The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1916-01-15

HAAtAiebs tithsis
Mr. ] " neeson. President Of
Meridian College. in an article IN the
same paper, says
THE greatest problem has always
been to keep SWEET potatoes through
the winter This liz why they are not
more largely raised for market Merl.
dian College Of Meridian. Miss, has
bern making experiments for many
Years In order to discover a plan by
which sweet potatoes can be kept with
reasonable certainty tn be marketable
when prices are higher We believe
We have solved this problem After
several years testing The plan We have
been able 10 keep about 80 10 rs per
cent of our sweet potatoes, including
cut and bruised ones. till uaad up or
until our neW ones come la the next
year Our plan briefly stated Ia thIs
Build tight house, storm sheet 1t,
cover with builders paper and weather
board II, cell walls and overhead, leave
door In south end, wiadow In north
end, We Use two door shutters and
double windows Ina same opening. one
opening outside and one on the inside
This leaves a dead air space 10 keep
air warm. Make air shaft through
ceiling and center of roof. extend IL
above roof and open IL south with
tsansom above the roof Make Slated
shelving on each aide of room, begin.
ming about "a inches from dir, floor.
shelves two feet apart made Of one.by'
three Tor foarl lumber placed one inch
apart SO the air can circulate freely
through the shelves. We have an aisle
in the center three feet wide. shelving
extending to the aisle lave stats back
of shelves go an air space will be be-
tween potatoes and wall Build house
~ feet vide and a. long an wanted II
takes one 10 feet high and 80 feet long
to hold 1000 bushels
Dig potatoes In as dry time as
possible. Handle them carefully SD as
not 10 bruise them, Put eut ones TO
themselves and small potatoes an bot.
Nom shelves as u takes them longer
% dry on bottom. Place a large stove
IN the center of the room III the build
Ing liz laag put In two stoves or az
many az needed to heat well. Coal
stoves keep heat longer
Heat UP the room 10 hundred
degree temperature By shutting doors
and windows. Open transom In venti
latlns shaft A small vent hole four
inches by nine or twelve inches under
the door for intake air IN necessary
while drying If the building II tight
The stoves should be heated aa soon
AZ this ffst potatoes are put In Sd ~ ta
begin drying at once before they rot
The idea Ii TO kiin-dry the potatoes
The moisture eatsisates the rot germ
II can't live In dry potatoes Get OK.
cess of moisture out Of pa,atoeg as
quickly as possible.
III takes about 10 daya OF heat with
the thermometer registering about 100
degrees to dry the potatoes. Fire until
bedtime aud then begin early In morn.
iug. then open the windows and doors
and keep potatoes as cool as possible
without freezing Forty degrees VIII
BIS right or as nearly Az possible. No
more heat will be- needed nil winter In
Southern climate In freezing weather
shut all doors and windows 10 keep
potatoes from freezing, but cont fail
10 venfllate again when the weather
mederatea. We have never failed to
keep potatoes la house like this
dried aut Ia this way, and kept dry
and cool without freezlng
- We have bought potatoes
that were rottiag and dried them cut
md they stopped rosttng. although we
do mol advise one To- take that risk
\ few will be lost OF dry rot bn' very
few, II stops the vet musfy rot that
Usually destroys the whole crop when
L starts,
This house can be made eheapiy Of
lumber. No fioor h needed but select
high, dry. xeIlaFalnad place, A dry
house ls what IN wanted II can he
made of bricks or stone Meridian
College has one of cement blocks
They were made aud laid by the
students. The Weman'a College has
one Of wood. which Ii quite tnvxpon.
slve, but /, serves the purpose. The
College makes aud Keeps from 500
to 1000 bushels each year ."
~ NinnsbOro, Texas. "A curing plant
of $4,000 bushels capacity has been IN
operation TWO years
II may be said that the farmers
would be forced TO sell their potatoes
~ soon as gathered because Of their
pressing need Of money This could
be avoided If a curing plant Of sufficient
capacity could be- built near town thai
would take care Of the entire crop oil