The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-11-09

An Outdoor Storage Cellar, Typical Of
Those Used in the South for Stor-
Ing Sweet Potatoes and Other Root
Crops. Il Consists Of Pole and
Plank Frame Covered With Sod and
Straw.
the stored product to the desired
point for safe storage by opening the
door during the night and closing it
In the morning before the air becomes
warm. All ventilators should likewise
be kept tightly closed until the out
side air Is again cooler than that with
In the cellar, when they should be
opened, unless the outside tempera-
ture is so low as to be dangerous. This
safeguards the product and adds to
the efficiency of the storage chamber.
Vegetables can be more conveniently
placed in such a cellar than in the
storage room in the basement of
dwelling.
When the chief use Of the outdoor
storage cellar is for storing turnlps,
beets carrots, and other root crops
commonly used as stock for food, 1t
should be located near the stable,
where the material will be convenient
for winter feeding. When it is to be
used for vegetables for the table the
cellar should be accessible from the
kitchen at all times. If apples or
other fruits are to be stored in an out
door storage cellar 1t is desirable to
have a two-compartment cellar, one
for vegetables and one for apples, with
a ventilating apparatus In each COM
partment.
Construction Of Cellar.
AS the root cellar must be weather
proof, that Is capable of being kept
free from moisture and free from
frost, its type and construction vary
with the geographical location. In the
southern portion of the country the
structure is usually entirely above
ground and protected by only a few
inches Of sod and with straw, leaves,
etc. In Northern sections outdoor
storage cellars are made almost en-
tirely below ground and covered with
a foot or two Of earth
Storage In Regions Of Mild Winters.
An above-ground storage cellar, suit
ed to conditions in southern sections
Of the United States may be built on
a well-drained site at slight expense.
A row of posts may be set 8 or 6 feet
apart, extending or feet above the
surface of the ground, with a ridge
pole placed on top of them. Against
each side Of the ridgepole a row of
planks or puncheons is placed, with
their opposite ends resting In a shall
low trench 4 or feet from
the line Of posts. The ends are board
ed up, door being provided In one
end Of the structure and the room COW
cred with sod to a depth of 5 or 6
inches. A good type Of outdoor stor-
age cellar built along these lines is
shown In the illustration.
Storage In Regions of Severe Freezes.
In sections where low temperatures
prevail 1T Is necessary to insulate the
storage house so that the vegetables
will not freeze. An above-ground type
of storage house much used in many
sections of the North has thick walls
filled with insulating material, such
as sawdust or shavings. The construc-
ton Is of frame and the walls are usu-
ally 10 to II inches thick. Both the
inside and the outside walls are
sheathed with matched lumber so as
to make them alright. The rafters
are ceiled on the under side with the
same material and the space between
the rafters filed with dry insulating
material. The use of building paper
tn the roof and walls Of the storage