The Idaho Republican., 1917-08-03
VALUE OF STORAGE

By r. r. Groninger, County Agent.
Supply and demand regulate the
movement OF potatoes from produN
ing centers to consuming centele and
no definite rule can ever be laid
down regarding the selling of the
crop. Prices have fuctuated more
with the potato crop than with any
other staple crop in the United
States. This is not a natural condi-
tion with staple like potatoes, and
is not at all necessary. 1t Is in fact
detrimental to every person con-
cerned in the crop.
II the potato growers will provide
storage for their potatoes until after
the usual heavy fall marketing of
potatoes Is over, they will do more
than any other one thing they can
do toward producing constant sup
ply on the market and a steady price
for potatoes. Indications are that
this year there will be shortage. of
cars for shipping about the time the
potato harvest is on. So don't al
low yourself to be caught without
storage and have to sell at low
price to q middle man who has pro-
vided storage. Put your storehouse
on a railroad shipping point If pos
sible.
A cooperative storage cellar has
some advantages which strongly
recommend 1t. Under the present
conditions an even grade Of pota-
toes cannot be maintained without
very strict inspection and that costs
money. BY having potatoes stored
in q cooperative cellar one grading
outfit would serve for all and high
class uniform output could be made.
This Is very essential in securing per-
manent business and good prices.
Potatoes can then be shipped out on
demand without loss of time and
money as would occur If the pota-
toes had to be bought from the farm.
This year, more than ever before,
it will be advantageous not only to
the farmer but to the country at
large If every farmer can be made to
see the wisdom of providing suitable
storage facilities on the farm for
fruits and vegetables. The advant-
ages of such storage to the farmer
are that the crop can be marketed
in accordance with natural demands,
thus preventing any Cutting of the
market and resulting in maintaining
fair prices thruout the year.
On the average farm the practice
is to Immediately unload on the mar
ket practically all of any crop as
soon as harvested. All that the pro-
ducer keeps Is a slight surplus over
what is needed for domestic use.
This glutting of the market occurs
at a time when the demand for the
produce is not at its maximum, and
brings the price level down, frequent
ly to point where the crop does
not bring the cost of production.
Proper Storage Prevents Waste
AS a result of the encouragement
farmers are receiving to grow bump
er crops this year, there will be con-
siderable increase in potato produc-
ton. Thousands of dollars of waste
in the potato crop can be saved by
providing suitable storage. The
large annual loss in normal years
both in potatoes and apples should
not continue under our new scheme
of farm economy. If stored under
suitable conditions apples and pota-
toes can be kept in good condition
from one seasons end to the begin
ming of the next.
l shall be glad to assist with plans
and information any who are inter-
ested in securing potato storage
houses. A detailed plan of an ef-
ficient and economic potato storage
house will be published in later
issue of The Republican.