Common Stokage 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. 



At this moment (June 25, 1917) innumerable small gardens 

 exist in Massachusetts. 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 forthcoming, 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. 



