Evening star., 1927-11-05
Dahlia and GladioIus Storage.

DdtHd anu uIdulOluS storage.
Although the problem of saving
seeds for the next year has largely
passed out of the hands OF the gar
dener into those of the specialized
SEED grower. there are still a few
plants the Winter storage of which
is incumbent upon the gardener him
self. The dahlia and the gladiolus are
two species which needs must be pro-
tected from freezing and in good va
rletles are too costly to be purchased
each Spring.
Ideal storage for the dahlia should
approach that used in keeping white
potatoes, a. low but above freezing
temperature and a fairly high hu
mldlty. These conditions are. unfor-
tunately, not found in many homes,
the cellars of which are usually too
. warm and dry. This unfavora BILE
situation may be partially overcome
by placing the dahlia roots in a box
or barrel filled with slightly moistened
sand or earth. Lately some dahia
growers have dipped the roots in melt
ed paraf1in. which coating helps to re-
tain the moisture. Gladioluses do not
require as much care and will keep
quite well in the average cellar away
from the heating plant. The little
bulblets which are found about the
base of larger corms dry out more
readily and should be placed in tight
paper sacks or in sand.
GladioluS plants are ready to lift at
any time now. In fact. many grow
erS have already stored their cOrmS
or roots. Upon lifting the gladiolus
plants, it is we'll to let them lie, roots
and all, for a few days on papers on
the cellar floor or other dry place be-
fore separating the old stalks from
the corms. After separation the corms
should be stored in baskets or sacks.
labeled as to varieties or colors
Dahlias may he better left in the
ground until after frost has killed the
tops. Then the root clump may be
carefully lifted. allowed to dry an
hour or two in the open air and then
stored. Some professionals cut up
the clumps at the time of digging
but for the amateur with little stock,
1t is better to wait until Spring when
the new buds show. 1t must be re-
membered that the next years buds
are to come from the old stem and not
from the tubers themselves. Storing
the clumps upside down will help to
drain the moisture out of the old cut
on stems and and prevent rotting.
Storage of Vegetables.
The problem of storing vegetables
Tor Winter no longer seriously troubles
the home gardener who lives within
reach Of the city markets, for there
is really no lapse in time between the
disappearance of locally produced
vegetables and the advent of fresh
stock from the South. Nevertheless,
there are times when 1t is handy to
have a ready-at-hand supply.
Certain vegetables, such as the
parsnip and satisfy, need no storage,
being provided by nature with abil-
ity to Withstand Winter in the open
ground. These two species may be
simply left in the garden and be
dug from time to time as weather per.
mits. Or, better yet. they may be
dug and placed with the beets and
carrots In pit and covered with
straw or leaves, further protected
during the coldest weather with
layer Of soil, old blankets or straw
mats. Provided such a pit is prepared
where water does not stand, there
will be no trouble from decay.
A pit has the advantage Of being |
more easily accessible than the open |
ground. The cold frame, emptied of |
some Of its soil, makes a reasonably |
good storage place IL leaves or straw |
are used for protection. Cabbages |
pulled with the roots and placed up. |
side down with keep very well In |
such pit. Warm weather in Win
ter is greater obstacle than severe
cold to successful storage, but vege-
tables stored beneath a thick layer
of leaves are fairly well insulted from
either heat or cold.
For most all vegetables, the nearer
the stock stays to 80 degrees without
actually freezing the better. Even |
with parsnips. which garden tradi-
tion has 1t must freeze before they |
are sweet and good, the Maryland |
station found that first-class quality |
was developed at 81 degrees F.
Stored vegetables are very good, |
but we should count ourselves ex- |
ceedingly fortunate that modern agri. |
culture and modern transportation |
make It possible to secure, usually |
at reasonable prices, resh.grown |
produce practically every day in the |
year.