Potato Culture in Colorado 
33 
STORAGE 
Every potato grower should have farm storage for his 
crop. The lack of proper storage often compels the grower 
his crop. The lack of proper storage often compels the grower 
to market his crop at a harvest time when there is a glut in the 
market, and when transportation facilities are difficult to obtain. 
Potatoes marketed direct from the field are, as a rule, poorly 
graded and of inferior keeping qualities. Proper storage permits 
of proper grading and the work can be distributed over a longer 
period of time. Storing facilities also permit a more even distri¬ 
bution of the crop. 
A battery of adobe potato storage—an ideal storage for the San Luis 
Valley 
The kind of farm storage depends upon the growers’ location 
with reference to building materials, topography, and water table. 
The common type of storage in Colorado is the half-underground 
cellar, usually constructed of round timber and poles. It is a 
cheap storage when timber can be obtained from the forest reserve, 
and ordinary farm labor is used. In many sections, the natural 
soil is used for side walls with post for roof support. The two 
ends may be made of planks or cement. Where conditions permit, 
the hill-side cellar properly constructed is ideal, as the drainage 
is generally perfect, and the cellar itself is better protected 
against cold. 
In San Luis Valley, where the water table is close to the 
surface, adobe cellars are largely used. These are built entirely 
