CHAPTER TWENTY 



HOME STORAGE OF VEGETABLES 



The roots must come in now, and the harvest will soon end. 



Old Farmer's Almanac 



A GARDEN not only provides fresh vegetables during 

 the growing season, but it also furnishes certain crops 

 that may be preserved or stored for future use. In 

 this chapter we shall discuss the winter storage of root 

 crops and other vegetables ; but snap beans, peas, corn, 

 tomatoes, asparagus, rhubarb, spinach, New Zealand 

 spinach, Swiss chard, and summer squash may be canned. 

 Many vegetables may also be preserved by drying, in the 

 same way that prunes, apricots, and other fruits are pre- 

 served. In doing this work of canning and drying, the 

 beginner should have the help of an experienced person. 



Often this help is given in special classes organized 

 to teach this phase of home economics, or it may be 

 treated as project work in connection with gardening. 

 The beginner may secure bulletins on the subject that 

 will give full information concerning the methods that 

 are used. Such bulletins are furnished by various 

 organizations and especially by state agricultural experi- 

 ment stations and the United States Department of 

 Agriculture. The directions should be followed very 

 carefully ; otherwise the work may not be a success. 



Rules for storage of vegetables. To be thoroughly 

 successful in keeping vegetables in storage, the follow- 

 ing rules must be observed : 



(i) Only vegetables that are in good condition should be 

 selected. They should show no signs of decay or disease, 

 they should be dry, and at least moderately free from 



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