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Tain and frost Some persons advise to leave the tubers in the field as 

 "long as possible, but this is a dangerous expedient. 



The storing or wintering of the potato is a matter of so much im- 

 portance, that I \yill make a few remarks on it. 



Many thousand bushels of potatoes are lost annually by negligence, 

 or want of skill in securing them for the winter ; a little extra care and 

 attention would have saved all these from destruction. If we possess a 

 good root house or cellar, the potatoes may be easily secured from the 

 effects of frost or rain ; yet we cannot be too particular in stopping up 

 every chink and crevice through which frost might enter, and destroy 

 the tubers; the potatoes should be mixed with clay or sand, and well 

 covered with hay or straw. If we are obliged to pit them, we should 

 select a good site for so doing; the pit should be made in a new, dry 

 soil, and if possible in a sheltered situation, but not under the drip of 

 trees. A little protection from the west wind will have a very good ef- 

 fect in warding off the attacks of frost. In pitting potatoes, a portion 

 of the soil should be permitted to remain among them, in order to fill 

 up the intervals between the tubers, and prevent the entrance of frost, 

 and also to keep the tubers at a proper degree of temperature. A 

 covering of muck or new soil, should be laid on over the pit, before the 

 hay or straw covering is applied ; this will prevent the entrance of frost 

 even should it penetrate through the outer coverings of the pit ; I have 

 proved this to be an excellent plan. My method of pitting potatoes is 

 this: I select a favorable site, well sheltered by some building, shrubs, 

 or fence ; I place the potatoes on the surface, and having mixed soil or 

 sand with them, I form them into a roof-shaped pile, as sharp as possi- 

 ble; I then put on a covering of dry muck, or new soil, and slap it 

 tight Avith the spado ; over this I put a heavy covering of straw or hay, 

 and then the main covering of clay or muck ; a coat of thatch should 

 crown all, in order to throw of rain, guard against frost, and " make as- 

 surance doubly sure ;" precaution such as this, will most certainly pre- 

 serve the tubers from the severest frost, and the farmer will be amply 

 repaid for his trouble. 



When storing potatoes for the winter, the best and most approved 

 kinds should be selected for seed ; every damaged or misshaped tuber 

 should be rejected, and none but the choicest, medium-sized potatoes. 



