244 Practical Farming 



Keeping In the Middle and Northern States the 



Potatoes in oreneral place for storinsr potatoes is in the 

 Winter ^ „ ^ , „ J •, n- , 



cellar. In the cellar of a dweUing, where 



the heating is done by the modem furnace, there 

 will be no proper place for potatoes, since total 

 darkness and a cool atmosphere are essential. The 

 potato cellar should be either under the bam or some 

 other outbuilding, or a structure to itself. It should be 

 totally dark and at the same time have means for ventila- 

 tion. Few reaUze that the temperature at which water 

 freezes will do no harm to potatoes. In fact, they will 

 keep a great deal better where a temperature just above 

 thirty-two degrees is maintained. The cellar should be 

 provided with slatted shelves so that the potatoes may be 

 placed not over two feet in depth. After they are first 

 stored there will always be some sweating of the tubers, 

 and while the weather is mild there should be free ventila- 

 tion without admitting Hght. Where it is practicable it 

 is well to admit air to the cellar through underground 

 terra-cotta pipes, and to have a ventilator overhead also. 

 After the first sweating process is over it will be found 

 that there is some sUght rotting and the potatoes should 

 be overhauled and all decayed ones removed. Plaster or 

 air-slaked lime scattered among them at this time will be 

 an advantage. 



After this during all nights when the outer temperature 

 is about, at, or shghtly above freezing, keep all the under- 

 ground and overhead ventilators open, but close up at 

 once as the sun rises in the morning, always excluding 

 light and day time air. By following this practice you 

 will find that the temperature of the cellar will always 





