Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-04
bids and that / wanted the island foi
my own summer home
SAMUEL SYLVESTER.
Agricultural Help
Pits for Winter Storage.

From time almost without date. veg
etables, fruits and other foods have
been stored for winter in earthen pits.
1t is an imitation of natures method
of storage Wild roots will keep per-
fectly in the ground. Crab apples.
falling upon the ground under the tree
and becoming covered deeply with
leaves will keep over winter and come
out of their moist bed in spring green
and mild in flavor.
Where fruits and vegetables are
stored properly in earthern pits, they
will keep much better than they can
be kept ~ cellars and other storage.
In cellar storage they frequently shriv-
el and dry up from loss of moisture.
the air in which they are held re-
naming too dry during the storage pc
Rod. These green foods to be of good
flavor when used must retain their
plumpness, and such can be accom-.
plished only where the storage atmos-
phere is relatively still and moist.
One great advantage of the earthern
pit as storage place for fruits and
vegetables is that the inside air is al
tempera ture and still There condi-
tions are conducive To good keeping.
The inside air is also cool enough To
prevent the growth of harmful bae-
terra, yet always mild enough to pre-
vent freezing. The earthern covering
is porous hence, there is a slow but
steady change of air inside. The
storage pit breathes through thous
ands of coarse pores. Internal heat
of the earth rises to keep the pit warm
inside. The deep wall covering keeps
ont surface cold
Apples. potatoes, onions. cabbage,
turnips. carrots and variety of green
food products can he held in storage
in earthern pits over winter. 1t is a
cheap and good way of storing the
surplus crop that is to be held for sew
eral months Commercial truck grow
ers often store thousands of bushels of
vegetables in this manner. Sweet po-
tatoes are stored in long, narrow pits
with drain pipe laid underneath and a
slow, light fire started in this at in
tervals for extra warmth and to drive
out dampness. The long pit method Is
preferable FOR any kind of green pro-
ducts, where a large quantity is TO be
stored and sold at intervals during the
winter. One end of the narrow pit is
opened. the products taken out for sale
or use, and the end closed without dis
turbing the remainder of the products.
1t is similar to using silage from the
top END of the slo. The package - is
always sealed.
ain making an earthern pit for stor-
ing vegetables choose high and
we'll drained portion of the garden.
Cover the ground with clean, dry
straw. place the vegetables on this in
the desired form and cover with straw.
Over all place earth dug from around
the pit. AT the early season cover
only deep enough to shut out air and
prevent frosting of the pit contents.
cover with more earth to keep out
heavy frost. To shed off water from
rains, stand up slanting boards on the
sides of the pit, or cover with straw or
similar material Stable manure, con-
tanning n large proportion of straw, is
on excellent covering. The straw aids
in shedding water. while the manure
aids in keeping out the cold. 1t Is well
to give the final deep covering about
the last of December to prevent deep
freezing in mid and late winter.
Drainage for the pit must be perfect.
A trench about the pit is made in Sc
curing earth for covering. yet this
drain must be led off to lower ground,