Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-10-10
STORING POTATOES.
Pits Are All Right. Provided They Ara
PropcrAy Constructed.

Pits Are All Right. Provided They Are
Properly Constructed.
Potatoes should be dug only when che
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 coil.
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 dug
as soon as they are perfectly ripe and
covered lightly with straw and a Jew
inches of sell 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 should receive another thick coat
of straw, on which six inches more soil
should be heaped. No more will be
necessary until hard freezing weather
manure may be put over all, and the po-
tatoes are safe until the next spring
If the putting on of the manure is de-
1ayed until the surface is frozen two or
three inches deep, the potatoes will
keep until late in the spring without
sprouting, as the manure prevents the
warmth of the sun from penetrat TIM
the pit and starting the potatoes into
growth. 1t is a 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 a good plan to select the potatoes
that are to be used for seed next year
when they are dug. This gives an op-
portunity to select tubers of the proper
shape and size, and be sure of a suppl y
when the time comes to plant. I have
found it to be a good plan to expose
the seed potatoes to the sun before 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 and thoroughly
spoiled for eating. By this exposure
they become hardened, until they Will
stand cold weather better, and when
planted. the plants send out stur6y
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 VIII follow.
The same plan does very well for tur-
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 thaw 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
well after being out of the pits as those
that have been kept in cellar or fruit
house.-Farm and Fireside.