30 Experiment Station Bulletin 345 



that one of the major difficulties lay in cooling the potatoes after they 

 were put into storage as a result of warm days that often occur during 

 the harvesting period in the autumn. 



An attempt has been made to apply this work to farm storages as 

 well as to commercial storage houses since farm storages are more often 

 filled beyond their optimum capacity and because there are more farm 

 than commercial storages in New Hampshire. These farm storages are 

 used for potatoes even though there are no provisions made for proper 

 ventilation, quick cooling in the fall, or for keeping the temperature at 

 the proper storage point in the spring. Insulation to keep potatoes from 

 freezing during severe winters is often uncertain. 



It has been found that the proportional space above the potatoes is 

 not important in affecting weight losses or sprouting if a proper floor 

 is maintained under the potatoes or if sufficient alleyway is provided 

 around them to which a slatted floor is connected. Further improvement 

 can be made by connecting the space under the slatted floor with an in- 

 take through which cool, outside air can enter during the fall cooling 

 period. An air space under the floor is desirable. A slatted floor covering 

 the entire area is preferable to the flue type. Either one is better than 

 the ground itself to conserve the weight of the potatoes and prevent 

 sprouting. Quick fall cooling has been found to be more important than 

 any other factor in encouraging good keeping quality. 



Condensation of moisture on the ceiling of the building and on the 

 top layer of the potatoes, while it does not interfere with the keeping of 

 the potatoes, does detract from their salable value and reduces the length 

 of life of the building. This matter has been given some attention by 

 constructing a false ceiling and connecting the intervening air space with 

 the^ space under the slatted floor. This method helps remedy these 

 difficulties tremendously but further details need investigation to perfect 

 it. 



For a certain type of commercial storage prevalent in New Hamp- 

 shire, where machinery and equipment are stored in the unheated up- 

 stairs, it has been found that the openings used in filling the bins could 

 be fitted with a wooden flue and filled with hay to provide a safe passage 

 of moist air given off from the potatoes in the bin below throughout the 

 winter and at the same time to prevent a rush of cold air down into the 

 bin which might injure the potatoes. 



Severe freezing during the winter of 1933-34 caused much damage 

 to potatoes in New Hampshire storages. In many farm storages potatoes 

 start sprouting in December. The work in this project is attempting to 

 solve both these problems and to ensure better keeping quality in both 

 seed and table stock. A number of larger growers have already used the 

 results of this experiment in building or remodeling their storages, and 

 wider use will be made of the results when they are further perfected and 

 generally available. 



Some notes on this work have been published in the Journal of the 

 New Hampshire Horticultural Societv, Vol. 2 and Vol. 3. (O. R. 

 Butler, deceased, and P. T. Blood) 





