Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-08-21

ana 1
prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.l
Storing potatoes resembles banking
money, because ordinarily it 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 carr dividends while in
storage just as money in the bank ac-
cumulates interest. If all the pota-
toes were sold Immediately after dig
cling 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 a period as is eco
nomically desirable. Storage also in
sures 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, artifcially refriger-
| ated storage houses. However, the
fundamental purpose of the storage
house, be 1t simple or 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
be exercised not to keep the potatoes
together in large bulk where the devel-
opment of high temperature and de-
t~erioration will be favored.
Specialists of the United States de-
partment of agriculture believe that a
temperature of about 36 degrees Fab
renheit Is generally low enough fol
practical potato storage, and that dur
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 point of the pc
tato is between % and 26 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Potatoes, when exposed to strong o.
even moderate light are soon injured
for food purposes, and on his &C
count it is essential to exclude tn
light from the storage house, although
exposure to modified light, where tn
spuds are kept cool and well aired, l
not Injurious to tubers intended TO
seed potatoes.
Protect Potatoes Against Whiting.
There should be sufficient moistur
In the potato storage house to pre-
vent the whiting of the tubers n a
the same time to maintain a humidit
content low enough to prevent a depos
| il of moisture on the surface of the pr
tatoes. One investigator suggests
humidity of from So to 80 per cent a
about correct for a potato storage roo
Y temperature of SO to 80 degrees Fal
5 renheit. Generous provision for adj
ouate ventilation must be made, tn
e yentilators or air hues being arrange
so as to insure a rapid and ever oil
q tribution of air throughout the stru
ture.
e It is a bad practice to store pot
toes In large bins or plies. Not ln1r
v ouently the tubers are heaped TO
a depth of 10 or Is feet, the pile belr
+" correspondingly large in the other
= mansions. Such storage almost
yariably results In violent sweating
l. curing, in which the spuds in the &c
= trail portion of the pile are frequent
subjected to a dangerously high tel
g perature. This is especially true
v the tubers are slightly immature
were not dry and free from moist 81
when gathered, or if stored when I
outside temperature was high, MAXI
1t difficult to lower the inside tempe
AZURE Of the house. Such overheatr
|. may be avoided by inserting diyisi
walls at intervals throughout the pi
The division walls may consist
2 by A inch uprights, on the Pin
ID face Of which are nailed 70 by . in
~ strips of any desired length, leavi
a Inch space between each str
is This provides a ventilated partiti'
IA which can be Of any height and lent
II desired. BY placing these in an
e. right position 5 to 6 feet apart as
OF bin or storage house is being fill
ID good ventilation will be secured q
an easy avenue Of escape for both h
- and moisture provided.
IN Storage Adapted to Local Needs.
O. In considering the type OF stor'
best suited to the needs the groN
to should bear in mind the temperat
nd and rain or snow likely to occur 9
ing the storage period, the charaC
in and cost Of the material involN
the nature OF the soil and dr.
ne age, and the length Of the stor
period. Potatoes may be Bucc'
of fully stored in pits IL provided Y
by good drainage and given sufficient
sring to insulate them against extr'