FRUIT STORAGE II7 



VII. STORAGE IN PITS 



This is undoubtedly the oldest form of storage for 

 fruits and vegetables. It has been in use almost 

 everywhere on this continent since the days of the first 

 settlements. The Indians and the mound-builders 

 used it, but that is really not to be considered a prece- 

 dent. The method is better than it looks. At first 

 sight it seems slovenly and makeshifty, but in reality 

 it' gives excellent results at small expense. Apples 

 used frequently to be stored in pits, but the practice 

 is waning as applied to fruits. Potatoes, sweet pota- 

 toes, turnips, and cabbages are the vegetables most 

 commonly stored in this way. 



The usual procedure begins by making a shallow 

 excavation, into which the vegetables are put. In 

 positions where perfect drainage can not be secured 

 the excavation is omitted, and the vegetables or fruits 

 are piled directly on the ground. In either case the 

 vegetables or fruits are piled up into a high cone- 

 shaped figure. Sometimes they are put on carefully 

 in concentric layers with rounds of straw, chaff, leaves, 

 or sawdust between. This precaution is probably 

 worth while, as it secures some ventilation, facilitates 

 drainage, and separates the fruits so that decay spreads 

 less quickly from one to another. Sometimes a ven- 

 tilator is placed in the middle of the heap. This may 

 best be a simple box tube five to eight inches square, 

 made of four boards nailed together. It should be 

 liberally perforated with augur holes throughout its 

 length. On top some sort of cover is placed to pre- 

 vent rain or snow from falling in. 



