No. 4033 — Keeping Potatoes through Winter in an Outdoor Clamp
English historical translation of Molokhovets recipe No. 4033 from the 1901 Russian cookbook, retaining original methods and measures.
Choose high, dry sandy ground and mark a circle six arshins across. Excavate it to half an arshin deep.
In the centre set three narrow boards upright, leaving an opening among them for air and moisture to escape.
Pile well-aired, thoroughly dried potatoes around these boards into a mound two arshins high.
Cover with a thin layer of straw so soil does not touch the potatoes, then cover the straw with the earth excavated from the circle.
If the site does not drain naturally, dig a ditch around the mound to divert water.
When soil begins freezing in autumn, insulate the mound with a layer of low-fat manure mixed with straw.
During hard frost cover the ventilation opening with straw, removing it during thaws.