134 HORTICULTURE LECT. ix 



siderable time injures their cooking qualities, conse- 

 quently the old-fashioned plan of burying them in 

 pits (or as they are termed in some counties, 

 " camps ") is resorted to. This answers well when 

 properly carried out. 



If disease is suspected the tubers ought to be un- 

 covered, and all tainted ones picked out after they 

 have been buried two or three weeks. Through 

 neglect of that simple practice, many tons of potatoes 

 have been wholly destroyed which might have been 

 saved. 



Another precaution necessary is to guard against 

 injury from frost. "When sharp frosts are expected, a 

 foot or more in thickness of long strawy stable litter, 

 bracken, or other such light material should be placed 

 over the earth covering. This will be found much 

 more effectual in resisting frost than would an addi- 

 tional layer of soil. Potatoes buried under soil alone, 

 two feet in thickness, have been destroyed by frost 

 when a straw covering as above indicated would have 

 saved them. 



Various Roots. Carrots, parsnips, beet, turnips, 

 artichokes, and other such roots, are best preserved 

 through the winter months packed in dry sand in a 

 cool shed, or in a cellar. 



Onions keep the best when formed into what are 

 known as " ropes," by plaiting or binding them upon 

 straw, and suspending them in a thoroughly cool, airy 

 and dry place. Frost will not injure them if they are 

 kept quite dry. 



Green Vegetables. Cauliflowers that form 

 small close heads just before winter may be preserved 

 almost until Christmas by lifting the plants (before 

 they are injured by frost) with a spade so that earth 

 adheres to their roots, and packing them closely to- 

 gether on the floor of a shed, or even against a wall 



