New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-08-15

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agricultural
Storing potatoes resembles banking
money, because ordinarily 1t results In
the potatoes selling for higher prices
later In the season when the supply
is not so abundant as at digging time.
The potatoes earn dividends while In
storage just as money In the bank ac-
cumulates interest. If all the pOta-
toes were sold Immediately after dig
ging the prices would decline. due TO
the excessive offerings on h market.
1t permits of holding the more or less
perishable potatoes in a salable con-
diti0n over as long a period as is eco
nomically desirable. Storage also in
sures n more uniform market supply
throughout the season.
II is the late or main crop varieties
of spuds, intended for winter USE
which are stored, as the early or truck
crop potatoes are ordinarily disposed
of directly from the field as harvested.
Potato storages are practically OF all
types and descriptions, from primitive
shelters, such as caves or pits, up 10
rather elaborate, artifcially refriger-
ated storage houses. However. the
fundamental purpose OF the storage
house, be 1t simple OF elaborate, Is
to protect the spuds from extremes OF
cold and heat as well as from the
light, and under proper conditions OF
humidity and ventilation. Care must
he exercised not to keep the potatoes
together In large bulk where the V
opment of high temperature n de-
terioratlon will be favored.
Specialists of the United States De
partment of agriculture believe that a
temperature of about 10 degrees ran
renheit is generally low enough fol
practical potato storage, n that u
ing the earlier portion OF the storage
season the temperature of 40 degrees
Fahrenheit Is just as satisfactory ex'
cept where powdery dry rot Infection
occurs. The freezing Joint OF the po
tato is between % and 26 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Potatoes, when exposed to strong o.
~ -
even moderate light are soon injured
for food purposes, anu Oh 'n,' a..
count 1t is essential 10 eNc'uue VI,
light from the storage mousse h''lous
exposure to modified light, where tn
spuds are Kept cool anu wen u,r.", !"
not Injurious to tubers intended TO
seed potatoes.
Protect Potatoes Against Whiting.
There should be sufficient moisture
in the potato storage house to pre-
vent the willing of the tubers and a
the same time TO maintain a humidit!
content low enough to prevent a depos
II of moisture on the surface Of the pc
tatoes. One investigator suggests
humidity of from So to 90 per cent a
about correct for a potato storage room
temperature Of 80 to 80 degrees Fan
renheit. Generous provision for an
auate ventilation must be made. tn
yentilators or air fues being arrange'
So as to insure a rapid and even dis
tribution of air throughout the strut
ture.
II is a bad practice to store potf
toes In large bins or piles. Not infr'
ouently the tubers are heaped tn
depth of 10 or Is feet, the pile bein
correspondingly large in the other q
mansions. Such storage almost II
variably results In violeh, swearing :
curing In whicn the spuus a.,,
tral portion OF tne piie are n.I' Nv.
subjected 10 a oahseioue,s
p~erature' ms Is espec,an'
the tupers are snsh,'y mn,n, 90
were not dry ana free rom ino' =,
when gathered or II s'oreu wien ~
OUTSIDE teihperhture ""s nis"' a'aa
IL diincuit 10 lower 'ne "nsu.aat,n
allure OF the mouse SUN s'.',s,o
may be avoidea oy inserting W sm
walls at Intervals hrousno