The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-10-29
G.. N. NICKLES,
Supervisor
POTATOES.

The Ara OF Peasso Ratsisg Fally Ex
The time 10 near at hand when the
sweet potato crop will be harvested
and, ~ usual, put away to spoil. Per-
haps there 10 no crop spoils on the far
mer's hands equal tn the potato crop.
It 10 safe to say that one half Of the po-
tatoes put away for winter and spring
use, spoil by rotting In winter or
sprouting and drying out too much
liz spring.
Such heavy losses on this valuable
crop put me to thinking and expert
menting. OF course success did not
come the first year, but 1t did come,
and now do not lose one per cent. Of
my crop, and / believe I can keep
them IN an absolutely perfect condit-
lon until August.
Il was thus that came to make my
discovery: I noticed when I put away
my potatoes that those nearest the bot
tom of the pit, lying on the d mp es:th
In contact with no straw or other for
Ieign matter kept better than those
which were protected by straw or
other covering, and reached the con-
clusion that II I put my timbers deep
enough into the earth, keep out all
rain and cold, that the problem was
solved. This have proved beyond
q doubt.
As soon as the first frost In October
nips or bites my potato vines / plow
and hand rake aud harvest my crop.
I dig pits three feet wide, six feet long
and i've feet deep. I'LL It with With pO-
tatoes to within two feet Of the top.
Any kind Of clean dry stuff, such ..
hay, fodder, rice, oat or wheat straw
will do to All up the remaining space
to the surface, then roof of boards Ii
made to shed of the rain, and upon
this roof Is thrown two or three inches
Of earth to keep out the cold.
Potatoes thus put away will not rot
or lose one pound per bushei In weight
or sprout until midsummer. Aud they
sweeten and get softer a. they mel
low and age in their sepulchrial-like
receptacle.
Just here am led to think that this
method would be an ideal one for
keeping apples, late, peaches, pears.
grapes In fact. all kinds OF fruits and
vegetables, perfectly fresh from one
| 0C06Ou W o1OtuGks ouu Oou-
serves were exhumed In Pompeii only
. few years ago as fresh as when they
were put away IL cans and jars nearly
two thousand years ago. And from
this discovery sprang the great can
ming industry Of today.
In putting away potatoes In pits,
there :are simple rules that must be
followed:
Dig or harvest potatoes before hard
frost. Frost-bitten potatoes will not
keep, and even II they could be kept,
are not edible.
Do not dig your pit deep enough for
the water to seap (seep] into the pit.
Put the potatoes on the cool, damp
earth.
Use no sidings" of anything
against the walls of the pit. Let the
tubes be In contact with the cool damp
earth.
Do not make the pits too large.
Three feet wide, six feel loug and five
feet deep will give good results on
high land. On low lands three feet
will be deep enough fill half full Of
potatoes when the pit il three feet
deep.
II the top filing of straw ir not free
from all mould and rot and perfectly
dry and sound, use no straw at all.
Be sure that the roof Of the pit does
not leak Use boards free from holes
or sun cracks. A leaky roof means
rotten potatoes.
Keep all cold wind out of the pit by
putting earth upon the roof and
around the gables. Allow no water to
get into the pit.
BY following those simple rules you
can have delicious potatoes on your ia
ble the year round. The longer the
potatoes stay In the pit the better
' fhou xaf