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Show STORED APPLES IN BIG NEED OF AIR "Apples stored In common cellars can be expected to keep well only when ample ventilation and humidity are maintained," says A. Freeman Mason, extension fruit specialist at the New Jersey State College of Agriculture. Agri-culture. The gases given off by the ripening fruit in such a storehouse must be removed or scalding will develop de-velop and the fruit will rot quickly. If the house ls allowed to become too dry, shriveling will occur, with consequent con-sequent loss in market value and bulk. When the ventilation and humidity hu-midity factors are properly cared for, such apples as Stayman, Delicious, and Baldwin can he kept well through the holidays, and the late winter sorts, such as Home Beauty, Ben Davis, Paragon, Winesap, and Stark, can be held until February or March without with-out much loss. One square foot of ventilation area to 100 cubic feet of storage house capacity is now advised for a common com-mon storage. This Is best secured by having a very large doorway In each end of the cellar, through which a strong draught of air can move. Large ventilators in the corners will prevent dead air pockets from forming there. The best common storages have false floors raised up a foot or eighteen inches from the ground, with large cracks between the floor boards, thus allowing for a free movement of air underneath the fruit. The doorways and ventilators should be opened night and clay in the fall, except when outside out-side 1 temperatures are higher than those within the storehouse. Humidity will be maintained naturally nat-urally if the storage has an earth floor, or if it is located in a damp place where the walls sweat. If a concrete con-crete floor has been used, however, it may have to be dampened every day or so. Burlap sheets suspended with the ends in tubs of water will also add to the humidity In the house. Any sign of shriveling of the apples Is a sure indication that the humidity ls insufficient. In some houses having false floors, water Is run upon the lower floor, thus maintaining a high humidity. This Is especially desirable In houses with concrete floors. |
