On the Storing of Root Crops 



433 



is first put on, the straw being drawn out as for 

 thatching, and the straw when finished secured 

 by earth, or by straw ropes secured at the 

 ends to slanting pins or stakes. As the ob- 

 ject in covering the pits is to keep out the 

 fi-ost, not to exclude damp in moderate quan- 

 tities, or the air, both of which are beneficial, 

 the one to prevent decay, the other to pre- 

 vent the roots from shrivelling up through 

 lack of moisture, it is obvious that the best 

 covering is that which is pervious to moisture 

 and air, and yet a good non-conductor. Well 

 thatched straw appears therefore to answer the 

 conditions of a good covering. If the pits 

 are earthed up, the earthing should not be 

 finished till the first evaporation be completed 

 — a portion at the top being left unearthed for 

 this purpose. It is the practice of some to 

 finish this first left portion with an open space 

 of a foot wide or so on each side of the heap, 

 keeping this open till the frosts fairly set in, 

 when the parts are earthed up, and the whole 

 finally secured for the winter. Should the winter 

 frosts prove unusually severe, it will be wise 

 economy to cover the pits with an extra 

 covering of straw or brushwood. We believe 

 that brushwood will be as effectual, if not 

 more so than straw. It is surprising what 

 an effect brushwood has in mitigating the 

 effects of frost on the surface of the soil or 

 grass land. In building up the roots, if of 

 the globe species, a little brushwood put in 

 here and there will help the making of the 

 heap in good shape, and prevent them 

 from rolling out. And this reminds us that 

 in storing potatoes good results will arise 

 from pitting them along with layers of good 

 dry sand. This will help them to keep sound, 

 by frequently preventing an unsound root 

 from lying in contact with another, or others 

 that may be sound. We are not sure but 

 what sand placed in the heaps, both of man- 

 golds and turnips, would also be very bene- 

 ficial. We all know what an excellent ma- 

 terial dry sand is in which to store carrots. 

 In lifting mangolds and turnips it is a very 



usual practice to cut off the small roots, and 

 also to take off the adhering soil — neither of 

 these should be done. Just as in stripping 

 the leaves, it is necessary to be careful not to 

 cut or wound the crown of the root ; so is it 

 necessary not to cut off the tap roots, and for 

 the very same reason, all wounds in the root 

 tend to hasten its decay. So also is the bene- 

 fit of keeping on such soil as adheres to the 

 roots when they are taken up. This being pre- 

 sent in the heap tends also to maintain their 

 sound condition, acting much in the same 

 way as the sand already alluded to. 



As it is not the province of this paper to 

 enter into the points connected with the 

 feeding qualities of roots, we say nothing here 

 as to whether it is the best way to feed cattle 

 with the leaves, or so much of them as can 

 be consumed when in a fresh condition, or 

 to give the roots in the condition in which 

 they come from the pit, with such soil as may 

 be adhering to them. On both those points 

 much has been said pro and avi : and as to 

 what has been said and what we may our- 

 selves say upon them, we leave to those 

 papers upon the sience of cattle feed- 

 ing which we propose from time to time 

 to give in the pages of this journal. We 

 conclude the present brief paper by here 

 drawing attention to the fact that much 

 economy of time and labour is said to be 

 secured, and a higher nutritive value obtained 

 in the roots by giving up the practice of 

 storing them outside in pits, and substituting 

 for it that of storing them in out-houses, care- 

 fully placed and sheltered. In many seasons 

 those who have adopted the plan find that no 

 complete covering, such as we have above 

 described, is required, and that in the severest 

 frosts a slight covering of straw is all that is 

 necessary. And another great advantage of 

 the plan is said to be that it affords oppor- 

 tunities of examining the roots, and of getting 

 rid of from time to time all unsound ones which, 

 may appear amongst those so stored up. 



