OCR Text |
Show Plant Karmone Used To Stop j Potato Spoilage i A way has been found to save future potato crops from sprout-iing sprout-iing and "sweetening" in storage, j conditions which threaten spoilage spoil-age of nearly 10 per cent of the large 1946 crop, it was disclosed here today. Agriculturel college experiments, experi-ments, conducted in cooperation with growers, indicate that plant hormone chemicals sprayed on tubers as they go into storage, 1 will forestall the damage done by changing temperatures in sheds, barns, pits and warehouses, ware-houses, j The new treatment, entirely i harmless to the food itself, is available .to farmers in all major l potato-growing areas. It promises prom-ises not only to prevent losses of market value which have always been particularly heavy in bumper years, but also to effect ef-fect a considerable saving for consumers. , ( Temperatures close to 40 de-I de-I grecs are considered ideal for potato storage. Heat induces sprouting, while at temperatures near freezing, the starch in potatoes po-tatoes begins to turn to sugar, producing an unsatisfactory taste and texture. Constant inspection in-spection is necessary to prevent the movement of such potatoes into consumer channels. Scientists report that only one gram of the hormone (methyl (me-thyl ester of alpha naphthalene- acetic acid), costing less than ! Iwo cents, is required to treat ja bushel of potatoes. For practical practi-cal purposes, it is usually mixed with some other material be-'forc be-'forc being applied. Shredded or confetti paper may be impregnated impreg-nated with a solution and then distributed over the potatoes, carrots, beets or other root crops in storage. A spray and dust have also been developed. The latter, as well as the paper method, are applied only to table stock and not to seed potatoes. po-tatoes. j While it is expected that the chemical will be widely used in 1947, consumers who want 1 to store quantities of this year's potatoes in their homes may apply the treatment themselves. |