STORING ROOTS FOR THE WINTER.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 720, 27 January 1877, Page 3

STORING ROOTS FOR THE WINTER.

' (Journal of Horticulture.) THB storing of all kinds of roots cannot, be too well attended to. Their perfect preservation depends eritiaely on how the work i* done. Cpmplai n t bof losing such and such a thing throughout the winter are not unfreqnently heard ; whereas most roots are quite as easily kpt in their dormant state as in their growing oi;e i tmt at the same time they should be jiist as carefully seen, to at the one time as the other. - ■ Roots requiring to be stored throughout the winter may be divided into two classes — namely, vegetable and flower rboti. Amongst the former, potatoes I are of the greatest importance. Some? I times these are stoied in two- different lots ; the one for seed and the other for use; In either case tha drying of the tubers is the it at thng that must be done. External moisture in the Slightest degree quickly causes decay whea the tubers are Ihid . together in a close place. An, open abed is one of (he best places for'drjing them when wet weather prevents- their , being exposed in the open air. They mast be laid out tiiinly, and r should be turned over every dayi or every other day at the farthest. When they are lifted out of the ground in dry weather, . little or no earth will be attached to them ; but when lifted wot, as is sometimes necessary, much of the soil, especially if it is atiff, will adhere to them. This cannot be removed when damp so freely as whea it is quite dry, «o at, first the roots Bhould be spread put as they are lifted, until they become some-: what dry, when they saould be turned over, and each of them rubbed with the hand to remove the soil. When the small tubers are separated for seed, they should be laid aside at tbia time. After the tubers have, become thoroughly dry, there is no better way of preserving them than placing them in ridges in pits. The formation of the pit may -..500n be deter* 'mined on, ThespptjOn which, it is to be; made fhould be somewhat sheltered, and itpe ground, nCiust Jb^e quite smoptji and clean, the bottom inay . be. from ~3 to 4ft wide, V the length being ■ decided on acdording to the quantity there is tto 1 .'.store.. : :■.'■• .. .' , . _._,._,' ', '

Having decided ,on , r this, ; .place % line along and notch oat' the shape of the pit with a spade. It is then, ready for the; potatoes. They should not be laid close to the edge of the notch, bat »bout six inches from it oh each side. . In a threefeet wide pit ibis allows a base for the tubers of two feet. From this width they must be, built op in a triangular form .to a sharp point or ridge. This work must be done on a sunny day. As the potatoes are laid in, a quantity of drawn straw seould be at hand ;,a layer of this must be placed along each side against the potatoes to the depth of three inches, and a orbwning layer mnst be placed along the top. The straw, should then be covered with six inches of soil from the sides.' This should be dug oat. neatly so as to fajpre a trench along each side of the pit, and the surface of the pit itaelf ahould b«j beaten eniobth and firm that •11 wet m»y paw into the ride trenches freely. Sometimes a bunch of straw is. allowed to pr j«ot here and there.along the ridge with the intention of allowing vapor to escape ; bat these: * straw ohim» neys* admit water, and probably do as much harm as good. In very severe weather it is often necessary to throw an extra covering of litter over the ridge. When stored early in autumn it is a good plan, to open the pit oooe or. twtca throughout the winter, selecting a mild day for Ae porpose^ and pitting afresh aa.. soon! -7M the potatoes have been toroett and ttie diseased tubers picked oat. A suffioisnt quantity t-> serve fjr some

weeks should be kept out, and as more are wanted they thould be taken from one- end of the pit, whioh should alwaya be. closed, up as before, as soon as they have beun removed. ' When potatoes are retained throughout the winter in sheds or ' potato houses,' a dry atmosphere mast always In maintained, and the light mast also be excluded. The temperature should never rise above 40deg. as a higher heat indues the tubers to sprout, whiok must be guarded against. ' Turnips may be kept in a perfect state of preservation in jihe BameVway as potatoes. .^Oaj-rota, beetroot, parsnips, salsafy and soorzooera all require o ireful storing in winter. ... They" may be all" placed in one house, and nnder the same conditions. They should be dried after lifting, but hoi; to any extent that will cause them to shrivel. They may be stored iu a cool shed amorjgsb sand ; the latter should be' moderately dry.- A layer about two inches deep should first be spread along the bottom. - A layer of roots' must then be placed On this, and so on until the bin is termed. Too many.Bhould not be placed abo re each other— from eight to ten layers being sufficient . Wherever the slightest decay is suspected, :tjie whole should: ; b« turned over, : and- the bad roots taken out. A' high:., temperature causes the orowna to burst into, growth : these growths should not be ebdoVaged but rubbed oft at :^aoh' turning. ... ; .... : • OnionV-af^ jaf^ays welj[ worth .lopking after in winter. "In dry* weather they inay be laid^onj the^g,roundLfac,a few, days ■after thVy ;: '^iye^ bet.it jjulled up, turning, theriv : evei i y i: diy 'day. _=jln vwet weather they shou|d be . jsVread. out* in an open shed, or. some 'otbeT^place' where air and sun can baye accesa p to them, but no wet. When ;the^ l tops i; ire. dried up they are ready . for. storing in tbeir winter qua>.ters. They,kf ep best in a cool dry loft or room of any kind where frost w entirely ex* eluded. They may be spread nut on the floor or shelves, or hung in nets. Sometimes they are stru g together, and' whfn this is the case they may be suspended fron the roof. In wha*«Ver way they are . stored they... most, be looked over frequently, as they are not exempt form, deoay. ' '. ' ■; ' ■ ; ;; - ;"' ;•"' ?!