Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1911-12-14
HOW To STORE POTATOES
BY Prof. J. c. Hosenson. Extension
Division, Utah Agricultural College.

II is one thing to grow good pota-
toes, and another to store them in
such way that they will keep fresh
and firm so that when the tubers are
to be sold. eaten or planted, they will
be in prime condition.
First-Potatoes when dug should
not be allowed to lie for any length
of time in the warm sun to wilt, be-
cause they will never again regain
their firmness and crispness.
Second-Potatoes should be handled
In such way as not to injure, bruse
or break the skin because when the
potatoes are bruised or the skin brok-
en-, diseases find an easy foothold.
Having harvested the potatoes in
good shape, the next question is to
store them properly. Wherever pota-
toes are stored they should be kept at
an even, low temperature and perfect
ly dry.
If it is desired to keep the potatoes
in a pit, "a hole may be dug in the
ground from one to three feet deep,
about four feet wide and as long as
needed for the quantity of potatoes to
| ne Dlllcu. "A well QIdlntu 0DOl SliOuld
be chosen for the pit, so that water
will not stand around or in the pit.
About six inches of clean straw may
then be spread over the bottom of the
pit This, however, is not necessary
and is not desirable If a shovel is to
be used in removing the potatoes
from the pit. The potatoes are then
piled neatly into the pit, so that the
face of the pit at the center will be
three or four feet high. Cover the
potatoes with from three to six inches
of clean, dry straw, then cover the
straw with soil beginning at the bot
tom and piling it toward the apex.
DO not put too much soil on at first
The ridge of the pit should not be
covered with soil until after the pota
toes have gone through the sweat.
Dig a ditch all around the pit, using
the soil for the covering. If possible
the bottom of the ditch should be
lower than the bottom of the pit, anc
should have an outlet so that watel
will drain off and insure a dry bottom
for the pit.
As the weather gets colder more
soil must be added and the ridge en-
tirely covered with the exception OF
small hole about every eight feet
which should be left free from sol
and covered with more straw or ha!
to afford ventilation for the potatoes
If potatoes are not kept at TEN
perature between 33 degrees F. ant
40 degrees F. they loose considerapl'
moisture. wilt, their vitality is low
cred to a great extent. diseases cree
in and hence the potatoes come out Il
the spring a little better than no pota
toes. If potatoes stored in TINS wa
are used for seed. many do not grow
at all and those that do grow produc
weak and sickly plants.
II notatoes are stored in the damn
wet pits. they absorb moisture Z
such an extent that their breathln
: or respiration is interfered with an
they lose their power to grow,
that, while the potatoes come out
the spring very hard and crisp (mor
SO than when they were put into TN
pit. they are not good for planting
II potatoes are to be stored in
cellar II should be constructed so the
II will keep perfectly dry, we'll vel
tilated, and an even low Temperature
Have raised board floor in each pi
: so that air can circulate under IN
: potatoes as we'll as over them. kee
), the cellar dark.
= A large percentage of the failure
to get good stands of potatoes ca
, rightly be laid to poor storage OF III
= seed tubers. Improve upon this on
point and potato growers will fin
= that their years of failure becom
fewer and fewer.