Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-09-08
STORING POTATO CROP
Production OF Country Placed at
452,0O0,0O0 Bushels.
Necessary to Begin Preparation Of
Crop for Storage Before It Is
matured-Suggestio by
Missouri Expert.

Farmers Of the country have done
their share in increasing the produc-
ton Of one crop at least. The United
States department of agriculture. In
the bureau of crop estimates report for
July estimated the potato production
/ of the country at 80. U00000 bushels.
The production last wear was estimated
Ia December at 81. $4,000 bushels.
This IS an increase of more than 10
per cent. Now thar the potatoes have
been produced It is necessary 10 pre-
serve them for use until next years
crop is harvested ". II. Lawrence Of
the University Of Missouri College Of
Agriculture offers the following sug-
gesJions for storing the potatoes. 1t
is necessary 10 begin preparation of
the crop for storage before it is ma
tured.
/. Examine the fields while the
plants are still green. If any diseased
plants are found or if any plants show
evidence that the tubers are diseased
they should be destroyed Immediately.
The diseased tuberS ire the ones
which cause trouble in storage They
not only rot, bat they transmit the dis
ease to adjoining potatoes and cause
them to ROT also.
= Delay harvest until the tops die.
This indicates that the potatoes have
matured as fully as they will
g. Avoid bruising the tubers or
breaking the skins. Potatoes injured
thus decay rapidly in storage and us
ualiy cause adjacent potatoes to de-
cay.
4 After the potatoes are dug they
should be allowed to dry slightly
which will tougher the skins and elm
mate excess surface moisture.
8. Sort out an bruised. diseased, or
otherwise damaged potatoes before at
tempting to store the crop.
g. Cold storage offers the safest
means for holding potatoes. The tenn
perature of the cold storage room
should be 40 to - degrees Fahrenheit
when the potatoes are placed in it,.
During the next four TO six weeks the
temperature should be reduced to
about 30 degrees.
Z. If cold storage IS not available,
pittng or banking is the next best
method Of preserving the potatoes. Sc
lect a high place in the field which will
afford surface drainage of rainfall. If
possible, locate the pit near tree or
othel shelter where it will be shaded
during the hot hours Of the day Scoop
out several inches of soil. down to
solid earth, from an area large enough
10 receive the potatoes. Add layer
Of potatoes about one foot deep each
day preferably during early morning.
when the temperature of the tubers is
low Keep the pit covered from day
20 day with a tanaulin or blanket TO
exclude dew or rain. The potatoes
should not be piled more than four to
six feet high. When the pit is finished
II should be covered with a layer of
straw deep enough to exclude light and
/ heat. Weight the straw with boards
10 prevent the wind from blowing It
away. An opening should be left at
the top 20 provide ventilation and 70
permit the escape Of excess moisture
and heat from the pile of potatoes 1t
IS also advisable 10 cover the pit with
a temporary shed that will turn rain.
6. The pit must be covered with
earth before freezing weather. About
| 10 inches Of soil viii be necessary 10
/ protect the potatoes. This soil should
! be rlaced ON top of the straw.
/ Mr.. Lawrence says that he has found
/ that well-matured potatoes harvested
| in August and carefully haIAlled ac-
cording to the foregoing suggestions
viii keep until midwinter or later with
very little loss.