Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-08-14

and
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculturel
Storing potatoes resembles banking
money, because ordinarily II 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 &C
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 u salable con-
dition over as long a period as 10 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 or all
types and descriptions. from primitive
shelters. such as caves or pits, up 10
rather elaborate, artificially 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-
terioration will be favored.
Specialists of the United States de-
partment of agriculture believe that
temperature of about 80 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-
cept where powdery dry rot infection
occurs. The freezing point of the po-
tato is between % and 90 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Potatoes, when exposed to strong or
even moderate light are soon injured
for food purposes, and on this ac-
count 1t 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 to 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-
1t of moisture ON the surface of the po-
tatoes. One Investigator suggests
humidity of from 50 to 80 per cent as
about correct for potato storage room
temperature of SO to 35 degrees Fab
i renheit. Generous provision for ade-
quate ventilation must be made, the
ventilators or air fiues being arranged
so as to insure rapid and even dis
tribution of air throughout the struc-
ture.
| 1t Is a bad practice to store pota-
toes In large bins or piles. Not lnfre-
quently the tubers are heaped to a
| depth Of 10 or Is feet, the pile being
CORRESPONDENCE large in the other al
mansions. Such storage almost III
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 II
the tubers are slightly immature or
we're not dry and free from moist soil
when gathered, or If stored when the
| outside temperature was high, making
it difficult to lower the inside temper
AZURE Of the house. Such overheatine
may be avoided by inserting division
walls at intervals throughout the pile
The division walls may consist OF
2 by inch uprights. on the Linen
face of which are nailed % by 5 inch
strips of any desired length, leaving
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 to 6 feet apart as the
bin or storage house is being filled
good ventilation will be secured anc
an easy avenue of escape for both heal
and moisture provided.
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 our
ing the storage period, the character
and cost of the material involved
the nature of the soil and drain
age, and the length of the storag'
period. Potatoes may be success
fully stored In pits if provided VIII
| good drainage and given sufficient GOV
airing to insulate then against extreme