The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-01-10
A potato storage cellar, showing
bulkhead driveway entrance In
which the grade into the cellar Is
cared for after entering the bulk
head.


cared for after entering the bulk
head.
siderable size, is ample for banking the
side and end walls and also for the
roof. The cost of construction may be
greatly modified according to the char
acter of the location.
Location of Cellars.
Generally speaking. the potato cellar
should be located convenient to the
dwelling house, because in very cold
weather it usually requires rather close
attention to guard against having the
tubers frosted. Where sidehills, knobs
or what are termed in the west hog
backs" consisting of narrow and usu
ally short ridges of land, are available
it is advisable to take advantage OF
them, because, as a rule, by their use
better drainage and a ground level en-
trance at either one or both ends of the
house are secured. Where sidehilIs
knobs or hogbacks are not available
and a central driveway is planned ar
Z.
back far enough to permit easy APP
proach, is necessary. Where no wag
on entrance is contemplated provision
is usually made for placing the pota
toes in the cellar through openings In
the roof. in which chutes are inserted
to convey the tubers.
In the cheaper dugouts where the soil
is Of such nature as to remain intact
it is allowed to form the side and end
walls. the roof being supported OIL
plates resting on the soil and held to
gether by boards or joists. This form
Of construction involy es deeper eXca
vation and a constant element of risk
from a cave-in. In better type of con
struction rough posts are set at inter
walls along the side walls, and to these
the plate is fastened. The posts may
be recessed into the earth wall so as to
present an even face, or they may be
set out far enough to allow covering
them with wire, planking or poles and
heavy layer of straw.
Above Ground Pits.
Occasionally where the land is level
and there is danger from irrigation
seepage the storage house is built en-
sirely above ground. In this case.
while the constru1 tion Of the side and
end walls and roof Is practically the
same as the preceding, the cost is usu.
ally increased through the greater
quantity Of soil required to cover the
rJof and the side and end walls.
Where tough sod is available. such
Is that formed by flags or other wiry
looted plants. the side and end walls
above ground may be constructed en-
tirely Of sod blocks two feet or more
Il thickness. One Of the most unusual
forage houses seen in the course of re
'ent studies was built entirely above
srou~d with the side and end walls
.o;>Aructed of baled alfalfa hay
=. the more expensive and subStan-
tial structures the side and end walls
are built of concrete. The material en-
tering into the roof construction of the
dugout or cellar storage house in the
region under discussion generally con-
sists of unsawed lumber Usually the
rafters are cut from small trees. The
whole roof may be covered with poles
and these poles covered with straw and
soil or the rafters may be covered with
heavy woven wire fence netting and
then with straw and soil
Roof Should Be Water Tight.
In sections where the rainfall is sur
fciently heavy to render straw or pole
covered roofs undesirable the potato
storage cellar is constructed with wa
ter tight roof. Generally the roof is GOV.
cred with rough lumber and shingled
Occasionally a cellar is sheathed with
matched lumber on the inside. rms
foolish Question.
An official who was making up an
assessment roll because or some recent
street improvements called at each
house on the improved streets to learn
the names of the property owners. AT
one house he climbed out or his car.
went to the door and knocked.
"Who owns this property he asked.
"Why. doS the woman answered.
The official got her name and put 1t
down in his book. Then he took
souint at the size of the lot.
"How many feet?" he asked.
1.-TWO. of coursew the woman snap
ped. wondering whether he thought she
MOS oartinoda -IndfanapOliS News,