No. 4034 — Trenches for Storing Beets, Carrots and Turnips
English historical translation of Molokhovets recipe No. 4034 from the 1901 Russian cookbook, retaining original methods and measures.
On high dry sandy land dig a trench of any length, about one arshin deep, piling the excavated sand to one side.
Remove leaves from beetroot, carrots or turnips and let the roots dry in the sun.
Lay them on straw in rows in the trench, separating each row with sand dug from a second, parallel trench.
Fill the next trench similarly with sand from a third, and continue until all roots are stored.
Cover each trench with at least half an arshin of remaining sand and dig drainage channels between the mounds.
When the ground has frozen six vershoks deep, place about one and a quarter arshins of well-rotted manure over the mounds. Remove the covering when the ground begins to thaw in spring.