The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-05-06
THE BARREL METHOD
FOR TREATING SEED
POTATOES OUTLINED
Detail Explanation Given as to
Equipment, Treating, Selec-
ton and Precautions
By A. w, AamOdt.

The following method for treat
ing seed potatoes with corrosive sub
Innate commercially is recommend
ed for use where the growers are
planting from two to 20 acres. If
the acreage is larger than 2, acres it
would be advisable to secure a tank
that will hold large amount of po-
tatoes at one time.
By the following method and with
only one barrel, a person can, treat
from rs to 80 bushels with one solu-
ton. If four or five barrels are used
one man can treat 100 to $50 bushels
Of potatoes in day. 1t will require
six ounces Of corrosive sublimate for
each barrel used and this amount,
will treat six patches of potatoes. A
|52-gallon barrel will hold from4A to
AZ bushels of potatoes, so with the
six patches one can treat about II
bushels, enough for planting IN to.
21a acres of potatoes.
Equipment.
IA platform from two to three
feet high.
2.-2 52-gallon barrel with a hole
bored near the bottom and fitted with
pine plug. Set barrel upon TIE
platform.
"A half-barrel or tub which
will hold at least 30 gallons Of liquid.
Mark the height of the 80 gallons
of solution so as to eliminate measur-
ing when making the other sofH lions.
A wooden pail to dip the liquid
from the tub.
0f 0nr l..
mate.
Making the Solution
Pour two gallons Of hot water into
the tub and add four ounces of the
corrosive sublimate. Stir thoroughly
until the corrosive Sublimate has all
dissolved, then add enough cold wa
ter to make total of 81 gallons Of
solution.
TREATING
1.Fill the barrel with screened po-
tatoes, as dirty potatoes waste the
solution and also weaken it.
Add enough of the solution
from the tub to cover the potatoes.
It will require about % gallons.
About 1 gallon will be lost with each
batch treated.
3.-The tubers should soak in this
solution for ~ hours. Then pull
the plug and let the solution drain
into the tub.
4.-The potatoes should be remov-
ed from the barrel and spread out to
dry. A good method would be to
have a low wagon next to the plat
form so that the potatoes could be
dumped into the wagon box and then
spread out.
Silk patches can be treated in
this way, after which the solution
should be thrown away. These six
Cbatches can easily be run through in
a. day and there will be just about
enough potatoes to plant IN to ~
acres. e..
:! II one desires to treat only enough
potatoes for one acre, the same direc-
lions as above should be followed. ex-
cept that the proportions should be
cut in half.
Renewing the Solution.
The solution decreases in strength
with use, so that it will be necessary
to add two more ounces Of the cor
lrosive sublimate. This can be done
while the third batch is soaking.
Pour two gallons of hot water into
the pail, add two ounces of corros-
sive sublimate, and stir until dissolv-
ed. Pour this solution into the tub.
It will mix with the solution that
drains from the third batch so that
the 18th, 9Th and sixth patches will
be renewed. ::
Caution and Precautions. -
Corrosive sublimate is q poison: 1t
is colorless, tasteless and odorlees,
and is sold in either a crystal or a
powdered form.
Keep all livestock away from the
Treating equipment and the solution.
It does not injure the hande 50