Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-10-26
POTATO
WASTAGEE, IS PLEA
Growers Urged to Reduce Loss
Resulting From Use Of Bad
Storage Methods.
EXPERT MAKES SUGGESTIONS
Head of Food Administration Division
Tells How Many Causes of Dam
age Can Be Elim-
mated.

mated.
/ Washington.--In order that the
country may benefit from the large po-
tato crop which was raised during the
past season, the United States food
administration is appealing to small
growers throughout the country to
take every precaution to prevent dam
age to the surplus crop during the
coming winter through improper stor-
age methods. In a statement just Is
sued, Lou ID. Sweet, head of the po-
tato division of the food administra-
tion calls attention to the chief causes
Of wastage and outlines the best stor-
age methods. The statement 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 1t is very great in
deed.
I'm order that the best methods may
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.
'3. Injury from frost.
"a. Decay. owing to disease in the
tubers at the time of storage.
%. Sprouting Of tubers in the
spring.
Losses May Be Reduced.
st is not possible 10 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. ard 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.
tho rntotO 4ha dirro-;r,sr 4f,,,. |
are allowed to get wet and go into
storage in that condition, rotting is
sure to occur. Be careful to have
FOUR potatoes dry before storing.
Potatoes are easily damaged by
rost. If they become frozen, there
market value is destroyed. Therefore,
axe precaution to protect the tubers
rom frost before and after digging
Eliminate Diseased Tubers.
There are several diseases of the
'otato which destroy the tuber, and if
diseased tubers q mixed with the
ound ones. the disease spreads rap
ily; therefore. it is necessary TO sort
he potatoes carefully, eliminating all
{ the disease the cuts, eulls, and dirt
efore placing them into permanent
forage for the winter. All of the
uts, culls, misshapen and diseased tu-
ers should be fed to the poultry and
We stock, but should be steamed or
oiled before being fed, as in this way
on increase the food value. and also d
estroy the germs of the disease. so
nat it will not get into the manure
nd thence into the land.
by proper ventilation of the cellar
: storage room. and by holding the
az near 35 degrees F. as
ossible, you can keep the peratoes
ON sprouting.
"Seed for next years planting
lould be selected from hills that pro-
Ice all nice. true to type potatoes.
hese should be selected ar the dig Z
ng time. and stored separately in "
ates or boxes. and by storina, them
a well-lighted room where the tenn
nature can be held at from "a to 40
grees, with a little ventilation and
Is seed planted next spring. the
over Will make start toward i'm
owing the quality of his potatoes. in
Fad of as in the past. simply plant. !,
2 .he culls or runouts." n