134 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



COMMON STORAGE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



EDWARD HOWE FORBUSH. 



Introduction. 



The object of this circular is to furnish indispensable informa- 

 tion to many amateurs now engaged in producing a surplus of 

 vegetables and fruits for fall and winter use. 



In many towns almost every house has its garden; some are 

 mere patches of a few square feet, others combine the ordinary 

 garden with much of the back yard and even the lawn. Many 

 lawns have been plowed and planted to potatoes. Vegetable 

 seeds of all kinds have been sown, and in most cases the 

 plants are up and already flourishing. Extra care is being 

 taken to produce an unusual fruit crop. If these' efforts are 

 successful a great surplus of perishable products will be forth- 

 coming, the markets will be overcrowded, and unless suitable 

 storage facilities are provided, forthwith, a large part of the 

 food products raised will be wasted. On the other hand, if 

 these vegetables and fruits can be properly stored and cared 

 for, a much-needed addition to the food supply will be saved. 



Farmers may find the early markets overcrowded with perish- 

 able products, and many will need to better or enlarge their 

 storage facilities in order to preserve their supplies until the 

 time of need that is sure to come in view of the great demand 

 for all food products that will attend the continuance of the 

 war. Hence the publication of this circular will be timely. It 

 is designed to treat of common storage facilities that all can 

 utilize, and has no reference to cold storage where ice is used. 

 It does not touch upon canning, which has been treated of in 

 Circular No. 55, nor upon drying fruits and vegetables, which is 

 taken up in Farmers' Bulletin 841, issued by the United States 

 Department of Agriculture at Washington. 



