The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-10-25
BETTER STORAGE
METHODS URGED
Food Administration Seeks TO
Reduce Annual Wastage
in Potatoes.
Small! GROWERS WARNED
Much Of Loss From Sweating, Disease,
Frost and Other Causes Can Be
Prevented, Declares
Expert.

Washington.-A large part OF the
potato crop OF the United States is
wasted every year through the exist
ence Of bad storage conditions. The
government food administration is de-
termlned that this loss shall he re-
duced this year. when every bushel Of
potatoes will be needed by the people
Of this country. In order to secure
the adoption of the best storage meth
DDS by the small growers of the coun-
try Lou d. Sweet, head OF the potato
division of the food administration,
has issued the following statement:
1T is of great Importance that all
the potatoes raised this year should
be stored under proper conditions.
Even vixen every precaution Is taken
the wastage of potatoes during the
winter Is considerable; under bad CON
ditons of storage 1t is very great in
deed.
"ln order that the best methods may
be adopted by the small growers, those
the storage OF potatoes, should know
the chief causes of the wastage. These
causes are:
al. Sweating, heating and conse-
ventilation.
"2. Rottlnk. due TO potatoes getting
wet at the time OF putting them In
storage.
"3. Injury from frost.
~. Decay, owing to disease In the
tuberS at the time OF storage.
80. Spr0uting OF tubers in the
spring.
Losses May Be Reduced.
ut IL not possible 10 prevent alto
gether losses from these causes, but
by using the best methods OF storage.
II il possible to reduce them very ma
terially.
This may he done by taking care to
these causes.
Sweating and heating occur II the
freshly dug potatoes are piled in too
large piles, so that the mir cannot cir
culate between the tubers. The risk
OF loss from this cause is greatest in
the fail. Immediately after the tubers
have been dug and it is, Therefore, Inn
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 20 into
storage In that condition. rOtting is
sure TO occur. BE careful to have
your potatoes dry before storing.
Potatoes are easily damaged by
frost II they become frozen, there
market value Is destroyed. Therefore.
take precautlon to protect the tubers
from frost before and after digging.
Eliminate Diseased Tubers.
"There are several diseases Of the
potato which destroy the tuber, and IL
diseased tubers are mixed with the
sound ones. the disease spreads rap
| idly; therefore. IL is necessary TO sort
the potatoes carefully, eliminating all
Of the disease, the cuts, culls, and dirt
before placing them into permanent
storage for the winter. All Of the
cuts, culls, misshapen and diseased to-
bers should be fed TO the poultry ard
! live stock. but should be steamed or
boiled before being fed ms in this way
| you Increase the food value. and also
destroy the germs OF the disease, so
that il viii not get into the manure
and thence into the land.
"By proper ventilation Of the cellar
or storage room. and by holding the
| temperature rs near - degrees f. as
possible, YOU can keep the potatoes
from sprouting
"Seed for next years planting
should be selected from hills that pro-
duce all nice, true 10 type potatoes.
| These should be selected at the dig
cling time. and stored separately in
crates or boxes, and by storing them
! In well-lighted room where the tenn
perature can he held at from "a to 40
! degrees. with little ventilation and
| this seed planted next spring the
| grower will make start toward Inn
proving the quality ~ his potatoes, In
stead Of as I'm the past, simply plant
ing the culls or runouts."