The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1917-08-03
BULLETIN TELLS HOW
TO STORE SPJD CROP

The storage of potatoes of the main
crop can be accomplished most salts
factorily throughout much OF the
United States in the dugout pit or
potato cellar in some of it's various
forms of construction. SAYS a recent
ly published farmers bulletil of the
Q. S. department of agriculture.
| While the dugout storage house is
in most general use, concrete or mas
onry houses with frame superstruc-
lures are, perhaps, most satisfact-
CRY in cold climates In some soc.
| tons, especially in the south where
drainage is poor, insulated frame
structures built entirely above the
ground must be depended upon.
The primary purposes or storage,
1t is pointed out, are to protcc- tie
tubers from the extreme heat and
cold and from light. Account also
must be taken of conditions of hui
Nudity and ventilation and of the
/ size of the storage pile.
The temperature should be the
| highest at which potatoes can be
maintained firm and ungerminated,
and which will at the same time hold
fungous diseases in check. Expert
ments of the department with arti-
4 ficially refrigerated storage indicate
that So degrees F. is sufficiently low
for all practical purposes and that
inthe earlier portions of the storage
season temperature OF 40 degrees
F. is just as satisfactory as lower
one except when powdery dry rot in
lection occurs.
All natural light should be exclud-
ed from potato storage bins because
when the tubers are exposed to ev-
en- modified light, they are soon in
Iured for food purposes. A practi-
cal rule in regard to humidity, the
bulletin already mentioned says, is
to maintain sufficient moisture in the
air to prevent the whiting to leep the
humidity content low enough to pre-
vent the deposit of moisture on the
surface of the tubers.
If potatoes are piled into to large
piles they may become overheated
and deteriorate. Six feet is good
maximum depth to which to pile tu-
bers in bins, and the area covered by
each pile also should be limited. A
good plan is to insert ventilated di-
vision walls at intervals through the
pile or bin. These may be made by
mailing relatively narrow boards on
both sides of 2x4 uprights, one inch
spaces being left between the boards
. General ventilation for the whole
storage house usually is accomplish.
ed through ventilating shafts in the
S roof.
:. The dugout pit or potato storagt
cellar is probably more widely uset
than any other type of storage space
Fitted with water-tight roof it is es
pecially popular in the central por
il lions of the United States In th,
y arid and semi-arid sections typ
u with sod or dirt roof is in most gen
y eral use. AS rule, the excavation
0 for the cheaper structures of the dug
j. out pit or cellar type when erecte
on level or nearly level land does nc
IS exceed three feet. The soil is re
,e moved from such an excavation, pal
n ticularly il the dugout is of any cor
IN siderable size, is ample for bankin
the side and end walls and also tn
roof. The cost of construction ma
be greatly modified, according to tn
d. character of the location
H. In the cheaper dugout, where til
l. soil is allowed to form the side an
ID end walls, the roof being supporte
er on plates resting on the soil and hel
CO together by boards or joists. TIL
ty form Of construction involves dee
to err excavation and a constant elemel
he Of risk from cavern. In more e
in pensive and substantial structur,
of the side end walls are built of co
crete.