STORAGE OF FRUITS 



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inches higher than the height of the side walls will allow the form 

 boards to be laid crosswise of the cellar, springing the ends down and 

 securing them to the inside of the walls. An arch a few inches high 

 makes a strong roof and helps in ventilating the cellar. 



"The whole structure, with the exception of the portion occupied 

 by the door, is covered with earth to prevent freezing, the thickness 

 of the earth covering depending upon the geographical location. In 

 the colder sections of the country two or three feet is not too much. 

 In severely cold weather both the top and bottom air ducts must be 

 closed. It is well to cover the outside ends of the air inlets with woven 

 wire to prevent small animals from entering. 



STORAGE IN RANKS OR PITS 



"Outdoor banks or pits for Apples are constructed as follows: 

 A well-drained location should be chosen and the product piled on the 

 surface of the ground; or a shallow excavation made of suitable size 

 and six or eight inches deep, may be lined with straw, leaves, or similar 

 material on which the fruit is placed in a conical pile and covered with 

 straw or similar material and finally with earth to a depth of two or three 

 inches. As Winter approaches, the dirt covering should be increased 

 until it is several inches thick. The depth of the earth covering is 

 determined by the severity of the winters in the particular locality. 

 It is well to cover the pits with straw, corn fodder, or manure during 

 severely cold weather. 



Fig. 80. Cross section of concrete storage cellar, showing arrangement of 



ventilators, slat floors, and bins, with provision for the circulation of air 



under and around the slat floors and bins. This cellar is 10 feet wide and 



8 feet high, inside measurement 



