The Dolores star., 1917-10-26
GROWERS URGED TO
SAVE POTATO CROP
Reduce Wastage From Bad
Storage Methods, Food Ad-
ministration's Plea.
ADVICE GIVEN BY EXPERT


"ashington--In nm effort to dimin-
'sh The wastage Of potatoes which re-
SUITS every year from the use of inn
proper storage methods. Lou u. Sweet.
heha OF the potato division OF the Unit
eN states food administration. has is
SUED statement outlining the meth
ous that should be adopted by the
small grower to prevent loss. His
statement is as follows: s
1T is of great Importance that all
tne potatoes raised this year should
ne stored under proper conditions.
Even when every precaution Is taken
the wastage of potatoes turing the
winter Is considerable; under bad con.
dihons Of storage 1t is very great in
deed
In order that the best methods mov
De adopted by the small growers, those
who have not had the experience in
Ihe storage of potatoes. should know
the chief causes Of the wastage. These
causes are:
l. Sweating. heating and conse-
Quent rot: often due to insufficient
ventilation.
:. hottinS. due to potatoes getting
wet ut the time of putting them in
storage.
"3 Injury from frost.
- Decay, owing to disease il tho
tubers Mt the time Of storage.
.. Sprouting Of tubers In the
spring. ,.
Losses May Be Reduced.
1t Is not possible to prevent nlto-
gether losses from these causes. but
by using the best methods of stora &c.
II Is possible to reduce them very ma.
terially.
This may be done by tnking care to
guard against losses from each Of
these causes:
Sweating and heating occur II the
freshly dug potatoes are piled In too
large piles. so that the air cannnt cir
cuiate between the tubers. The risk
or loss from this cnuse is greatest in
the fall: Immediately after the tubers
nave been dug, and II Is. therefore, i'm.
portnnt that potatoes when dug should
not he put In unnecessarily large piles.
nor kept In m ill-ventIlated room.
III the potatoes at the digging time
are allowed to get wet and go into
storage In that condition. rotting IL
sure to occur. Be careful to have
your potatoes dry before stormy
Potatoes are easily damaged By
frost. II they become frozen thers
market value Is destroyed. Therefore,
take precaution to protect the tubera
from frost before and after digging.
Eliminate Diseased Tubers.
There are several diseases of tho
potato which destroy the tuber. and II
diseased tubers are mixed with the
sound ones, the disease spreads rnp.
Idly; therefore. 1t Is necessary to sort
the potatoes carefully. eliminating all
OF the disease. the cuts, culls. and dirt
before placing them into permanent
storage for the winter. All Of the
cuts. culls, misshapen and diseased tn.
bers should be fed to the poultry and
live stock. but should be steamed OF
boiled before being fed. as In this way
You Increase the food value. and also
destroy the germs Of the disease. 50
that 1t will not get into the manure
and thence into the land
by proper ventilation Of the cellau
or storage room. and by holding ths
temperature as near IS degrees F. al
possible. you can keep the potatoes
from sprouting.
Seed for mkt years planting
should be selected from hills that pro.
duce all nice. true to type potatoes.
These should be selected at thee dig.
ging time. and stored separately In
crates or boxes. and by storing them
In well-lighted room where the TEN.
perature can be held at from "a to 40
degrees, with a little ventilation and
this seed planted next spring. the
grower will make start toward I'm.
proving the quality Of his potatoes. in.
stead Of as in the past. simply plant.
Ing the culls or runouts."