The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-10-05
TO STORE, ROOT
CROPS FOR WINTER

tGvlQeQ into TWO classes, dCCOTuelu6
70 whether or not they are injured
ay freezing. Parsnips and satisfy.
not being injured by freezing. may
Dc left in the ground over winter.
rlewever. a sufficient supply Of these
81 BPS should be stored where it can
30 readily obtained while the ground
is frozen. Beets, carrots and tur
t,,as, and also kohl rabi, must be
ssnred out of reach Of frost.
Roots for storing should generally
DO dug as late in the fall as possible,
hut before the ground begins to
freeze. With the exception OF beets,
the tops should be cut close to the
crown of the root. Beets bleed cas-
ley. and the tops should not be cut
-,,,;ser than within one inch OF the
..own. The state of maturity OF the
different crops can. best be told by
a,,erience. Very small carrots are
,+ored in sand and dirt with success.
rhe greatest trouble is probably ex-
snyienced with bets rotting or shrlv-
.a:,ng. Specimens two and one7half
10 three inches in diameter should
sep we'll. Turnips and kohl ranl
.,hould be about this size. Since par
,.r}ps and satisfy are planted early IN
he spring. the roots are generally
.a.ture enough for storing.
T:oots may be-stored in cellare which
-, the required conditions. A tenn
,,e,ature of from 80 to SO degrees is
,sst for root crops, and should be
.Yc,t as uniform as possible. 1t should
not fiuctuate greatly or rapidly. The
..-.,1osphcre should be moist. not dry.
ye,tilation should be provided. as II
assists materially in controlling tenn
,3,yatures, and is necessary to Keep
-ae roots in the best condition. In
she seycrest weather very little VEN
.7:!ation is required but that little
should be given. Roots may be Kept
ayom three to four months or longer
# stored the same as poeatoes. but
=, keep them in the best condition
..:,ev should be packed in moist SAND
- in any good mellow garden SOIL.
'".is can be done by alternating lay
,9.s Of soil with layers Of roots. The
Ars layer of dirt should be several
aches thick to prevent drying out.
rive roots may be piled on the floor
- the cellar or put in box ana
,,vpered with dirt.
Outdoor pits are used either TOR
-.cring roots over winter or for tenn
r,rary storage in the fall. When
r4s;ad for winter storage it is little
tjificult ut times to secure supplies
as wanted. However, by taking ad-
vantage of the milder weather to
.r,sn the pit and secure asufficient
s9hply to last several days. one can
us,,ally avoid difficulty.
--or the outdoor pit, a we'll drained
set should be selected. In rec
tassular or circular area six or
{ isht fet across, the ground should
b. followed out six to twelve inches
,.,lsp. Pits may be made any desired
!ssogth. but they should not be over
~ to eight feet across. A layer Of
cFaan dry straw should be placed on
the bottom of the excavation. The
r3cts are poured on top of the straw
ur:il a conical. if circular. pile is
Npgilt up with the lower outer edge
ccen with the outer line of the ex-
caration. Cover with clean dry
straw to depth of six inches when
wtlI pressed. AS the weather be-
c.:oes cooler, throw on three inches
81 dirt and, before the ground freezes
increase the dirt covering to ten to
twelve inches. If the roots are COW
ersN to the full depth at first there
is danger of roeting and heating.
When this covering has frozen to a
7eloth of two or three inches. a fur
1l7er covering of twelve inches of
Styaw or leaves can be applied or
enough should be added to keep the
frcst from injuring the roots. Par
srps and satisfy cannot be covered
81, deep.
When the dirt is first applied. al
low some straw to project up through
the dirt ae the top of the pile in or
der to provide ventilation. This can
BIZ closed over during the severest
weather. In the case of large pits.
it may be we'll to put in square
ventilatng fue made of six inch
boards This should be placed in
the center of the pile and should ex-
tend we'll down among the roots.
Roots may be obtained in the winter
pit. The hole can be cased in with
wood to prevent its becoming too
laxoe The nnening should be we'll