Home Storage of Vegetables 



343 



FIG. 185. Getting vegetables from a barrel storage pit during a warm day in 

 midwinter. Note the depth of earth over the barrel, and the ventilating chimney 

 in the center. 



on its side in a well-drained place and a ventilating 

 chimney of some sort attached to an opening in the top 

 of it. The barrel is first covered with leaves or straw 

 and then with a layer of earth. After the vegetables 

 have been placed within, the open or " head " end is 

 closed with boards and a sufficient amount of earth 

 banked up over these boards to cover them entirely. 

 If now a layer of straw, leaves, or cornstalks is placed 

 over the earth at the head end, this earth will freeze less 

 solidly and it will be easier to open the pit during the 

 winter. The covering of earth on the top of the barrel 

 should be thick enough not to freeze through; 3 to 6 

 inches of earth, or even more, should be used, according 

 to the severity of the winter. The readiness with which 

 supplies can be obtained from the barrel pit makes it 

 especially suited to the needs of a small family. 



