134 



THE POTATO 



1 



to store thousands of bushels of the world's crop. 

 The principal objection to these is the absence of 

 control over conditions during the coldest weather. 

 In zero weather they cannot safely be opened to 

 haul the crop to market, or for sorting if the tubers 

 are rotting. Heavy rains may cause damage to 

 pitted potatoes. A grower with one acre can af- 

 ford to have a ventilated storehouse, even if this 

 is only a well-covered underground cellar. 



Sorting potatoes that have started to rot from 

 freezing or disease requires a cellar that can be 

 lighted when desired. Careful growing to pre- 

 vent disease, and careful handling for the same 

 purpose, may cost a little more than slipshod 

 methods, but the probability of marketing a crop 

 without the expense and loss of rehandling rotten 

 potatoes warrants the expense. 



Ventilation devices, such as open partitions, may 

 be used to advantage when large quantities of 

 potatoes are stored in bulk. 



Sacked potatoes corded in piles keep well in a 

 good cellar, and when sprouts start in the spring 

 the growth of these may be checked by moving 

 the sacks. A bruised sprout dies. 



When the floor is of dirt, it is well to use some 

 sort of material, preferably strips of wood, be- 

 tween the dirt and the potatoes, to prevent rot. 



It is important that potatoes be free from dirt 

 when taken from the field to the cellar. Dirty 

 potatoes do not keep well, because of the dirt that 

 adheres to the individual tubers, and that which 

 falls oflP and fills up the air spaces between the 

 potatoes, preventing free ventilation. 



A very satisfactory place to build a cellar is on 

 a knoll, thus insuring perfect water drainage and 

 a good circulation of air. 



