428 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 

 Storing Turnips and Other Roots for Winter. 



[New York American Agriculturist, 9:347; Nov., 1850] 



[October ?, 1850] 



Throughout almost the wliole region where roots are 

 raised in any abundance for stock feeding, in winter, this 

 is the most important month in the whole year ; for now 

 is the season in which they must be secured against frost. 

 Nine tenths of all those which are lost every winter 

 might be saved by attention to them this month. A few 

 hints, although often before given, will still be useful to 

 some of our readers, new beginners, perhaps, as to what 

 should always be done in putting away these valuable 

 crops for winter. 



Storing Turnips. — First, be sure and pull them in dry 

 weather, if possible. Throw them together as they are 

 pulled, but not in large heaps ; otherwise, the dirt adher- 

 ing, will become mud by the sweat of the pile before the 

 tops are cut, if suffered to lie any considerable time. 

 Never pull nor wring off the tops, but cut them smooth 

 with a sharp knife. Select a dry, smooth spot upon 

 descending ground, to form the heap, which may be long 

 or round, providing no round pile exceed 100 bushels. 

 Lay the roots in a smooth pile, the sides on an angle of 

 about 45°, and cover with straw, laid on straight, so as 

 to form a good thatch. Rye straw is the best. Cover 

 with just earth enough to preserve them, which will vary 

 from two inches to two feet, in different latitudes of this 

 country. No definite rule can be given. In all the 

 warmer latitudes, the piles, or heaps, should be provided 

 with ventilators. Nothing is better for this purpose than 

 a bunch of fagots about six inches through. Four boards, 

 six inches wide, nailed together, and bored full of auger 

 holes, set in the centre of the pile, like a chimney, will 

 answer an excellent purpose. The ventilator must be 

 protected against rain, and carefully covered before freez- 

 ing weather. 



In digging the dirt around the pile for covering, form 

 a continuous ditch, in order that water cannot run in. 



