Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1896-10-03
STORING POTATOES.
Pits Are All Right, Provided They Are
Properly Constructed.


Pits Are All Right, Provided They Are
Properly Constructed.
Potatoes should be dug only when .hs
soil is in such condition that the tubers
will be comparatively clean when they
are picked up, and It should be remem-
bered that every hour the sun shines
on them Injuries them after they have
dried off from the dampness of the soil.
They should be picked up and piled
neatly as soon as dug, or hauled to a
place where they may be kept in the
dark.
Comparatively few people have stor-
age-room for a large crop of potatoes,
and are compelled to keep them through
the winter in pits, and in any case this
is the best way to store them If the work
is properly done, They should be dng
as soon as they are perfectly ripe and
covered lightly with straw and lew
inches of soil thrown over them to keep
them from the light. If the soil is firm
ly patted down after being thrown over
the potatoes, six inches will be enough
to put over them until the weather gets
cold enough to freeze the surface, when
they shoGld receive another thick coat
of straw, on which six inches more soil
should be heaped. No more will be
necessary until hard freezing weather
comes, when a thick coat OF coarse
manure may be put over all, and the POI
tatoes are safe until the next spring.
If the putting on of.the manure is de-
10 until fba GVrfara ic frozn, fxun pr
three inches deep, the potatoes will
keep until late in the spring without
sprouting. as the manure prevents the
warmth of the sun from penetrating
the pit and starting the potatoes into
growth. 1t is good plan to do this in
pitting potatoes, as they are better for
not sprouting, whether they are to be
eaten or used for seed.
1t is good plan to select the potatCes
that are to be used for seed next year
when they are dug. This gives an OPP
portunity to select tubers of the proper
shape and size. and be sure of SUPP ly
when the time comes to plant. have
found it to be a good plan to expose
the geed potatoes to the sun be fore bury
ing them for the winter. My plan is to
spread them thinly as soon as selected,
and turn them over occasionally, until
they are green all over ahd thoroughly
spoiled for eating. BY this exposure
they become hardened, until they will
stand cold weather better, and when
planted, the plants send out Surrey
stalks that can be distinguished by any
one from those from tubers that have
not been exposed in this manner.
A place must be selected for pitting
potatoes where the water will not settle
about them during the hottest weather,
for if this happens, trouble will follow.
The same plan does very well for ,ur.
nips, COW beets and other vegetables
that must be pitted.
Apples should not be so thoroughly
covered, as they keep better if they are
kept about freezing-point; and if the
frost happens TO get to them, and they
are allowed to thnw without being Dis
turbed, it does not injure them.
Potatoes that have been pitted keep
perfectly after being taken out in the
spring, while apples will not keep as
we'll after being out of the pits as those
that have been kept in cellar or fruit
bouSa Farm, apd Eireside