The Dolores star., 1920-11-05
Horticultural
Facts
STORAGE HOUSE FOR APPLES
Details Regarding Methods and Cost
OF Construction Given Out by
Bureau of Markets.


Many Inquiries regarding the con-
struction of storage houses for apples
are being received by the United States
department of Agriculture. The bu-
reau of markets has made careful
study of this subject, and drawings
nave been prepared showing the gen.
eral arrangement and essential details
lor the construction of common. or
ventilated storage houses. By writing
he bureau of markets apple growers
ana associations interested can secure
fuil details regarding methods and
costs of construction, the selection of
construction materials, and advice
with regard to the purchase of grading
and other machinery used in packing
houses usually constructed In cOnjunc-
ton with storage houses.
The failure of the common storage
houses built years ago was due to
faulty construction and insufficient
ventilation, state the bureaus experts.
The walls were rarely constructed
tight enough to keep out moisture and
rain, and the insulation was composed
of so-called dead air spaces" which
were inefficient or were of sawdust
which became wet and therefore use
less. The result was that in many
sections these houses fell into hsuse,
as the apples spoiled in them.
In the last two or three years, how,
ever, many growers have become in
terested in providing themselves with
efficient common storage houses con-
structed and operated to hold fruit in
good condition for several months.
This is particularly so in the Pacific
Northwest where the growers are or
ganiZed into associations and have
community packing and storage hous-
es. They are thereby enabled not only
to market the fruit4at convenient
time. but when marketing conditions
are favorable. Practically half the
apples stored in Washington and Idaho
for marketing in winter and early
spring, are held in common storage
houses. Indeed, say the bureaus eX-
perts, if it had not been for common
storage houses the apple growers in
the Northwest would never have been
able to keep pace with the increased
production during the past few years,
for it would have been financially i'm
possible for them to construct ad-
equate cold storage houses.
These advantages also obtain for the
individual grower who erects a stor-
IL, ie 70 or
that growers are often unable to get
sufficient help to grade and pack apples
during the regular harvesting season.
By being able to store fruit Immediate
ly, grading and packing can be done at
a later and more convenient time. An
of apples. which growers have come
to regard as essential to the keeping
qualities of the fruit. In the old days
apples were permitted to remain in
the orchards for weeks at time be-
fore storing; sometimes with disas-
trous results.
A cheapest form Of construction Of
ventilated storage houses in many sec
tions is the wooden type, according to
the bureaus marketing specialists.
The house recommended provides in
suation which has been found to give
the required degree of protection
against extremes of temperature. Wa
terproof paper is used to protect the
insulation from moisture. and virtually
forms an envelope around the contents
of the house. VentilatOrs are placed
so that air can be circulated through
every part of the structure, and pro-
vided with insulated doors that can be
tightly closed during the warm part
of the day and opened at night.