KEEPING VEGETABLES 



from the ceiling by a wire to prevent mice from 

 reaching it. Tomatoes may be successfully 

 kept for most of the winter if the fruit and 

 vine are taken before frost (Fig. 61), part of 

 the leaves cut off, and the vine and fruit care- 

 fully placed on six inches of straw and covered 

 with sufficient straw to keep out the frost. 

 The tomatoes ripen evenly and at various 

 times throughout the winter. If covered they 

 retain their plumpness. They should never be 

 picked from the vine. Tomatoes hung, root 

 and stem, on the walls of the root cellar will 

 also ripen successfully. 



Storing Celery. After the celery has been 

 partly blanched dig the plant up in October. 

 Shake off a little of the soil from the roots 

 and pack the plants in a box, Fig. 63, made in 

 such a way that air may circulate through the 

 stems. Close packing has a tendency to en- 

 courage decay. This box should be placed in 

 a cool cellar where the air is pure. If the 

 celery plants are to be stored on the floor of a 

 cellar or out-building, place one or two inches 



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