The Carlisle independent., 1920-11-04
STORE SWEET POTATOES WITH CARE TO GET GOOD RESULTS


 keeping of sweet potatoes, according to w. H. Laney, assistant agent in marketing, with the Agricultural EX- tension Division, University of Ar kansas. All bruised, skinned, cut di- seased and frost bitten potatoes should be culled out and only well graded, sound, smooth, clean potatoes put into the curing plant.
 Practical experience in the opera tion of sweet potato storage houses demonstrate that all that is necessary for efficiency is a building in which uniform temperature can be main- tained and constructed so as to per init free and natural circulation of air into and through the house equip ped with air vents and heating de vice, to control humidity and temper ature at all times. These results may be secured by using house with practically air tight double walls, floor, and ceiling, and provided with floor and ceiling vents of sufficient size and number to change the air in the room in a few minutes if neces- sary.
 These vents should be provided with air tight shutters to close the open ings when desired. False slated floors six to ten inches from the floor and an open aisle of at least 12 inches all around the room between the po- tatoes and the walls, for the free cir culation of air are necessary. The ceiling shold slope from the sides at least half way up the raFters and then across the top so as to help ere ate draft to take the warm, moist air out of the building. Wood, coal, O. gas stoves may be used to supply the heat necessary to maintain the re- quired temperature.
 A building may be found in the com munity convenient to a railroad switch which can be remodeled and arranged at a moderate cost to serve the pur- pose. If it is desired to construct a new curing plant, houses built accord ing to the plans developed by the Uni ted States Department of Agriculture are efficient and are recommended.
 It has been found advisable to build potato curing lants in units of not more than 5000 bushels caaeity each. The otatoes may be cured in bins holding from 50 to 200 bushels each but experience has demonstrated that better results can be obtained by using bushel containers. These con tainers can be filled in the field hauled to and stacked in the curing plant with only one handling of the potatoes. The circulation of air will be more complete and uniform through the potatoes when stacked in busheI containers than when piled in bulk in large bins.
 If several growers are to store in the same house they should by agree ment dig at the same time and promptly bring their potatoes to the plant in order that the house may be filled within a few days and closed for curing. The fires in the stoves should be started day or two before any potatoes are brought in, in or der to thoroughly dry out the house. While the house is being filled just enough fire should be maintained to dry out the dampness and to dry the surface of the potatoes as they are brought in.
 Thermometers should be placed so as to give the temperatures near the floor, in the top and in the corners of the building. At least two hygrom- eters should be used to show the hu- midity of the air on the inside and outside of the building. A tempera- ture of from so to S5 degrees should be maintained for a period of from 10 to 14 days to thoroughly cure the potatoes. As soon as the skin of the potatoes begins to feel leathery and hard to slip when rubbed with the fin ger, and sprouts begin to show, the heating should be stopped and the temperature should be maintained, as long as the potatoes are in storage. Cold waves may make it necessary to start the fires in the stoves to keep the temperature from 45 to 55 de- grees. It will be necessary occasion ally to open the doors and vents early in the morning to fill the room with cool air. and then close up to prevent the temperature from going too high during the warm spells of weather.
 The hygrometers should be watched both during and after the curing and when they show more than 70 degrees of humidity in the house the stoves, vents, etc must be manipulated so as to lower the humidity This may be done in dry, clear weather by simply opening ali vents, doors, and windows to let in abundance of dry, fresh air In damp weather when the air on the outside is saturated with moisture it may be wise to close the floor vents completely to prevent the entrance of saturated air and by starting a fire and manipulating the vents of hu- midity may be reduced below the dan ger point of 70 degrees. Air the house thoroughly by opening doors, windows and vents whenever the air outside is dry and not colder than 40 degrees nor warmer than 50 degrees.
 After the first years use the curing house should be thoroughly cleaned out and the floors, walls, ceilings, crates and bins thoroughly sprayed with a solution of Limestone, five pounds to 50 gallons of water, before any more potatoes are brought in for curing. This will destroy any disease germs that may have been left from the crop of the year before.
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