Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-11-01
GROWERS URGED TO
SAVE POTATO CROP
Reduce Wastage From Bad
Storage Methods, Food Ad.
ministration's Plea.
ADVICE GIVEN BY EXPERT

ish the wastage of potatoes which re-
suits every year from the use of i'm
proper storage methods, Lou D. Sweet,
head of the potato division of the Unit
ed States food administration. has is
sued statement outlining the meth
dds that should be adopted by the
small grower to prevent loss. His
statement is as follows:
1T is of great Importance that all
the potatoes raised this year should
be stored under proper conditions.
Even when every precaution is taken
the wastage of potatoes during the
winter is considerable; under bad con-
ditions of storage it is very great in
deed.
I'm order that the best methods NAV
be adopted by the small growers, those
who have not had the experience in
the storage of potatoes, should know
the chief causes of the wastage. These
causes are:
Il. Sweating, heating and conse-
quent rot: often due to insufficient
ventilation.
"2. Rotting, due to potatoes getting
wet at the time Of putting them in
storage.
%. Injury from frost.
~. Decay, owing to disease in the
tubers at the time of storage.
IS. Sprouting Of tubers in the
spring.
Losses May BE Reduced.
1T Is not possible to prevent alto
gether losses from these causes, but
by using the best methods of storage.
1t Is possible to reduce them very ma
terially.
"This may be done by taking care to
guard against losses from each of
these causes:
Sweating and heating occur If the
freshly dug potatoes are piled in too
large piles, so that the air cannot cir.
culate between the tubers. The risk
of loss from this cause is greatest in
the fall, Immediately after the tubers
have been dug, and it is. therefore, i'm
portant that potatoes when dug should
not be put In unnecessarily large piles,
nor kept in an ill-ventilated room.
IF the potatoes at the digging time
are allowed to get wet and go into
storage in that condition, rotting IL
sure to occur. Be careful to have
your potatoes dry before storing.
potatoes are easily damaged by
frost. If they become frozen, there
market value is destroyed. Therefore
take precaution to protect the tuberl
from frost before and after digging.
Eliminate Diseased Tubers.
'"There are several diseases of thu
potato which destroy the tuber, and II
diseased tubers are mixed with tn.
sound ones, the disease spreads rap
idly; therefore, it is necessary to sor
the potatoes carefully. eliminating al
OF the disease, the cuts, culls, and dir
before placing them into permanent
storage for the winter. All Of tn,
cuts. culls, misshapen and diseased tn
bers should be fed to the poultry ant
live stock, but should be steamed o.
boiled before being fed, as in this wa!
you increase the food value, and ais,
destroy the germs of the disease, 8,
that 1t will not get into the manur,
and thence into the land.
by proper ventilation Of the celia
or storage room, and by holding tn
temperature as near IS degrees f. al
possible. you can keep the potatoes
from sprouting.
"Seed for mkt years planting
should be selected from hills that pro
duce all nice. true to type potatoes
These should be selected at the dig
ging time, and stored separately II
crates or boxes, and by storing then
In a well-lighted room where the TEN
perature can be held. at from "a to 4
degrees, with a little ventilation an
this seed planted next spring, tn
grower will make a start toward i'm
proving the quality of his potatoes, in
| Rto0d Of as In tho most simn1v MA nj