1 82 GARDEN FARMING 



As is suggested in the illustration, the heads may be stored on the 

 shelves in single layers or in two-layer or three-layer depths. 



Precautions should be taken in all cases to provide an air space 

 between the outside wall of the building and the storage bins or 

 shelves. Such a dead-air space is necessary to prevent the pene- 

 tration of frost. If the walls are made of brick, two 4-inch walls 

 could be laid up and tied together by a header course so as to pro- 

 vide an air space 2 or 3 inches wide between them ; or a solid 9-inch 

 wall may be constructed, and by means of furring strips a tongue- 

 and-groove or a lath-and-plaster wall may be placed on the inside. 

 The roof, which should be provided with a suitable outer covering of 

 shingles, steel, or composition, should have an inner lining to give 

 a hollow space between the outer and the inner walls. If the inner 

 lining is made of lumber, the boards should run parallel with the 

 rafters, so that moisture will flow to the eaves instead of falling 

 from each joint, as would be the case if the boards were placed at 

 right angles to the rafters. Evaporation should be carried off by 

 ventilators along the ridge provided with dampers which can be 

 controlled by ropes extending to the passageways. Cold air from 

 the outside can be admitted through apertures in the foundation 

 made to receive large terra-cotta pipe which has wire netting over 

 the outer end and suitable dampers or shutters at the inside to 

 control the intake of cold air. 



The secret of success in the management of a storage warehouse 

 is to have disease-free, well-matured, firm, carefully handled stock 

 grown from high-grade seed and a storage house so constructed 

 that a temperature of about 34 F. can be maintained throughout 

 the whole storage period. This means that as soon as the house is 

 filled, it must be kept closed during the day and open as much as 

 possible during the night, so as to get the benefit of the low night 

 temperatures. Every possible advantage must be taken of the 

 frosty nights which occur during the storage period. 



Storage troubles are more often the result of careless handling 

 and bad ventilation than of diseases. Practically all the rotting 

 which takes place during storage is the result of saprophytic 

 organisms attacking heads which have been badly handled or have 

 become slightly diseased because of bad storage conditions. Poor 

 cultivation, bad harvesting methods, long hauls to storage, and 



