The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-11-14
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
Winter Storage of Vegetables.

The following methods of keeping vege-
tables, so as TO afford a supply in Winter.
are very simple and have been practiced for
many years, always with the best success.
Take anumber of sugar barrels without heads,
and sink them in some convenient place near
the house, leaving the rim about three inches
above the surface of the soil.
Pack the earth firmly around the barrel to
prevent surface water from running down the
sides and getting into the vegetables from be-
low. Then fill the barrels about two-thirds
full of beets, turnips, carrots, OF ruta bagas.
and cover them with a piece of mating OF
old carpet, to keep the air from them Cover
the barrel with an ordinary cover with rim
that comes down about an inch Upon this
place stone OF some other weight that will
prevent the wind from lifting the cover.
In these barrels the vegetables can be kept
until the following April, just as fresh as
when taken from the ground The warm
moisture that is constantly coming from be-
low keeps back the cold from above The
temperature in the barrels is at all times lust
above the freezing point which is the best
possible for the vegetables. Should the Their
mometer indicate more than 150 of frost, it
would be best to throw mating or some other
slight extra protection over the barrels.
In taking up roots of all sorts, great care
should be exercised not to break or iniure
them in any way, as mutilatiOn of this kind
not only opens the road for decay. but Injuries,
If not destroys their best edible qualities.
This Is more important matter than is
generally supposed. and the putting away of
vegetables in n careless or Indifferent manner
has led many to think that vegetables are of
little value in Winter.
For paTsnips and satisfy we mix soil with
the roots, not that they keep fresher but be-
cause the soil takes from them some acrid
properties, which renders them more delicate
and wholesome
Cauliflowers that just begin 10 head late in
the season, if put in barrels this way roots
down, will perfect their heads during Winter,
and can be had as good in February as in Oc-
tOber
Cabbages should be pulled up by the roots
and be buried roots down, in trenches about
one foot deep. Pack them closely together in
the trench, three heads in width, making the
center row of heads little higher than the
side rows, cover with soil to the depth of a
foot, and, after the ground is lightly frozen,
cover with cOrn-stalks or straw, to prevent
alternate freezing and thawine, and this will,
at the same time, prevent the ground from
freezing, so they can be taken out when re-
CURED.
Squashes and pumpkins should not be-
touched by frost They Will not keep if
they are. They should be taken in early,
leaving small portion of the vine attached
to the stem, and placed on shelves in dry
room free from frost. In this manner they
will keep perfectly for several months
Potatoes should be kept in pits as it
would require too many barrels for Winters
supply. Throw out the earth to the depth Of
two feet, making the pit of any desired size.
Throw in the potatoes in a conical pile, observ-
ing that every potato is perfectly sound. Cover
the potatoes with rye or wheat straw to the
depth of three inches. Over this throw
a foot of earth. 1t is well to leave small
opening at the apex for heat and moisture
to escape. This is the way potatoes were
kept through the Winter a hundred years
ago, and there has been no better method dis
covered since.
1t must be perfectly understood that pOta-
toes and vegetables generally will not keep
by the methods described, excepting where the
,ubsOil is of grayeIly nature or such that
affords perfect bottom drainage
GaTdeuiuG