LESSONS ON POTATOES FOE RURAL. SCHOOLS. 9 



LESSON IV. 



Subject. — Winter storage. 



Problem. — The preservation of the potato crop during the winter 

 so that it may be available either for market or home use. 



Sources of information. — Farmers' Bulletins 847 and 879 ; bulletins 

 and circulars from State college of agriculture; articles in farm 

 papers. 



Illustrative material. — Clip from farm journals pictures showing 

 various types of storage and mount these for class use. From bul- 

 letins and farm papers enlarge drawings of pit storage ; show a 

 cross and a vertical section. Do the same for a storage house, show- 

 ing floor plans and vertical sections, giving arrangement of bins and 

 shelves. If possible, secure photographs of community-storage 

 houses and mount them for classroom use. Construct charts show- 

 ing the advantages of storing products and the essential factors of 

 storage. Small models of wooden storage houses may be constructed 

 by the members of the class. 



Cla^s exercise. — The following topics should be discussed with the 

 class : 



1. Importance of storage. 



2. Object of storage — economy, holding a more or less perishable 

 product in a salable condition as long as possible, providing for a 

 uniform market supply. 



3. Essential factors in storage — («•) product well matured, (&) 

 careful handling, avoid bruising, {c) uniform temperature after stor- 

 ing, {d) the moisture content of the air, (e) exclusion of light. 



4. Types of potato storage — {a) in basement of house; storage 

 rooms constructed in cellars, plans, ventilation, containers, {b) out- 

 side storage caves or cellars; advantages, location, construction; 

 storage construction in mild regions, storage construction in regions 

 of severe freezes, concrete storage cellars, advantages, site, construc- 

 tion, {c) storage in banks or pits; location, how constructed, ventila- 

 tion, advantages, disadvantages, {d) community storage house; plans, 

 construction, how conducted, advantages. 



Practical exercises. — Make a study of the farm practice generally 

 observed in storing potatoes. What method of storage is most com- 

 mon? What other method might be more effective? Wliat is the 

 purpose of storing potatoes, for the home or for the market ? Is there 

 community potato storage in the district? How is it constructed? 

 How managed? "V\'Tiat quantity of potatoes is commonly stored 

 there? T\T^iat is the cost of storage? How well is it patronized? 

 Does it seem to be successful ? If possible, visit with the class a farm 

 where potatoes are being stored and note the methods used in prepa- 

 ration for storing and the methods used in storing. Note the con- 

 struction of any storage houses that may be visited in the district. 

 105900°— Bull. 784—19 2 



