The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-04-29

will do much toward diminishing
many of the dangers due to rough
handling.
Under no consideration should bags
be used to gather the crop. When
bags are used the potatoes generally
are damaged, thus defeating every at
tempt at successful storage. ! Some
varieties are more susceptible to
bruising than others.
In experimental work carried on
with regard to this particular prob
lem it has been found that in every
case storage rotting has been increas-
ed where skinned and bruised potatoes
were in the test. Potatoes that were
handled carefully and which have not
been damaged in handling had an al
most imperceptible per centage OF
rot.
When potatoes are freshly dug they
contain a maximum amount of water,
which is driven off as the POTATOES are
cured. However, if they are placed
in storage and this excess moisture
which is given off is allowed to col
leet on them again they will surely be
a dead loss to the owner. To keep
them successfully they mnst be pro-
per condition of dryness. This IS ac-
eemplished bu means of ventilation
and heat; IN some cases ny ventilation
alone. The bank method depends on
ventilation alone. This method IS
very uncertain. Some years ana per
haps for a series of years the tarE
method will prove 20 be disastrous as
far as storing potatoes is concerned.
The reason for this apparent uncer-
tainty is that the moisture givei- ots
by the potatoes has NOT been driven
off and has been allowed tc collect
inside the bank. The potatoes will
90 through "sweat," that IS they
will heat and give off moisture. The
moisture will condense and collect on
the outside of the potatoes causing
the inside of the bank to be wet ana
thus furnishing good medium for
the spread of storage rot.
A further essential to be taken into
is the maintaining OF
even temperature after the potato has
been cured, i. e., .tgone through the
sweat" This is difficult to do with
the bank method, especially during a
hard winter when cold can penetrate
the earth bank and chill the potatoes.
Once they are chilled they are lost,
fer there are very few crops. that are
sse easily hart by chilling as the sweet
potato. 49,, -.
~ Storage hauses recommended y
kha federal government aud the state
of agric11!I rc cs.e .'ng
sirce passed the exp,"i ne tai stage:
Phey are a success and arS. # use on
hundreds of farms and N many SCI
tions large houses have been erected,
by growers cooperating, CT by mer-.
chants or dealers who are buying up
potatoes in the neighborhood or stor-
ing for neighborhood growers at reg
ular scale of storage rates.
Simple Plans Without Cost
Simple plans for storage houses
houses upon years of careful trial by
the department of agriculture are
available without cost to those who IN
tend to build, while it is stated that
IN some cases abandoned tenant hous-
es or other buildings may be convert
ed into successful storage houses
Plans for storage houses can be Sc
cured through county agents or by
writing to the state agricultural col
leges or the U. S. department OF ag-
riculture, Washington, D. c.
If further information is desired
write to the Division of Publ
cations, U. S. Department Of Agrl-
culture, Washington, D. c., for Far
Bulletin s7o, or address the
undersigned. :
C. A. Cardwell,
A Aericultdral & Industrial Agent, At
-. Da:l.aol 90