%2 



thrown out, but sound potatoes that came in contact 

 with those already decayed were infected with spores. 

 Hence, rotting continued to a degree in the storage 

 house. 



This, with the uncompleted overhead ceiling, largely 

 accounts for the higher loss record for the first year. 

 During that season unfavorable weather conditions 

 prevailed after the digging season and the loss among 

 potatoes stored in banks was complete in many cases 

 ilu-ough the State. 



STORAGE TEMPERATURE 



At tlie end of the curing period the house was closed 

 tight. The temperature inside the house responded 

 slowly to the outside temperature and was usually be- 

 tween fifty and sixty Fahrenheit at Auburn. During 

 cold weather the temperature was not allowed to fall 

 below forty degrees Fahrenheit, a fire being built and 

 maintained as long as needed. At such times care was 

 taken not to raise the temperature above sixty-five de- 

 grees Fahrenheit. 



COMMENTS ON STORAGE RESULTS 



The potatoes stored at Auburn in banks as 

 a part of this experiment, were taken immed- 

 iately from the field and banked as practiced by farm- 

 ers near Auburn. Therefore, for that reason in 1914 

 the banked potatoes had an advantage in prompt hand- 

 ling over the house-stored potatoes. The records for 

 1915-1916 and 1916-1917 show a more accurate com- 

 parison between house and bank storage because the 

 house once completed was ready each year and pota- 

 toes were stored as soon as dug, and cured promptly. 



In addition to the work done at Auburn, Table II, 

 part 1, arrangements were made with three farmers 

 to cooperate on storing sweet potatoes in banks 

 and in houses. The results of these storage 

 tests are also shown in this table. 



Note the results of the experiment in cooperation 

 with Mrs. Bellamy, Table II, Part 2. In 1915-16 the 

 percent of loss in banks was a little more than double 

 that in the house, while in 1916-17 the loss in banks 

 was nearly eighteen times that in the house. The room 

 used by Mrs. Bellamy was one room of the servants' 

 cottage, without floor or ceiling ventilators. A grate 

 fire was used to secure heat for curing. The only loss 



