Show WINTER INTER STORAGE FUn POTATO CROP Properly Built Warehouse Holds Tubers at Right Temperature VENTILATION IS NECESSARY Losses Louea in Storage Can Be Largely Prevented Prevented Pre Pro vented by Proper Construction and Intelligent Management of Storage Houses By WILLIAM A. A RADFORD Mr William A. A Radford will answer questions and give advice FREE OF COST on all aU subjects pertaining to the subject of ot building work on the farm tann for tor forthe the tho re readers ders of this paper On account of his wide experience as all Editor Author and Manufacturer he ho Is without doubt the tho highest authority on all these subjects Address Address Address Ad Ad- dress all aU inquiries to William A A. Radford No 1827 Prairie avenue Chicago Ill and only two-cent two stamp for tor reply Potato growers in the northern section sec see tion of the country use different methods of storing their crops through the winter Some employ the old method of ot a n straw lined trench with witha a straw covering and earth thrown over It Others have built of timber or concrete underground storage eel eel- lars In some sections notably Maine wh where re huge crops of ot potatoes are grown the tubers are carried through winter or until such time as they are marketed market d In warehouses which are provided with artificial heat In view of ot these facts Investigators for the United States Department of Agriculture Agriculture ture say an Intensive study of the thel l subject has not been made and not much reliable data available The reason for this lack of Intensive intensive sive she study are given by William Stuart of ot the federal department in Farmers' Farmers Bulletin No on Potato Storage Storme the northern section of ot the country I where the principal Irish potato crops nr are arc grown there usually must be provision provision pro pro- vision for artificial heat beat as well as storing the the potatoes potatoes in a water-tight water building with Insulated outside walls It was with this Idea in mind hold mind holdIng hold hold- Ing hold an even temperature In tho the storage storage storage stor stor- age house that house that the building shown In Inthe Inthe inthe the accompanying Illustrations was de de- signed Also It will be noted from the section cross n and detail drawing of ot the exterior wall and from the th floor plan that good ventilation has haa been provided The warehouse use shown Is 18 24 feet wide and 40 feet long It Is constructed construct construct- ed of ot first class lumber such as as ma may maj maybe be secured at almost oil nIl lumber yards The foundation Is of concrete on which are arc set sills of Inch tImbers timbers tIm tIm- bers the floor line tIne being 3 feet above the ground The section cross of the building in the left of the drawing draw ing and the detail of ot wall construction construe construe- tion In the upper right hand corner show the materials used and the time method of construction It will be noted that the exterior walls of ot the building are ore covered with drop siding nailed to the Inch studs Ship-lap Ship sheathing is nailed to the Inside of the studs providing a 4 inch 4 air space between the interior and exterior walls This acts as an Insulation against heat and cold and also provides means for air tion A inch timber nailed to the inside wall provides nailing space for forthe forthe forthe the walls of the storage bins which are of crib siding permitting a I of air through the walls of If the time bins The floor of the building Is laid of Inch Inch matched flooring The Tile bull building ding provides space for seven seven seven- bins each ch 8 by 9 feet Inside measurement It is considered the best practice to extend the walls of the bins up only six feet to permit ease ase In filling and emptying and to provide plenty of air space above These dimensions give a capacity o of cubic feet Through the center of these bins bins- runs a vent shaft which is perforated r The shaft runs through and Storage Warehouses When p potatoes are p plentiful and relatively cheap says the bulletin little attention attention atten atten- tion Is given to such wastage wastage and loss as usually occur In storage In fact a n considerable loss was considered in In- evitable c With high prices and scarcIty scarcity scare scare- ity of ot supply the need need ot of conserving conserve ing lug the entire production for seed and food purposes Is of the utmost importance ImPortance Im Importance Im However It has been demonstrated the bulletin continues that losses In storage can be largely prevented by bythe bythe bythe the proper construction and Intelligent nt management of storage houses When It Is considered that potatoes are arc one of ot the most Important food crops In Inthe Inthe inthe the United States It is 15 sheer economic waste to fail to provide Iro proper means of or conserving the crop The primary object t of storage Is to hold potatoes which are more or less perishable in a condition throughout as long long a a period as may be economically desh desirable The main or orL L late te crop rop of ot potatoes Is Intended for winter use and must be bc stored stared the early or ur truck crop being disposed of direct from the field as 8 harvested The Tho factors provided b by the storage warehouse warehouse ware ware- house nt st be of such a i as asto asto asto to protect the potatoes from extremes of heat beat and cold colli and from the light ot Other er facts facts of less Importance ce perhaps per per- haps halls are aro humidity and und aeration and ami the he size of the time pile or bin In which the potatoes are stored Various notions are ure current regarding regarding regard regard- ing the best temperature at which to hold potatoes In storage The temperatures temperatures tem tem- which are generally recommended recommended mended are between 32 and 45 degrees degrees degrees de de- I grees Fahrenheit the freezing point of ot potatoes being between 26 20 and 28 degrees To hold bold this temperature lu In the ceiling to the attic space and to the roof ventilator With the draft drafta provided lo a by hy the air airspace space In the walls and aDd through the air shafts a circulation circulation circulation tion of air through the stored potatoes potatoes potatoes pota pota- toes Is assured The outside air vents In the concrete foundation may be opened or closed as the temperature of ot the house demands For lor use In extreme weather space at one side of the building Is provider for tor a heating plant the floor of the heater room being on a n level with the ground Flues from the heater are run to the space Simce under the time floor so that the warm aIr may be carried through the ventilators As stated In the beginning the success success suc sue cess of this building as a n storage warehouse ware ware- warehouse house for potatoes depends upon good materials and md construction and after aftertime the time potatoes are stored upon watchfulness watchfulness watch watch- to maintain an even low tem tern |