The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-08-17

tops of plants; seed may be planted
at the same time.
Shading.
Natural shade of the forest is con-
sidered best, but must not be too
dense RemeIn Der too, that the trees
rob the soil of from 25 to 10 per cent
of the substance, also that forests do
not always afford a uniform shade.
The best artificial shade is made
with lath. Make, sections fp1Ir feet
square, requiring 27 lath for each
section, "a one way with one at each
end 10 nail to- Weaving the middle
one in will greatly increase the
strength of the section. These Sec
tions should be put on with the crack
running north .and south, thus the
changing position of the sun will
make a continual change Of shadow
on the plant. This frame 7nay be
placed only hign enough to lillss the
tops of the plants, about s inches or
two fact, or my be made high
enough to walk under. The latter
is muck, better.
Digging and Preparing Roots for
Market.
Roots may be dug in the fall any
fine afser the FIRST frost that kills
the tops down. Be careful not to
cut, break, or mntilate the roots in
any way, be very careful not to break
of the ;neck, or small bud at the top,
az much of this would reduce the
price of your entire bunch.
Put the roots il a tub, and pour
on plenty ,of water, and swish them
around with an obi broom, or stiff
brush, change the water several
times There will bse' few that will
have to have the dirt removed from
between the roots with a sharp
poinhed stick, and a cloth. Do not
rub hard enough to rub off the thin
outside slightish brown colored skin.
In washing, remember this, take off
all the soil, but no more.
Place the roots on screen in the
sun till the water is all dried off;
they are then ready for the dryer.
or table in a room with plenty of
ventilation. This is a very slow pro-
cess. Some spread them out on
boards in the sun. They may also
be dried oH shelves near the range, or
put in large seiv+e and hung about
the range. These processes .will take
FROM three 10 five weeks. Extensive
growers have an evaporation. This
is the quickest and best method of
drying.
When roots are thoroughly dry,
rub of small tibrous roots, pack in
boxes, in layers, with cotton, cor
rugated or soft paper between lay
ers. Pack the fiber roots in package
by themselves and enclose with large
roots. They are now ready for ship
ment.
Most ali buyers accept the greer
root and dry it themselves. Names
of buyers will be furnished on ap-
plication.
Prices for the past ten years have
been steadily increasing. In 1898
the price ran from 1915 to $500
a pound. In 1909 from $7.25 to |
$500. At present quotations are as
follows: Large to very large, culti-
waited, S7.25, large, short and thick. !
$500; average crop, $6.75; large !
free of fiber wild, $500; average
lots, wild $6.75; trash and small !
roots, wild, $500, to $3.50, pound. |
The above prices are for dry root. !
Fancy shapes are reported to have
sold in New York markets, as high I
as $35 for a single root weighing
only about one third of pound. 1t
is not uncommon for Chinaman to
pay from $10 to $15 a root. This is I
for fancy shapes. .
From piece Of ground 1924 feet, (.
1 sold in 1903, $224.7 5 worth ofsssed
and roots.