The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-11-28
Construction Of Cellar.

AS the root cellar must be weather
proof, that is, capable of being kept
free from moisture and free from
frost, its type and construction vary
with the geographical location. In the
southern portion of the country the
structure is usually entirely above
ground and protected by only few
inches of sod and with straw, leaves,
etc. In Northern sections outdoor
storage cellars are made almost en-.
tirely below ground and covered with
foot or two Of earth.
Storage In Regions Of Mild Winters.
An above-ground storage cellar, suit
ed to conditions in southern sections
OF the United States may be built on
q well-drained site at slight expense.
A row of posts may be set or 6 feet
apart, extending or. feet above the
surface Of the ground, with ridge
pole placed on top of them. Against
each side Of the ridgepole row Of
plnnks or puncheons is placed, with
their opposite ends resting in a shall.
low trench or 8 feet from
the line Of posts. The ends are board
ed up, door being provided in one
end of the structure and the room COW
cred with sod to depth Of 5 or 9
inches. A good type Of outdoor stOr.
age cellar built along these lines Is
shown in the illustration.
Storage In Regions Of Severe Freezea
In sections where low temperatures
prevail 1t is necessary to iusulate the
storage house so that the vegetables
will not freeze. An above-ground type
of storage house much used in many
3ections Of the North has thick walls
allied with insulating material, such
as sawdust or shavings. The construc.
ton Is of frame and the walls are usu-
ally 10 to IL inches thick. Both the
inside and the outside walls are
sheathed with matched lumber so as
to make them alright. The rafters
are ccilcd on the under side with the
same material and the space between
the rafters filed with dry insulating
material. The use of building paper
In the roof and walls Of the storage
house is of great assistance in In
sulating it.
A type Of storage cellar much used
In Northern sections of the country is
built partly under ground. The walls
are Of masonry and extend to point
just above the surface of the ground.
On these walls plates are set and a
roof Of frame construction erected.
The roof structure is ceiled on the I'M
der side Of. the rafters and some suit
able insulating material, such as dry
sawdust or shavings, packed in the
space between the rafters, and then
the sheathing, paper, and roofing ma
terial are applied. This type of struc-
ture Is preferable in many respects
to the above-ground type, as 1t Is cas-
Ter to maintain the temperature at the
proper point and its insulation is a
comparatively easy matter.
Protection from freezing may be Sc
cured with simpler type of structure
by making 1t entirely underground. In
order to avoid steps down to the level
of the floor, with the consequent extra
labor in storing and removing the vege-
tables, sidehill location is desir-
able.
The excavation In the hill should be
Of the approximate size of the cellar,
using the dirt for covering the roof
and for banking the sides Of the struc-
ture. A frame is erected by setting
two rows Of posts of uniform height in
the bottom of the pit near the dirt
walls and third line of posts about
feet higher, through the center
of the pit. These posts serve as sup
ports for the planks or puncheons
forming the room of the structure, as
with the above-ground type of stor-
age cellar already described. The
door Is placed ut one end and ven
tilator put In the roof. The whole
structure with the exception Of the