LESSONS ON POTATOES FOR 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. 
Class 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 — (a) product well matured, (b) 
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? What 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? What quantity of potatoes is commonly stored 
there? What 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 
