The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1917-10-26
BETTER STORAGE
METHODS URGED
Food Administration Seeks to
Reduce Annual Wastage
in Potatoes.
SMALL GROWERS WARNED
Much Of Loss From Sweating, Disc ase,
Frost and Other Causes Can Be
Prevented, Declares
Expert.

Washlngton.-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-
termined that this loss shall be re-
duced this year, when every bushel OF
potatoes will be needed by the people
OF this ~. In order to secure
the adoption OF the best storage meth
DDS by the small growers of the coun-
try Lou ID. 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 when every precaution is taken
| the wastage of potatoes during the
winter is considerable; under bad con-
J ditions of storage 1t is very great in
! deed.
in 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:
II. Sweating, heating and conSe-
quent rot often due 10 insufficient
/ ventilation.
40. Rotting due TO potatoes getting
wet at the time of putting them in
storage.
IS. Injury from frost.
II. Decay. owing To disease in the
tuhers at the time OF storage.
IS. Sprouting of tubers in the
spring.
Losses May Be Reduced.
1T is not possible 10 prevent alto
gether losses from these causes, but
by using the best methods OF storage,
IL is possible TO reduce them very ma
terially.
This may be done by taking care 10
guard against losses from each of
these causes:
Sweating and heating occur II the
freshly dug potatoes are piled in toe
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. and il is. therefore, i'm
portant that potatoes when dug should
not be put in unnecessarily large piles
nor kept in an ill-ventilated room.
If the potatoes ar the digging time
are allowed 10 get wet and go into
storage in that condition. rotting /.
sure 10 occur. Be careful 10 have
your potatoes dry before storing.
Potatoes are easily damaged b,
frost. II they become frozen, there
market value is destroyed. Therefore
take precaution TO protect the tuber'
from frost before and after digging.
eliminate Diseased Tubers.
There are several diseases ~ th'
potato which destroy the tuber. and i
diseased tubers are mixed with IN,
sound ones. the disease spreads rap
idly: therefore, IL is necessary 10 sor
the potatoes carefully. eliminating al
Of the disease. the cuts. culls, and dir
before placing them into permanen
storage for the winter. All Of tn
cuts. culls. misshapen and diseased ~
bers should be fed 70 the poultry an'
1--we stock. but should be steamed o
boiled before being fed. as in this wa,
you increase the food value and ais
destroy the germs of the disease, s
that IL will not get into the manur
and thence into the land.
by proper ventilation Of the celia
or storage roovl. and by holding IN
temperature as near 35 degrees +. 4
possible. YOU can keep the potatoe
from Sprourinc.
Seed for next years plantin
should he selected from hills that pre-
duce all nice, true 10 type potatoes
These should be selected at the die
ginc time. and stored separately i
: crates or boxes and by storing ther
in a well-lighted room where the ten
perarure can be held ar from - 70 4
degrees. with = little ventilation an
| this seed planted next spring. IN
grower will make q start toward in
proving the quality Of his potatoes, IL
| stead Of as in the past. simply plan
| ing -ha rrllis or runoutS"