The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-08-22

Proper Potato Storage Protects the
and
prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture.l
Storing potatoes resembles banking
money, because ordinarily ii results in
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-
cumuIates interest. If all the pOta-
toes were sold Immediately after dig
ging the prices would decline, due to
the excessive offerings on the market.
It permits Of holding the more or less
perishable potatoes in a salable con-
dition over as long q period as is CO.
nomically desirable. Storage also in
surcS a more uniform market supply
throughout the season.
1t 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 to
rather elaborate, artificially refriger-
ated storage houses. However, the
fundamental purpose OF the storage
house, be it simple or elaborate, is
70 protect the spuds from extremes of
cold and heat as well as from the
light, and under proper conditions of
h0midity and ventilation. Care must
,e exercised not to keep the potatoes
together in large bulk where the devel-
opment Of high temperature and de-
terioratlOn will be favored.
Specialists Of the United States de-
temperature Of about SO degrees Fab
renheit Is generally low enough for
practical potato storage, and thai dur
ing the earlier portion of the storage
season the temperature Of 40 degrees
Fahrenheit is just as satisfactory ex-
ccpt where powdery dry rot infection
occurs. The freezing point of the po-
tatO is between % and 26 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Potatoes, when exposed TO strong or
for food purposes, and on this ac-
count it is essential to exclude the
light from the storage house, although
exposure TO modified light, where the
spuds are kept cool and well aired, is
not injurious 70 tubers intended for
seed potatoes.
Protect Potatoes Against Whiting.
There should be sufficient moisture
in the potato storage house to pre-
vent the whiting of the tubers and at
the same time to maintain a humidity
content low enough to prevent a depos-
il Of moisture on the surface of the pO-
tatoeS. One investigator suggests a
humidity Of from So to 90 per cent as
about correct for a potato storage room
temperature of 33 to 80 degrees Fab
renheit. Generous provision for ade-
quate ventilation must be made, the
ventilatOrs or air flues being arranged
50 as to insure a rapid and even dis
tribution Of air throughout the struc-
ture.
1t is q bad practice to store pOta-
toes in large bins or piles. Not infre-
quently the tubers are heaped to q
depth Of 10 or 10 feet, the pile being
cOrrespondingly large in the other di-
mansions. Such storage almost in
variably results in violent sweating or
curing, in which the spuds in the cen
trail portion Of the pile are frequently
subjected to 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 gathered, or If stored when the
temperature was high, making
it difficult to lower the inside temper:
Azure Of the house. Such Overheating
may be avoided by inserting division
walls at intervals throughout the pile.
The division walls may consist Of
2 by 4 inch uprights, on the pinch
Of which are nailed 70 by ) inch
strips Of any desired length, leaving
n 1-inch space between each strip.
This provides a ventilated partition,
which can be Of any height and length
desired. By placing these in an up
right position 5 to 6 feet apart as the
bin or storage house is being filled,
good ventilation will be secured and
easy avenue of escape for both heat
and moisture provided.
Storage Adapted to Local Needs.
In considering the type Of storage
best suited to the needs the grower
bear in mind the temperature
and rain or snow likely to occur dur
ng the storage period, the character
and cost Of the material involved,
he nature Of the soil and drain
age, and the length Of the storage
Potatoes may be success
July stored In pits If provided with
rood drainage and given sufficient COW
lrfng to inSulate them against extreme |