ead the tubers should remain
in the ground until late in October, if
possible; that they should be thorough
ly sun-dried before placing in store, and
that they should be permanently stored
in a cool, dr., dark cellar in shallow
bins.
When there Is lack of cellar room
pits are often resorted to, and if right
ly made they arc excellent for preServ-
ing potatoes. Potatoes should not be
placed in pits until just before the adj
vent of winter, and then should be
buried below tho level of the ground.
Many make the mistake of throwing
the tubers in heap on the surface, and
then covering the conical pile with a
heavy blanket of straw and soil, i'm
agining that it is simply protection
from frost that the tubers require, when
in reality they need air as much as
warmth. Dig pit some four feet in
depth and as large in area as required
in dry, woll-drained soil. Fill with dry
potatoes to within foot of the surface,
and then lay stout supports covered
with straw and earth over the pit, max
ing the cap rounding so as to shed
rain. At intervals insert small Chin
ney of boards or tile for ventilation.
Avoid rough handling of the tubers
under any circumstances. Violent
knocking about will break the toughest
skin, and potato with a torn skin
has taken the first step IN deteriora-
ton. Assert the tubers in the field.
place in baskets or bushel boxes with
slat sides and draw to the storing place.
The baskets or boxes can then be car
ried from the wagon and emptied with.
out further handling. This plan saves
labor, prevents rough usage and pre-
serves the skin intact.