Home Storage of Vegetables 343 
Fic. 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. 
