The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-07
AGE-HERALDS FARM PAGE s:52:..55H5s
DIV RSIFIED FARMING
B TER LIVE CKl

subjected 10 a dangerously high tenn
perature. This is especially true if the
tubers are slightly immature or were not
dry and free from moist soil when gath
cred, or if stored when the outside tenn
perature was high. making it difficult to
lower the inside temperature Of the house
such overheating may be avoided by in.
sorting division walls at intervals
throughout the pile. The division walls
may consist of , by inch uprights, on
the Finch face of which are nailed 1 by
4-inch strips of any desired length, leav
lng l-ineh space between each strip
This provides ventilated partition
which can be any height and length de
sired. BY placing these in an upright po-
sition to feet apart as the bin or
storage house is being filed. good venti-
lation will be secured and an easy ave-
nue. Of escape for both heat and moisture
provided.
ADAPTED TO LOCAL NEEDS
. In considering the type of storage best
suited to the needs the grower should
bear in mind the temperature and rain
or snow likely to occur during the storage
period, the character and cost of the ma
terial involved, the nature of the soil
and drainage, and tho length of the stor-
age period. Potatoes may be SUCCESSFULLY
stored in pits If provided with good drain
age and given sufficient covering to in
sulate them against extreme heat and
cold, a well-drained site being essential
IL is usually not advisable to excavate
more than s inches, making the Dit long
and narrow rather than square In shape
1t is inadvisable to store a large bulk
of potatoes in one pit
The potatoes are stored over hight
layer of straw on the floor, while the pile
is Insulated against cold and heat by
covering the spuds with alternate layers
OF straw or hay and soil. During the late
fall, as the weather grows colder, bore
straw, as well as bore soil. should be
added to form protective overcoat for
the potatoes Each layer of straw when
compacted should be approximately
inches thick. while the final layer of soil
should be to inches deep, depending
upon the weather conditions Ventilation
may be provided by means of a wooden
flue, the lower end of which extends al
most to the bottom of the pit, while the
upper end should project we'll above the
covering, the valve being equipped with a
wooden cap to prevent the entrance Of
rain or snow, and also in order that 1t
may be closed entirely during very cold
weather
A pit OF this sort when well made viii
provide perfect protection for the pota-
toes until spring, the objection to 1t be-
ing that the potatoes stored therein are
not always accessible during the win
ter.
In regions where rainfall Is slight, dug
ont potato cellars are commonly used it
not being necessary to provide these
buildings with water tight roofs. Usually
the pit or "hog back" as it is called, is
placed on short, narrow ridge of land
which permits of easy approach and
central driveway into the pit at the grade
line. 1t is necessary to brace such po-
tatoes by means of posts and plates in
order to prevent cave-ins. Some OF the
pits are more expensive and substantial,
with the side and end walls made OF con-
crete. Generally it is advisable to have
the storage cellars or pits equipped with
some system of artificial lighting