The Columbus journal., 1893-12-20
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD
VARIOUS METHODS OF KEEP
ING SWEET POTATog6.

M
Use the One which d Most Beoasnseal
and CoaveaSeat-0rowing Goooeber.
ries-Qaality Of BssC-Dairy Neees
and aousehold Helps.
Ksepisg sweet Poeasoea.
In keeping the sweet potato II Is
advisable to use that method which
is most economical and conveulent,
which depends upon the size OF the
crop and the surroundings. says
Farm and Fireside. Tho method
matters but little SO the following
! PRINCIPLES and conditions are OBJ.
served:
l. A sandy clay loan is best
suited to . strong and healthy
growth OF the potato. A heavy lime
stone soil. or one strongly impreg-
mated with alkaline substances, In
lures the skin of the tuber and makes
it susceptible to rot Avoid soils
that are heavily fortified with
amoniacal manureS
2. Dig the sweet potato before
ITVcb Hills Uu0 V40Os AL 1uJuIy W
the stem kills the whole tuber. Sc
lect q dry time if possible, to dig in.
Handle each potato carefully. do not
bruise nor scratch them. Do not get
them sun blistered while digging.
3 Remove from patch directly to
place of storage, and eve handle
them till taken out to market or to
bed. Rot, if it sets in, may necessi-
tate IN assortment, but such . con
| Gition should not exist. If q second
handling becomes necessary, use the
greatest care.
4. The cellar or place of storage |
should be perfectly dry. Moisture is
conducive to rot
5. Let the temperature range be.
tween fifty and sixty degrees Fahren-
heit, and never lower than forty.
ance. Top ventilation should always
be given. especially after November;
this is secured by proper. construc-
tion of the potato-hOuse. Never
cover the potatoes with straw or
cloth of any kind. for this prevents
the escape of moisture and injurious
gases, and often causes too high q
temperature. The best cover. when
is used. is dry dirt or sawdust
No at all directly OF the potato
is decidedly preferable.
An underground cellar is the east
est and most economical means OF
keeping a large quantity of potatoes.
These should be built where perfect
freedom from moisture can be
secured. An elevated point, with
slopes from all sides, and q deep clay
soil, is a good location. 1t is almost
impossible to get q dry cellar when
it is dug through rock strata or has
a rock bottom. A rock wall is not so
good; clay brick or wood is better.
Partition the cellar into bins OF
from forty to one hundred barrels
capacity each, with air space be-
tween each bin. Let an aisle of q
few feet extend the length OF the
cellar, and build the bins on either
side OF it. Some varieties that are
hard to keep require smaller bins.
while other varieties can be bulked
in larger quantities. If the season
is wet and the potatoes sappy. avoid
large bulks.
When the potatoes are placed in
the cellar. leave open the doors or
take up the floor Immediately over
the bins and leave up till cold
weather necessitates their closing.
When closed they do not need to be I
opened again. Ventilation for the l
rest of the season should be given .,
hatchways - one. two or
three. as the case may require
should open above the aisle.
These hatchways should serve as the
entrance to and the exit from the l
cellar, and should be left open as
much as the weather will admit. 7
Entrance from the outside should 3
be provided by a door or doors enter q
ing the space above the cellar. These Z
may be opened or closed as the tenn c
perature requires. Avoid always a
of air. ,
After the doors above the bins c
have been closed or the floors re- '
placed for the winter. they may be q
with dirt Or sawdust to pro-
tect the potatoes against extreme =
cold weather. No artificial heat is q
necessary by this method. f
An underground cellar SO built as b
not to admit of the above treatment c
may be so regulated as to observe as
ar as possible the above principles.
A foreground cellar may be built
lpO1 the same plan as the under ?
ground cellar just described. Double o
walls are necessary. and means
be provided for artificial n
Pack the walls with dirt s.
'r sawdust; also use q heavy LAYER G.
'bove and below. The bins in this
style Of house can be made in the D
center with a p~assageway around ii
Pipes a. be placed in this q
'assageway for hot water heating. t,
which is the most economical and
satisfactory mean of heating. il
A small quantity of potatoes may b
Ne kept in a pit dug in some dry and a
'heltered place. as q barn or some Il
'uthouse. Observe same treatment d
IS in keeping in cellar. Place plank
'ver the pit. and cover these planks :.
With dirt when the weather gets cold. a.
The sweet potato is sometimes :,
Iept in banks like Irish potatoes and 4
This bank should be shell =
cred and ventilated. The potatoes
hOuld not be covered with dirt un- :.
il seasoned for q few weeks, and not -
Until the weather is cold enough to p
it. y
Barrels filed in the patch. re- Il
moved to any place of storage and 3.
eft uncovered will keep we'll if dug
Then dry. just before frost, carefully
handled. kept dry and at the right u
Enough potatoes may y
'e kept in this way in a family room y
o supply the family through the ~
winter. When the weather gets :,
cry cold the barrels should be rolled u
- ~