138 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



Root Cellar connected with House Cellars. 

 Lacking cold storage, one of the best possible means of 

 storage is the root cellar. This is most convenient if connected 

 with the house cellar, and may be built under the house, or 

 outside the house and connected with the cellar. Such a cellar 

 should have concrete walls and a slightly pitched roof, and may 

 be covered with planks or concrete, then with a layer of sod, 

 then with 2 to 3 feet of earth and another layer of sod carefully 

 placed. If the land slopes away from the house the water from 

 the roof will run off, and if the main cellar is dry the root 

 cellar should be dry. All root cellars should have ventilators to 

 allow excess of dampness and odors to escape, and to regulate 

 the temperature. The ventilator may be opened to let in cold 

 air except in very severe weather. 



Outdoor Root Cellars. 

 Ordinarily few people, except farmers or those owning large 

 farms, will go to the trouble and expense of building a cellar or 

 house especially for the storage of fruits, vegetables or roots. 

 The experienced farmer needs no advice on such matters; but 

 inexperienced people purchase farms, and such need instruction 

 in regard to the storage of surplus products. Perhaps the best 

 outdoor cellar is the sod-cellar, or cave, constructed on a side 

 hill. If possible, this should be arranged so that the entrance 

 will face the south or east, that it may not be exposed to cold 

 north or northwest winds. This form of storage is inexpensive, 

 the cellar is easily constructed and frost-proof, and the earth 

 thrown out may be used for covering. Perhaps the best form 

 of cellar is that built of concrete. This will be rat-proof and 

 also waterproof if a well-drained site be selected. If the cellar 

 is not dry a tile drain should be constructed beneath the floor 

 to carry off water. If the roof is arched and is not over 8 feet 

 wide, an 8-inch thickness of concrete and a layer of earth not 

 more than 2 feet thick should suffice to cover the cellar. The 

 front wall which is exposed directly to the frost should be 

 double, with an air space and double doors. It is well also to 

 have a screen door covered with wire-mesh netting for use in 

 ventilation and in cooling. Wood may be used instead of con- 



