The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-08-15

ment Of Agriculturel
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 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 the market.
1t 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 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 it 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-
terioration will be favored.
Specialists of tie United States de-
partment of agriculture believe that
temperature of about &c degrees Fab
renheit is generally low enough for
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-
cent 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
even moderate light are soon injured
for food purposes, and on TINS ac-
count II is essential to exclude the
light from the storage house, although
exposure to modified light, where the
spuds are kept cool and well alreo' Is
NOT Injurious tC tubers intended Tor
seed potatoes.
Protect Potatoes Against Whiting
Tbara should be sufficient moisture
in the potato storage house 10 pre-,
vent the whiting of the tubers ana al
+he same time to maintain humldilS
content low enough to prevent uepos
If of moisture on the surface OF the po
tatoes One investigator suggests
humidity of from So to 80 per cent a
about correct for a potato storage room
temperature of SO to 80 degrees ran
ronheit Generous provision for ade
ouate ventilation must be mace th'
yontilators or air flues being arranged
ca ne 70 insure rapid and even DIS
trihution of air throughout the -Struc
ture. o,+o
II is a bad practice to store pota
+oos IN large bins or piles. Not intre
ouently the tubers are heapeu 10
1entb Of 10 or 10 feet, the pile penn
correspondingly large in the other a.
mansions. Such storage almost III
yariably results in violent sweatllls :
curing, in which the spuds in the ce,
troll norton of the pile are frequent
subjected to dangerously high tei,
nerature. This is especially true !
The TIMERS are slightly immature o
were not dry and free from moist SUI
whom gathered, or if stored wheh u
outside temperature was high' iliahin
- dtfficult TO lower the inside temper
oture Of the house. SUCH oVerliet,'.ii
nav he avoided by inserting ulNlsiu
,roiIs at intervals throughout the pie
~ diyrsion walls may CONSIST o
NV A inch uprights, on the Z-ihc
60 Of which are nailed rs by INC
ass,ns ~ any desired length, ieaNla
i.inch space between eaeh stilL
, This nroyides ventilated partltiol
, ,rh,cb can be of any height ana lehgt
dos,rad By placing these IN an u
r,ght position to 6 feet apart a a.
Ne or storage house is being lile'
D ,,ont,lation will be secured an
m s eosy avenue of escape for Hofh he0
and moisture provided
Storage Adapted to Local Neeos,
, In considering the type OF s.o o,,,e
hest suited to the needs the grUwy
seouId bear in mind the temperat s,,,
ond rain or snow likely TO occur ~,
,na the storage period. the char Ga,,o,
and cost of the material IA n'' Grair
p he nature of the soil aGu st In%l :
age ace and the length Of n the success suUeas
T neriod. potatoes may be ,, sSeT yvit
s -o6S drainage and given sufficient ,ltr am