HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING 



THE STORING OF ROOT CROPS 



\717ITH the approach of cold weather all the roots 

 * * described in preceding pages should be pulled or 

 dug and stored in frost-proof cellars or easily accessible 

 pits. The exception to the rule are parsnips and salsify 

 which are not injured by freezing, but rather improved in 

 quality. Both these vegetables may be left in the ground 

 where they grew and covered with straw or boards, or 

 both, so as to make possible their digging throughout 

 the winter. 



Beets, carrots, etc., should be dug. Remove all super- 

 fluous soil, rootlets, etc., and cut off tops to within an inch 

 of the crown. Have some shallow boxes or crates handy 

 into which to place the roots, in layer fashion, putting 

 dry soil or sand or moss between the layers. Do not store 

 roots that are bruised in digging or injured by chewing 

 insects, since they will not keep and are apt to cause ad- 

 joining sound roots to rot. The crates or boxes should be 

 placed in a dry, cool cellar, but away from furnace. 



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