Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-05
Weekly Bureau of In
fos,,stion for All Who
TN ths Soil or Are In
terssted In Mixing Homes
ITCH OUT FOR POTATOES;
NAYS FOR WINTER KEEPING
- ~ LOUIS ID. SWEET,
= 81 Potato Division, United States
Food Administration.


rs OF great importanc" that all
potatoes raised this year should be
ed under proper conditions. Even
hen every precaution IS taken the
1stage Of potatoes during the winter
considerable; under bad conditions OF
prtnE 1t is very great indeed.
n order that the best methods may
adopted by the small growers. those
hi have not had the experience in
storage of potatoes should know
chief causes OF the wastage. These
he's are:
Sweating. heating and consequent
often due to insufficient ventila-
sRottinE, due to potatoes getting
at the time OF putting them in
aBc.
Injury from frost.
decay. owing to disease in the
srs at the time of storage.
sSprouting of tubers in the spring.
is not possible to prevent alto
her losses from these causes. but
using the best methods Of storage,
nlpossible to reduce them very ma
may'pe >done by taking care TO
against losses from each of these
Sweating and heating occur IL tho
lily dug potatoes are piled In too
. piles. 80 that the air cannot cir
lAe 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
portAht that potatoes when dug should
act be put In unnecessarily large piles,
nofa kept in an ill-ventilated room.
~. Rotting From Getting the Pota-
toes swet-If the potatoes at the dig
ring time are allowed to get wet and
30 90 into storage In that condition,
EottinE Ia sure to occur. Be careful to
have your potatoes dry before storing.
Injury From Frost-Potatoes arc
eAsily damaged by frost II they be-
fome frozen their market value is de-
ktroyed. Therefore. take every prccau-
fion4to protect the tubers from frost
BEFORE and after digging.
&.sDfsease-There are several dis
&Rses of the potato which destroy the
ubcr, and IL diseased tubers arc mixed
With the sound ones. the disease
breads rapidly: therefore. IL is neccs-
Syeto sort the potatoes carefully, eli
ting all of the disease, the cuts
Ind dirt. before placing them into
ent storage for the winter All
cuts. culls. mlsshapen and dis
hbers should be fed to the poul-
d live stock but should be
Or t6iled before being fed. as
g way You increase the food value,
also destroy the germs of the dis
$50 that it will not get into the
nure and thence into the land
BY proper ventilation OF the cell
or storage-room. and by holding
e,atemperature as near rs degrees
hhrenheit as possible, you can keen
ne potatoes from sprouting
Selection OF Fced.-Secd for next
years planting should he selected from
III! lS~sthat~~p produce all nice, truc-to-
!ype potatoes. These should be select
40 at the digging time, ar stored sen
lrately In crates or boxes. and by stor-
ng"them In well-lighted room. where
ne temperature can be held at from
y to 40 degrees, with a little ventila.
aPn, and this seed planted next sprjnr
e. grower will make start toward
proving the quality of his potatoes.
stead OF as In the past. simply plant.
e. the cullS or runnuts