The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-09-04

ant
Prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF AgricultureD
Storing potatoes resembles banking
money. because ordinarily Il results II
the potatoes selling for higher price,
later In the season when the suppl,
Is not so abundant as at digging time
The potatoes earn dividends while II
storage just as money in the bank nc
cumulates interest. II all the pota
toes were sold Immediately after dig
ging the prices would decline. due tC
the excessive offerings on the market
1t permits Of holding the more or less
perishable potatoes I'm n salable con
dition over as long a period as is eco.
uomically desirable. Storage also in.
sures a ilore uniform market supply
throughout the season.
II 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
or 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 II 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 30 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 2S and 20 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Potatoes. when exposed TO strong or
even moderate light are soon injured
for food purposes, and on this 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 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 depos-
II of moisture on the surface OF the po-
tatoes. One investigator suggests n
humidity OF from S5 TO 90 per cent as
about correct for a potato storage room
temperature OF 33 to 85 degrees Fab.
renhelt. Generous provision for ade-
yentilators or air fiues being arranged
so as to insure rapid and even dis
trlbution of air throughout the struc-
ture.
1t Is n bad practice to store pota-
toes in large bins or piles. Not infre-
quently the tubers are heaped to
depth Of 10 or 15 feet, the pile being
correspondingly large in the other d.
menslons. S1ch storage almost In.
variably results In violent sweating or
curing, In which the spuds In the cen.
tral portion Of the pile are frequently
subjected TO a dangerously high tenn
perature. This is especially true II
the tubers nre slightly immature or
were not dry and free from moist soil
when gathered. or II stored when the
outside temperature was high, making
II difficult TO lower the inside temper
ature of the house. Such overheatlng
may be avoided by inserting division
walls at intervals throughout the pile.
The division walls may consist of
2 by inch uprights, on the Pinch
face of which are nailed H by inch
strips Of any desired length, leaving
1-inch space between each strip
This provides ventilated partition.
which can be OF any height and length
desired. BY placing these In an up
right position to O feet apart as the
bin or storage house is being filed,
good ventilation will be secured and
an 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 |
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 drain
age, and the length of the storage |
period. Potatoes may be success
fully stored In pits II provided with
good drainage and given sufficient COW
ering to ipsulate them against extreme