Part II.] STORAGE OF FAR.AI PRODUCTS. 143 



little above freezing point, and require considerable moisture to 

 prevent shriveling. Some long-keeping • varieties, such as 

 russets, keep well on the cellar floor. Many experiments have 

 been tried, such as wrapping apples in paper and packing them 

 in sand, sawdust or ground cork. In general, these experiments 

 have worked well, if the packing medium has been a little 

 moist. Too much moisture, however, causes the apples to 

 crack, if not to rot. One successful grower kept a stream of 

 water running through the storage room. Another was in the 

 habit of wetting the floor of his storage house, and even wetting 

 the barrels in which russets were stored, with a hose. Paper 

 wrappings are considered an advantage in packing several kinds 

 of fruit. They help to retain moisture and an even temperature, 

 and also prevent the spread of disease from one apple to the 

 other. No doubt directions regarding apples will be useful in 

 storing pears. Common storage of apples is treated quite fully 

 in Farmers' Bulletin 852, issued by the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture at Washington. 



Special Provision for Fruits and Vegetables in Cellar Storage. 



All natural light should be excluded from potato storage 

 houses, because when the tubers are exposed to even modified 

 light they are soon injured for food purposes. 



Immature potatoes cannot be successfully stored for any 

 considerable period even in the best of storage, and should 

 never be pitted or buried. 



Where potatoes or other roots are stored in quantity i^iey 

 may be piled directly on the cellar floor or upon a layer of 

 straw. In a cellar storage closet apples, potatoes and onions 

 should be placed near the floor or upon it. They may be kept 

 in boxes or barrels, above which shelves may be fixed on which 

 other vegetables and fruits may be stored. If squashes must 

 be kept in the cellar they should be placed near the ceiling, 

 where they will get the highest temperature and all the ventila- 

 tion possible. 



Storage of Canned Goods. 



The novice may not know that canned goods must not be ex- 

 posed to direct light. Canned fruit and vegetables in glass jars 

 should be wrapped in paper and kept in a dark, airy place. If 



