The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-10-08
FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.
How to store supply of Both Sufficient
to Last All Winter.


to Last All Winter.
On the farm il is always good econo-
my to store up sufficient supply Of
fruit and vegetables in the fall to last
all winter. If the work is properly
done they can readily be kept in a good
condition. While the cellar is a con-
venient place for keeping what is
needed during the winter, the average
farm cellar is too warm to keep fruits or
vegetables a long time. Nearly all
varieties will keep best at a low tenn
perature as nearly just above freezing
as possible Apples, pears and grapes
are the principal fruits stored for win
ter use. The first can be kept all win
ter: but the holidays is as late as the
two latter are usually kept Grapes
should have all damaged or decaying
fruit picked off and then be carefully
packed in layers in jars or boxes, fill
ing the spaces between with clean, dry
sawdust: cork dust is still better when
it can be had. If kept in cool place
there is little danger Of their spelling.
Choice pears should be carefully
sorted and kept in cool, airy place for
few days, and then each should be
wrapped in paper and packed in shall
low boxes or drawers. one layer in
each, and stored in dry place. Pears
will keep in higher temperature than
either apples or grapes.
Apples can be stored in boxes or bins
in the cellar. When this is done it is near
~ always best to arrange them SO that
they will he four or six inches from the
wall and from the floor, SO as to admit
of good circulation of air all around
them. Care must be taken in sorting
and handling SO as not to have any
bruised or damaged fruit among what
is slowed away especially for long
keeping.
Another good plan of keeping apples
is to dig trench about feet wide and
as long as is necessary. From 1a to Is
inches will be deep enough. depending
somewhat TN the character of the soil
Line it well on the bottom and sides
with clean. dry straw Set a forked
stake or post at each end if the trench
is not over 8 feet long; if longer than this
more posts will be necessary. 1t is al
ways best to pick the apples and sort
carefully and then put in a place where
they can be in the shade for few
DAYS to cure out before storing away.
Then pile them in the trench and cover
with straw. Lay good stout pole in
the forked posts and then set boards
with one end on the ground and the
other on the pole. 1t is best to have an
open space of 9 or more inches between
the boards and the layer of straw over
the fruit. Cover the boards with soil
deep enough to keep out frost. This
is good way to store fruit or vegeta-
bies of any kind and it is less trouble
to get at them than If no boards are
used. Potatoes and turnips will keep
better in pit than in the ordinary cell
lar, and while the supply needed for
use can be stored in the eel
lar, what is desired to keep until late
in the winter or early spring can in
very many cases be kept better in pits.
Grapes, pears and sweet potatoes
should be harvested and stored away
first; then Irish potatoes, carrots and
beets. Apples, turnips and cabbage
will stand considerable frost without
injury, but should not be allowed to
freeze. Parsnips and satisfy will be al
the better if left out until after tn
first freeze. Generally after the groun
freezes hard it is best to apply second
covering of soil, straw or fodder BE
sure to make good drainage on the out
side. Louis Republic.