The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1917-07-12

gether TO form an S-inch box. Ths
box should extend from the insida
ceiling of the house to about Is inches
or feet above the roof. The tons Of
the veHtilater should be provided with
hood to keep out rain and the hot
tom with a cover so that the ventilstor
mny be closed in cold weather. Every
house over 20 feet in length should he
provided with at least two yentilators
The openings through the floor should
be 10 10 Il inches square and provided
with tight fitting cover, so that they
may be closed when necessary.
The bins for holding the potatoes
should be constructed to allow as much
circulation of mir rs possible. They
should be set at least 6 inches away
from the wall. and space Of 4 inches
should be left between the bins and
under the floor of the bins. The sides
of the bins are formed by setting , by
As upright and mailing across these
or inch boards laid with an inch
space between The . by Is between
the bins are Slated ON both sides SO as
10 provide finch air space between
bins. The floors of the bins are formed
by laying two by 1 scantlings edge
wise running lengthwise of the bins
and mailing boards across these In the
same manner as for the sides of the
bins. The floor of the bin may be
made In one or two sections and If
cut inches narrower than the width
of the bin and not fastened down IL
can be readily removed when 1t is de-
sired to clean out the bins The size
and shape of the bins depend on the
size of the house, but to get good air
circulation the bins should not be over
/ feet in width.
The heating apparatus for n storage
house usually consists of cheap
sheet-iren stove. yltrifled tile may be
run through the roof of the house and
! the stovepipe run through the tile.
thus lessenlng the danger from fire
Kerosene oil heaters are also being
used with satisfactory results In the
more northern sNeet-pOtato regions,
where heat is required throughout the
storage period, hard=coal stoves and
hot-water heating systems are In com
mon use, and the storage houses are
usually provided with Easements.
Management of the House
After ii house is a year old it
should be thoroughly cleaned and dis
infected each year before being used.
All dirt and decayed potatoes should
be taken out and the interior Of the
house, together with all harvesting
/ baskets. crates. bin materials. etc,
should be sprayed with a solution OF
copper sulphate. made by disSolying
pound in p gallons of water, or so
i luton made by dissolving / pint OF
formalin in 30 gallons of water. Re-
/ peat this spraying after about "A
/ hours.
4 day or So before the storage house
Is To be used fire should be startes
10 dry II cut thoroughly, and If The
/ house is new the fire should be started
several days in advance OF the storage
In order 10 drive the moisture out or
the lumber used in the building. Dur
/ ing the period when the potatoes are
being stored and for 10 days or
weeks afterwards. n temperature
around 81 degrees Fahrenheit, with
plenty of ventilation, should be main
tained. Even If it Is not possible 10
secure SO degrees Fahrenheit or above,
{ he ft.,ts hD
open, 50 as 10 allow the moist air 10
escape. During the curing period the
windows and doors may be closed at
night and on rainy days, but Mt other
times they should be left open.
When the potatoes are thoroughly
dried or cured the temperature should
be gradually reduced to 50 degrees
Fahrenheit, at which point II shouiu
be kept during the entire storage pc
riod. During the winter. If the tenn
perature In the house should drop pc
low AZ degrees Fahrenheit, n nre
should be started or the house openeu
when the mir outside is warm and dry
II the temperature should 90 above oo
degrees Fahrenheit, the house can pe
opened when the air outside Is cool
Should drops of moisture appear Oh
the walls or ceiling the fire should Dc
started and the ventllators opened ~
allow the moisture TO escape. The e..
sentials In the proper management Oh
a storage house are to keep 1t dry anu
to maintain Il uniform temperature
around 30 TO - degrees Fahrenheit
Success in storing sweet potatoes
does not depend entirely upon success
full storage methods. There are
number of sweet-potato diseases no
tably black rot. stem rot, and foot fo''
which may cause serious damage III tie
storage house. The elimination OF dis'
ease should be closely coupled wit"
good storage methods to give best re-
suits.
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