Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1919-08-22

a deposit or moisture on the surface
of the potatoes. One investigator
suggests humidity of from IS to 90
per cent as about correct for potato
storage room temperature of 33 de-
grees to 35 degrees F. Generous pro-
vision for adequate ventilation must
be made. the ventilators or air flues
being arranged so as to insure ra-
pid and even distribution of air
throughout the structure.
1t is bad practice to store potatoes
in large bins or piles. Not infrequent-
ly the tubers are heaped to depth
of 10 to Is feet, the pile being cor
respondingly large in the other di
mansions. Such storage almost in
variably results in violent sweating
or curing, in which the spuds in the
central portion Of the pile are fire.
quently subjected to dangerously
high temperature. This is especially
true if the tubers are slightly imma-
ture or where not dry and free from
moist soil when gathered, or if stor-
ed when the outside temperture WAS
high. making it difficult to lower the
inside temperature of The house Such
overheating may be avoided by insert.
ing division walls at intervals
throughout the pile. The division
walls may consist of by inch up
rights, on the Pinch fcce of which
are nailed 70 by inch strips of any
desired length, leaving a 1-inch space
between each strip. This provides a
ventilated partition, which can be of
any hight and length desired. BY
placing these in an upright position
s to 6 feet apart as the bin or stor
age house is being filed, good ventila-
ton will be secured and an easy
avenue of escape for both heat and
moisture provided.
Use Storage 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 dur
ing the storage period, the character
and cost of the material involved, the
nature of the soil and drainage, and
the length of the storage period. Po-
tatoes may be successfully stored in
pits if provided with good drainage
and given sufficient covering to in
sulate them against extreme heat and
cold. well-drained site being essen
tial. 1t is usually not advisable to
excavate more than 6 inches, max
| ing the pit long and narrow rather
than square in shape. 1t is inadvis-
able to store large bulk of potatoes
in one pit.
The potatoes are stored over light
layer of straw on the floor while the
pile is insulated against cold and
heat by covering the spuds with al
ternate layers of straw or hay and
soil. During the late fall: as the
weather grows colder, moro straw,
as well as more soil, should be added
| to form a protective overcoat for the
potatoes. Each layer of straw when
compacted should be approximately 0
inches thick. while the final layer of
soil should be 6 to s inches deep, de
pending upon weather conditions.
Ventilation may be provided by means
of wooden hue, the lower end of
which extends almost 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 il
may be closed entirely during very
cold weather.
A pit of this sort when we'll made
will provide perfect protection for the
potatoes until spring, the objection
to it being that the potatoes stored
therein are not always accessible dur
ing the winter.
In regions where rainfall is slight
dugout potato cellars are commonly
used, it not being necessary to pro
vide these buildings with water-tigh'
roofs. Usually the pit or "hog back, y
as it is called, is placed on short
narrow ridge of land which permits
easy approach and central driveway
into the pit at the grade line. 1t is
necessary TO brace such potatoes by
means of posts and plates in order tC
prevent cave-ins. Some of the pits
are more expensive and substantial
with the side and end walls made OF
concrete. Generally it is advisable tC
have the storage cellars or pits
equipped with some system of arti-
fetal lighting.
Central Driveway in Cellar
The storage cellar is usually pro
iyided with a driveway entrance and