362 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



Ventilation may be provided by putting in wooden flues that extend from 

 near the bottom of the pit to well above the covering of the pit. In freezing 

 weather, the top openings of the ventilators must be closed. 



During the first few weeks of the storage, while the weather is mild, the 

 potatoes should be covered with a layer of straw and only sufficient soil to 

 exclude the light and frost. As the weather grows colder more soil should be 

 added. Before freezing weather occurs an additional heavy layer of straw 

 and another layer of soil should be added. Each layer of straw should be 

 well packed and should be 8 inches or more thick. Each layer of soil should 

 be from 6 to 8 inches deep. After the outer layer of soil has frozen the entire 

 pit may be covered with a layer of coarse stable manure. 



Fig. 21. Cross section of a potato pit. (U. S. D. A. Farmers Bui. S47.) 



