THE POTATO 



131 



Average farm, price of potatoes per bushel, monthly, 1908-9. 



crop is dug, or a few days thereafter, must be 

 stored in frost-proof buildings or pits. 



Potatoes grown in southern climates may be 

 stored in dark warehouses or in straw-covered piles 

 in the field. 



The normal losses in storage from October to May 

 amount to 5 to 12 per cent, of the total bulk. This 

 does not include losses due to disease or sorting. 



It has been estimated that of the total storage 

 loss 75 per cent, is due to loss of moisture and 25 

 per cent, to respiration. The potato tuber does 

 not die when taken from the ground and placed 

 in a cellar, but it lives by using some of the food 

 material stored up in its cells. The material used 

 is in the form of sugar, which a ferment forms 

 from starch. Respiration is practically stopped 

 when the tuber is frozen and the sweet taste of 

 frozen potatoes is due to accumulation of sugar. 



The important points to be considered in potato 

 storage are: ! :, \ 



C:'* < "r . -'-'./v -*" < r 



Conditions to keep a temperature as low as possible with- 

 out freezing; 



Conditions to keep the air as dry as possible, and a place 

 where potatoes may be kept dark. 



