HOW TO PRESERVE POTATOES AT SEA.

Otago Witness, Issue 560, 23 August 1862, Page 6

HOW TO PRESERVE POTATOES AT SEA.

(From the Scientific American.)

Captain Gilbert Smith, of the barque Martha Wenzel, has communicated to the Yarmouth (England) Register a method by which he succeeded in preserving- potatoes at sea during long voyages. VYhenitis well known that vegetables arc- the best anti-scorbutic medicine, this information will be found of great benefit to whaling vessels, and those making long voyages to Australia, the East Indies, and China. " " To preserve potatoes," Captain Smith says, "put them into a pen on deck, the door of which must always be kept open in good weather. Scatter over thpm a quart of air-slacked lime to every twenty-five bushels. Pick them and rub off the sprouts once every month. Put up and kept in this manuer, they will remain good five or six months."

On the Ist of August, 1861, he says: — "I have now potatoes on board that were taken in at Melbourne January 20. The vessel since ha? been to Callao, Chincas, and is now within a few days' sail of Bourbon and Mauritius, Consequently, the potatoes have been on board and daily used for six months and ten days, and, for cooking purposes, they are as good now as when taken on board at Melbourne. Last voyage we took our sea stock of potatoes at Talcahuano, Chili, March 13j arrived in London, July 5, and sold off stock, leaving some three bushels for family use. I have eaten new potatoes that were grown on the old potato in the pcn — the old potato sound, but the outside being shrivelled and shrunk, something like a dried prune or raisin. " I merely mention these two cases as a proof of what I say, and can adduce more if wanted. I would further add in this matter, that if potatoes were taken out of the damp cellars in thJf spring, and put in some dry outbuilding with a good circulation of air, and a little iime mixed with them, they could be kept until July and August in a good slate of preservation."