The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-09-05

| prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.) 49,. T..
1t is Just about as reasonable to ex-
summer sun and expect it to retain its
firm, solid consistency as 1t is to try
| to keep apples in an attractive, mar
ketable condition In the storage houses
available on many farms. An efficient
storage is the growers insurance
| against loss; 1t permits of carrying the
| fruit in good condition after it is re-
moved from the orchard and previous
| to the time when it is consigned to
commercial storage. Common storage
consists of an inexpensive, ventilated
house for the storage of apples for the
season, utilizing natural ventilators
with cold night air instead of refriger-
alton. Another use of common storage
is to furnish temporary housing for
the crop so that the apples may be
kept under favorable conditions after
picking and previous to shipment to
market or permanent cold storage.
Time was-and not so very remote at
that-when common storage for ap-
pies was a prerequisite on every farm
which boosted much of an orchard,
and this applies equally to the eastern
as well as to the northern and western
states.
A new interest is developed in COM
mon storage for apples, particularly
in the eastern states, as well as in
nfh cnaftnnS Of ,f,-u c1,n NC
the Pacific northwest where about so
per cent of the apples placed in stor-
age are held through the season in
common storage houses
Better Storage Facilities.
It is not to be supposed that COM
mon storage for apples can displace
the commercial cold storage ware
house which offers greatly improved
conditions for proper storage. How
ever, the insufficiency of cold storage
space during the war period in many
of the old apple-growing sections as
well as difficulties in handling or NOV
ing the crop promptly, emphasized the
Importance Of better facilities for the
handling Of storage apples, and the
new districts planted during recent
years are in some cases entirely with
out commercial storage warehouses.
The United States department of agri-
culture is receiving many inquiries
from fruit growers and shippers in all
sections of the country relative to the
proper construction of suitable apple
stOrages
Federal investigations Of the ham
ding and storage of apples, which
have been conducted with special ref
erence to the Pacific northwest, have
shown that properly insulated stor-
ages, provided with the necessary
means Of ventilation, can be success
fully operated, and allow the grower
to hold his fruit in prime condition for
the market.
Care in the operation OF these stor- |
age houses is just as important as in |
their construction. The best of stor- |
age houses sometimes fail through the |
Ing to provide proper ventilation for
The building, particularly as regards |
the provision of ventilators which may
be kept open when the temperature
conditions outside make 1t desirable,
while the ventilatorS should be closed
lightly whenever the outside temper
atures are higher than those inside
he house. Carefully worked out
plans and drawings are being prepared
" the United States department of
agriculture and will be sent free on
'equest to any farmer.
Insulation Of Houses.
The early commercial storage houses
we're insulated with mill shavings and
awdust, investigations by the federal
department. demonstrating that these
materials are ideally suited for insula-
ion and not SO expensive as cardboard
nd other prepared insulation mate
ials. 1t is essential to keep all insu-
alton material dry, this being why +
havings are preferred to sawdust, as
! Is difficult to obtain dry sawdust III t
arge quantities. On the other hand,
laner-mill shavings made from sea-
oned lumber require no artificial dry. 7
lg and should be tightly packed in
be wall, which must be at least six
1ches thick. The outside wall of the s
forage house should be composed OF
NO layers Of boards between which
vaterproof paper should be used. II t
not essential to duplicate this In the
,side wxll, as here only one thickness
( boards may be used In the interest t
{ cheaper construction, although such
q arrangement Is not as satisfactory
,r long use as IL . double thickness t
( boards on both inside and 0utside
arfaces Of the walls and ceiling.
The common storage houAe should Q
Q built with Z false door approx
lately three feet above the earth or
nenreofa A<,or Infnka vAnta nh0u2d II