STORING VEGETABLES 



75 



acter it may be excavated to a depth of lo to 15 

 inches. If the soils are comparatively heavy it is 

 better to place the vegetables directly on the sur- 

 face without excavation. In either case three or 

 four inches of clean straw should be placed upon 

 the soil and the vegetables placed upon this ma- 

 terial. Care should be taken not to pile too many 

 vegetables of any kind together. The base of the 

 pile should usually not be more than four feet wide, 



5 VENTILATOR 



VEGETABLES 



A GOOD VEGETABLE PIT 



and the vegetables then piled about as high as pos- 

 sible in conical form. Where large quantities are 

 to be stored, the pile can be extended in length as 

 far as necessary. 



After the vegetables are properly piled they should 

 be covered with two or three inches of straw and 

 then with two or three inches of dirt. An ordinary 

 drain tile should be placed at intervals of every five 

 or six feet, and extend above the surface of the soil. 

 Care should be taken not to cover too deeply dur- 

 ing the mild weather of late fall and early winter. 

 As a matter of fact, more fruit and vegetables are 



