Show home flome storage pit saves root crops no extra cost to gardener arid and supply Is assured for winter use BY bv J W lloyd college of A i h ul ture university of WU rolt 1 L serving crisp hoine grown vegetables throw hout the winter inter months Is easily within reach at no extra cost to any gardoner gardener who will take proper eions in storing root crops bechir carrots turnips rutabagas parsnips par snips and all lend themselves set es to e isy easy winter storage either in or out of doors the first four our of these vegetables must be protected from freezing while pars nips and are not injured by low temperatures if protected no ao that they will thaw out slowly after freezing packing these crops in boxes with alternate layers of sand and then storing the boxes in a cool cellar Is a satisfactory practice where relatively small quantities of root crops are to lie be kept for early consumption HoN however veyer a longer kee keeping pin period can be insured by storage 1 in outdoor pits although the method Is generally referred to as pit storage ve vega tables stored outdoors fire are usually placed entirely above ground in a veil iel drained location and are covered with layers of straw soil and manure after topping the roots are placed in a conical pile on a four inch layer of straw that has been spread where the so called pit Is to be made A series of sm small all piles Is usually better than a single large pit with best results being attained bained when not more than five bushels of vegetables are stored in one I 1 pit at the pile of root crops Is then covered with a four luch inch layer of straw and just enough soil to hold the straw securely in place two inches of flirt dirt will probably be enough for this purpose at the top of the pile the straw should be at al owed to protrude through the layer of soil for ventilation with the approach of freezing weather about four inches of additional carth should be applied this will protect the vegetables from freezing during the early winter but when winter threatens the entire pit should be covered with a six inch layer of manure |