This section is from the book "The Potato: A Compilation of Information from Every Available Source", by Eugene H. Grubb, W. S. Guilford. Also available from Amazon: The Potato: A Compilation Of Information From Every Available Source.
Does it pay to store potatoes or sell direct from the field to the dealer, and if storage pays what sort of structure is best?
The answer to the first must be made by the individual grower. The element of chance enters very largely into this problem, to a greater degree, perhaps, than with any other farm crop.
Statistics show that this statement is true - viz., that the farmer who has favorable conditions for potato growing and can practise a good rotation, who will grow the same acreage of potatoes each year for ten years, selling half at digging time and storing the balance, will show a nice annual profit on his ten years' operations.
To say that prices will be good this year or next, or that it will pay to sell or store this fall or any later single fall, is simply making a guess.
The Government reports showing acreage and condition of crop during the season and a comparison with other seasons give some idea of what to expect. In addition to this the grower should know what other districts besides his own are in position to compete with him in his natural markets, and the condition of their crop is another fact on which to base his guess. Figuring the average production in the United States at about ninety bushels per acre, the per capita consumption four bushels, and the population of the country at 90,000,000 - 360 million bushels, or over three million acres, are required to meet the demands. When the acreage is short or the per acre yield low, the price will be high. In the appendix is given a table showing averages. These facts are interesting in this connection.
Table of Chicago prices, per bushel, follows:
Year | December | May of following year | ||
« | Low | High | Low | High |
1886................... | .... 44 | 47 | 65 | 90 |
1887................... | .... 70 | 83 | 65 | 85 |
1888................... | .... 30 | 37 | 24 | 45 |
1889................... | .... 33 | 45 | 30 | 60 |
1890................... | .... 82 | 93 | 95 | 110 |
1891................... | .... 30 | 40 | 30 | 50 |
1892................... | .... 60 | 72 | 70 | 98 |
1893................... | .... 51 | 60 | 64 | 88 |
1894................... | .... 43 | 58 | 40 | 70 |
1895................... | .... 18 | 24 | 10 | 23 |
1896................... | .... 18 | 26 | 19 | 26 |
1897................... | .... 50 | 62 | 60 | 87 |
1898................... | ___ 30 | 36 | 33 | 52 |
1899................... | .... 35 | 46 | 27 | 39 |
1900................... | ___ 40 | 48 | 35 | 60 |
1901................... | .... 75 | 82 | 58 | 100 |
1902................... | .... 42 | 48 | 42 | 60 |
1903................... | .... 60 | 66 | 95 | 116 |
1904................... | .... 32 | 38 | 20 | 25 |
1905................... | .... 55 | 66 | 48 | 73 |
1906................... | ___ 40 | 43 | 55 | 75 |
1907................... | ___ 46 | 58 | 50 | 80 |
1908................... | .... 60 | 77 | 70 | 150 |
1909................... | 20 | 58 | • • | • • • |
Various other price statistics are shown in the tables.
A large part of the potatoes of the world grow in countries of freezing temperatures, and whether stored by the farmer or by the dealer, that part of the crop which is not consumed before the main crop is dug, or a few days thereafter, must be stored in frost-proof buildings or pits.
Average farm price of potatoes per bushel in the United States.
Price December 1, by decades. | Price December 1, by years. | Price bimonthly, 1909. | |||||||||||||||||
State, Territory, or Division. | 1866-1875. | 1876-1885. | 1886-1895. | 1896-1905.. | 1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | Feb.1 | Apr.1 | June,1 | Aug..1 | Oct.1 | Dec.1 |
Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | Cts. | |
Maine............. | 50 | 55 | 65 | 66 | 49 | 67 | 65 | 56 | 48 | 61 | 50 | 66 | 61 | 64 | 7! | 85 | Hi | 50 | 47 |
N. Hampshire.. | 51 | 56 | 58 | 63 | 53 | 79 | 6S | 65 | 56 | 72 | 60 | 67 | 73 | 77 | 8C | 90 | 92 | ! 71 | 64 |
Vermont........... | 39 | 60 | 49 | 52 | 40 | 64 | 58 | 60 | 47 | 71 | 66 | 63 | 67 | 72 | 77 | 97 | {X | 54 | 44 |
Massachusetts.. | 65 | 70 | 69 | 73 | 66 | 90 | 81 | 71 | 71 | 84 | 65 | 84 | 85 | 92 | 99 | 110 | 107 | 84 | 79 |
Rhode Island... | 70 | 74 | 7C | 75 | 70 | 93 | 75 | 82 | 76 | 89 | 8C | 93 | 86 | 96 | 99 | 103 | 104 | 78 | 81 |
Connecticut.... | 67 | 72 | 67 | 72 | 70 | 94 | 73 | 78 | 72 | 91 | 72 | 77 | 90 | 90 | 97 | 105 | 104 | ! 85 | 83 |
New York...... | 50 | 54 | 49 | 54 | 45 | 71 | 59 | 56 | 54 | 70 | 49 | 57 | 75 | 77 | 83 | 89 | 85 | 65 | 60 |
New Jersey........... | 68 | 70 | 61 | 64 | 60 | 86 | 61 | 69 | 61 | 75 | 66 | 74 | 89 | 86 | 95 | 101 | 9( | 85 | 82 |
Pennsylvania... | 59 | 56 | 54 | 56 | 63 | 76 | 57 | 62 | 54 | 66 | 57 | 67 | 80 | 80 | 88 | i 96 | 95 | > 76 | 65 |
N. Atlantic... | 53.6 | 56.6 | 53.3 | 56.7 | 49.9 | 73.6 | 61.4 | 59.6 | 64.5 | 68.6 | 53.8t | 62.3 | 73.7 | 75.4 | 82.8 | 91.4 | 89.] | L 65.3 | 56.2 |
Delaware....... | 67 | 64 | 64 | 58 | 60 | 78 | 51 | 66 | 63 | 59 | 59 | 66 | 83 | 80 | 83 | . 90 | 7i | 70 | 72 |
Maryland......... | 66 | 63 | 53 | 55 | 54 | 77 | 52 | 60 | 51 | 58 | 56 | 60 | 74 | 76 | 87 | 94 | 69 | » 70 | 66 |
Virginia........ | 56 | 57 | 53 | 58 | 59 | 74 | 58 | 64 | 65 | 56 | 67 | 68 | 72 | 75 | 89 | 93 | 72 | ! 73 | 70 |
West Virginia.. | 56 | 62 | 65 | 57 | 61 | 86 | 61 | 66 | 64 | 58 | 61 | 80 | 85 | 89 | 97 | 103 | 8( | 68 | 68 |
North Carolina. | 60 | 65 | 60 | 65 | 65 | 72 | 67 | 74 | 70 | 68 | 74 | 78 | 77 | 70 | 103 | 97 | 79 | ) 80 | 81 |
South Carolina. | 94 | 80 | 81 | 99 | 100 | 110 | 96 | 104 | 101 | 103 | 104 | 110 | 110 | V3 | 129 | 125 | l16 | 118 | 115 |
Georgia.......... | 99 | 90 | 84 | 91 | 77 | 106 | 90 | 94 | 107 | 112 | 110 | 100 | 110 | 70 | 121 | 118 | 110 | ) 107 | 100 |
Florida......... | 113 | 90 | 92 | 118 | 106 | 129 | 122 | 126 | 129 | 120 | 110 | 95 | 135 | 100 | 12t | 147 | 12i | > 127 | 120 |
South Atlantic.......... | 62.6 | 60.5 | 57.3 | 63.7 | 59.2 | 81.2 | 60.7 | 69.9 | 62.0 | 64.5 | 69.0 | 73.7 | 81.6 | 77.6 | 96.6 | 99.9 | 79.6 | 78.0 | 75.1 |
Ohio..-..;...... | 60 | 53 | 64 | 51 | 40 | 85 | 44 | 61 | 47 | 63 | 48 | 68 | 77 | 80 | 92 | 103 | 81 | 62 | 66 |
Indiana.....,.. | 58 | 60 | 56 | 51 | 38 | 90 | 41 | 66 | 45 | 58 | 5' | 65 | 84 | 86 | 10C | 112 | 74 | 60 | 52 |
Illinois.,.....:. | 60 | 52 | 58 | 64 | 41 | 93 | 42 | 72 | 47 | 67 | 62 | 72 | 83 | 85 | 106 | 120 | 76 | 68 | 61 |
Michigan.......... | 50 | 45 | 42 | 39 | 26 | 68 | 41 | 49 | 29 | 56 | 34 | 45 | 58 | 61 | 71 | 80 | 76 | • 48 | 35 |
Wisconsin........ | 49 | 42 | 44 | 38 | 28 | 67 | 33 | 58 | 28 | 62 | 3C | 45 | 60 | 64 | 76 | > 86 | 8( | 47 | 38 |
N. C. E. of Miss. River. | 55.8 | 48.7 | 50.5 | 44.1 | 33.9 | 73.5 | 39.1 | 58.7 | 35.5 | 61.1 | 41.9 | 54.5 | 67.6 | 70.6 | 83.2 | 94.1 | 77.9 | 154.0 | 44.4 |
Minnesota......... | 49 | 36 | 39 | 37 | 30 | 67 | 31 | 61 | 29 | 50 | 37 | 41 | 66 | 60 | 71 | 85 | 68 | 36 | 35 |
Iowa.............. | 45 | 44 | 48 | 44 | 37 | 94 | 34 | 75 | 28 | 49 | 4i | 55 | 60 | 6i | 82 | 100 | 8i | 69 | 55 |
Missouri........ | 57 | 48 | 49 | 63 | 35 | 106 | 36 | 76 | 48 | 66 | 57 | 72 | 74 | 80 | 96 | 105 | 67 | 70 | 67 |
North Dakota....... | 40 | 36 | 49 | 49 | 33 | 48 | 32 | 38 | 46 | 62 | 56 | 60 | 74 | 90 | 81 | 45 | 45 | ||
South Dakota....... | 49 | 39 | 3d | 86 | 44 | 54 | 30 | 38 | 36 | 60 | 51 | 57 | 6' | 90 | tit | i 63 | 63 | ||
Nebraska......... | 63 | 41 | 64 | 47 | 49 | 105 | 27 | 65 | 26 | 37 | 52 | 70 | 55 | 61 | 71 | 92 | 74 | 68 | 60 |
Kansas............ | 65 | 64 | 63 | 58 | 48 | 104 | 45 | 85 | 56 | 69 | 70 | 88 | 83 | 86 | 110 | 134 | 85 | 82 | 79 |
N. C. W. of Miss. River. | 52.8 | 45.1 | 49.3 | 45.3 | 39.3 | 81.8 | 34.5 | 68.6 | 33.0 | 49.1 | 47.8 | 58.9 | 62.6 | 66.9 | 81.9 | 99.6 | 76.8 | 61.9 | 53.8 |
Kentucky......... | 58 | 50 | 56 | 57 | 50 | 87 | 53 | 68 | 55 | 53 | 61 | 75 | 81 | 87 | 109 | 116 | 7C | 64 | 64 |
Tennessee........ | 58 | 51 | 52 | 63 | 68 | 86 | 64 | 64 | 62 | 5* | 62 | 76 | 71 | 75 | 101 | 97 | 62 | 67 | 71 |
Alabama......... | 101 | 89 | 83 | 91 | 82 | 109 | 93 | 96 | 99 | 88 | 93 | 100 | 95 | 79 | 130 | 111 | 95 | 97 | 98 |
Mississippi........ | 92 | 87 | 80 | 87 | 83 | 115 | 92 | 88 | 85 | 85 | 87 | 93 | 93 | 77 | 126 | 114 | 91 | 99 | 95 |
Louisiana.......... | 94 | 85 | 82 | 85 | 79 | 101 | 82 | 91 | 91 | 91 | 75 | 90 | 92 | 93 | 110 | 104 | 79 | 90 | 91 |
Texas.......... | 118 | 97 | 87 | 92 | 88 | 125 | 85 | 88 | 93 | 93 | 87 | 105 | 98 | 95 | 127 | 117 | 95 | 118 | 106 |
Oklahoma......... | 90 | 65 | 125 | 71 | 93 | 76 | 85 | 77 | 100 | 98 | 95 | 117 | 133 | 71 | 104 | 95 | |||
Arkansas............ | 85 | 73 | 62 | 74 | 57 | 126 | 68 | 79 | 75 | 73 | 67 | 91 | 86 | 90 | 122 | 109 | 68 | 89 | 92 |
South Central. | 66.9 | 00.2 | 61.3 | 73.9 | 61.9 | 108.1 | 69.1 | 79.2 | 74.0 | 73.6 | 73.0 | 90.2 | 88.9 | 87.9 | 117.6 | 113.4 | 77.9 | 91.8 | 86.3 |
Montana........... | 69 | 62 | 52 | 53 | 73 | 60 | 44 | 61 | 59 | 61 | 50 | 70 | 75 | 104 | 126 | 120 | 70 | 51 | |
Wyoming.... | 74 | 61 | 63 | 68 | 100 | 61 | 57 | 62 | 56 | 65 | 74 | 66 | 70 | 74 | 88 | 100 | 62 | 63 | |
Colorado.......... | 83 | 51 | 59 | 82 | 90 | 51 | 60 | 37 | 57 | 45 | 66 | 60 | 65 | 89 | 110 | 12S | V3 | 67 | |
New Mexico.... | 84 | 71 | 86 | 114 | 118 | 81 | 84 | 78 | 89 | 90 | 96 | 90 | 105 | 117 | 140 | 125 | 115 | 101 | |
Utah........... | 48 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 60 | 45 | 47 | 48 | 43 | 50 | 65 | 55 | 55 | 62 | 92 | 83 | 56 | 43 | |
Nevada.......... | 179 | 95 | 57 | 72 | 56 | 91 | 63 | 70 | 65 | 82 | 70 | 90 | 75 | 110 | 90 | 111 | 155 | 100 | 85 |
Idaho.......... | 70 | 53 | 60 | 47 | 84 | 37 | 46 | 63 | 48 | 41 | 52 | 60 | 60 | 74 | 102 | 110 | 51 | 48 | |
Washington... | 50 | 44 | 44 | 47 | 61 | 38 | 36 | 6b | 4b | 56 | 50 | 67 | 80 | 92 | 115 | 100 | 58 | 47 | |
Oregon........... | 68 | 53 | 48 | 51 | 45 | 70 | 55 | 60 | 59 | 60 | 56 | 56 | 68 | 65 | 95 | 120 | 120 | 66 | 60 |
California....... | 96 | 72 | 56 | 61 | 63 | 77 | 58 | 66 | 87 | 67 | 74 | 90 | 77 | 96 | 103 | 130 | 98 | 83 | 77 |
Far Western.. | 95.0 | 66.1 | 52.0 | 54.0 | 55.8 | 76.7 | 50.0 | 53.4 | 53.4 | 57.6 | 57.2 | 65.1 | 66.4 | 73.6 | 91.1 | 115.0 | 110.9 | 69.1 | 57.6 |
United States. | 54.9 | 52.9 | 50.8 | 49.9 | 43.1 | 76.7 | 47.1 | 61.4 | 45.3 | 61.7 | 51.1 | 61.8 | 70.6 | 73.3 | 86.3 | 97.7 | 85.1 | 64.3 | 64.9 |
Wholesale prices of potatoes per bushel, 1896-1909.
Chi:ago. | Milwaukee. | St. Louis. | Cincinnati | |||||
Data. | Burbank per bushel. | Per bushel. | Burbank per bushel. | Per bushel | ||||
Low. | High. | Low. | High. | Low. | High. | Low. | High. | |
Cents. | Cents. | Centt. | Cents. | Cents. | Cents. | |||
1896 | 10 | 31 | 10 | 35 | 20 | 45 | $0.60 | $l.35 |
1897 | 18 | 62 | 15 | 100 | 21 | 65 | .90 | 4.75 |
1898 | 29 | 87 | 25 | 90 | 30 | 85 | 1.25 | 3.75 |
1899 | 26 | 75 | 15 | 90 | 25 | 75 | 1.10 | 6.00 |
1900 | 25 | 50 | 20 | 80 | 27 | 54 | .32 | .57 |
1901 | 30 | 125 | 25 | 185 | 18 | 140 | .30 | 1.20 |
1902 | 30 | 100 | 41 | 105 | .90 | 3.00 | ||
1903 | 38 | 85 | 35 | 90 | 40 | 125 | 1.20 | 3.00 |
1904 | 31 | 122 | 20 | 120 | 36 | 125 | 1.20 | 4.80 |
1905 | 18 | 72 | 10 | 70 | 27 | 175 | .25 | .80 |
1906. | ||||||||
January......................... | 65 | 66 | 45 | 58 | 58 | 82 | .55 | .65 |
February........................... | 47 | 57 | 35 | 60 | 53 | 61 | .45 | .62 |
March..................................... | 43 | 68 | 35 | 62 | 51 | 70 | .45 | .75 |
April................................ | 57 | 63 | 50 | 62 | 65 | 68 | .60 | .85 |
May................................ | 48 | 73 | 45 | 75 | 60 | 88 | .55 | .75 |
June................................. | 60 | 87 | 60 | 80 | 65 | 125 | .90 | 1.05 |
July....,............. | 40 | 87 | 35 | 75 | .75 | .90 | ||
August..................................... | 35 | 60 | 37 | 60 | .58 | .80 | ||
September............................... | 45 | 58 | 35 | 65 | 43 | 62 | .55 | .60 |
October............................ | 40 | 47 | 25 | 40 | 48 | 56 | .50 | .60 |
November............................... | 41 | 48 | 25 | 40 | 45 | 55 | .45 | .58 |
December.............................. | 640 | 43 | 25 | 40 | 40 | 46 | .45 | .47 |
Year.......................... | 40 | 87 | 25 | 87 | 35 | 125 | .45 | 1.05 |
1907. | ||||||||
January............................... | 34 | 45 | 25 | 45 | 43 | 53 | .45 | .50 |
February............................ | 37 | 43 | 25 | 45 | 61 | 66 | .48 | .53 |
March............................... | 33 | 47 | 25 | 45 | 43 | 55 | -50 | .53 |
April.................................. | 33 | 61 | 25 | 60 | 63 | 68 | .4* | .80 |
May................................ | 55 | 75 | 40 | 70 | 74 | 75 | .70 | .80 |
June.................................. | 33 | 70 | 30 | 70 | 60 | 78 | .60 | .70 |
July................................ | 30 | 50 | 35 | 90 | 50 | 125 | .25 | .85 |
August................................ | 30 | 90 | 60 | 95 | .70 | .80 | ||
September................................. | 50 | 60 | 45 | 75 | 45 | 72 | .60 | .85 |
October................................... | 45 | 65 | 40 | 75 | 55 | 70 | .50 | .62 |
November........................................ | 45 | 63 | 40 | 65 | 53 | 65 | .50 | .65 |
December..................................... | 45 | 58 | 40 | 65 | 55 | 64 | .50 | .65 |
Year..................................... | 33 | 75 | 25 | 90 | 43 | 125 | .25 | .85 |
1908. | ||||||||
January..................................... | 52 | 65 | 53, | 75 | 62 | 69 | .60 | .68 |
February..................................... | 58 | 73 | 65 | 70 | 67 | 77 | .65 | .82 |
March ............ .... | 62 | 75 | 63 | 70 | 71 | 78 | .70 | .80 |
April................................... | 60 | 77 | 65 | 80 | 73 | 78 | .70 | .85 |
May....................................... | 50 | 80 | 68 | 80 | 65 | 74 | .60 | .85 |
June................................. | 58 | 150 | 68 | 150 | 100 | 105 | .60 | 1.35 |
July................................... | 70 | 110 | 65 | 110 | 1.10 | 1.35 | ||
August.......................................... | 58 | 90 | 60 | 85 | .85 | 1.15 | ||
September................................. | 58 | 78 | 60 | 80 | 72 | 72 | .75 | .85 |
October.................................... | 50 | 81 | 64 | 80 | 67 | 70 | .65 | .80 |
November................................... | 57 | 71 | 68 | 70 | 69 | 72 | .65 | .75 |
December........................................ | 60 | 77 | 64 | 70 | 69 | 75 | .65 | .80 |
Year....................................... | 50 | 150 | 53 | 150 | 62 | 105 | .60 | 1.35 |
1909. | ||||||||
January..................................... | 60 | 79 | 60 | 72 | 73 | 83 | .72 | .80 |
February..................................... | 65 | 95 | 60 | 88 | 80 | 93 | .75 | .90 |
March.................... | 80 | 93 | 70 | 95 | 89 | 98 | .85 | .95 |
April................................ | 85 | 110 | 70 | 115 | 92 | 108 | .95 | 1.15 |
May............................................ | 20 | 150 | 80 | 135 | 85 | 102 | . .95 | 1.00 |
June....................................... | 20 | 145 | 30 | 105 | 40 | 140 | .90 | 1.20 |
July................................. | 15 | 125 | 20 | 100 | 40 | 110 | .50 | .95 |
August................................. | 38 | 66 | 40 | 90 | 35 | 62 | .70 | .75 |
September.......................... | 42 | 65 | 45 | 65 | 45 | 72 | .55 | .70 |
October..................................... | 35 | 55 | 40 | 60 | 42 | 56 | .55 | .60 |
November............................... | 15 | 60 | 30 | 50 | 40 | 62 | .30 | .60 |
December.......... | 20 | 68 | 30 | 60 | 40 | 60 | .30 | .48 |
Year............................................... | 15 | 150 | 20 | 135 | 35 | 140 | .30 | 1.20 |
A Pex barrel for 1866-4899 and 1902-1904. * Common to fancy.
New potato cellar of Commissioner of Agriculture A. W. Gilman, Foxcroft, Maine.
Potato storage cellar plans.
Average farm price of potatoes per bushel, monthly, 1908-9.
Month. | United States. | North Atlantic States. | South Atlantic States. | N.Cen. States East of Miss. R. | N. Cen. States West of Miss. R. | South Central States. | Far Western States. |
1909. 1908. | 1909. 1908. | 1909. 1908. | 1909. 1908. | 1909. 1908. | 1909. 1908. | 1909. 1908. | |
Cts. Cts. | cts. Cts. | Cts. Cts. | Cts. Cts. | Cts. Cts. | Cts. Cts. | Cts. Cts. | |
January | 72.0 63.4 | 74.5 64.9 | 83.2 76.0 | 69.4 55.5 | 64.1 62.5 | 92.1 92.7 | 66.9 62.7 |
February...... | 73.3 ...... | 75.4 ...... | 77.6 ...... | 70.6 ...... | 66.9 ...... | 87.9 ...... | |
March | 80.0 69.0 | 77.2 73.0 | 90.3 84.2 | 77.1 59.7 | 72.3 66.0 | 118.2 100.5 | 83.5 64.1 |
April......... | 86.3 70.4 | 82.8 73.0 | 96.5 85.8 | 83.2 64.8 | 81.9 67.2 | 117.6 104.9 | 91.1 59.8 |
May | 97.3 73.3 | 93.6 79.2 | 101.3 86.4 | 97.6 66.8 | 94.2 67.3 | 119.5 104.8 | 100.5 61.6 |
June | 97.7 71.3 | 91.4 72.3 | 99.9 86.1 | 94.1 67.7 | 99.6 68.3 | 113.4 94.4 | 115.0 61.6 |
July | 91.0 77.8 | 91.2 76.4 | 94.5 80.6 | 79.5 80.6 | 91.8 75.9 | 93.0 86.0 | 115.1 68.7 |
August | 85.1 83.6 | 89.1 93.2 | 79.6 74.9 | 77.9 85.9 | 76.8 73.4 | 77.9 80.8 | 110.9 69.6 |
September..-. | 71.5 78.0 | 77.6 87.8 | 76.7 75.3 | 59.9 77.0 | 65.3 64.3 | 84.2 82.6 | 81.1 75.2 |
October...... | 64.3 74.8 | 65.3 80.3 | 78.0 74.7 | 54.0 74.9 | 61.9 64.0 | 91.8 87.1 | 69.1 70.9 |
November... | 57.8 69.2 | 58.5 71.9 | 76.7 76.5 | 47.2 67.3 | 56.2 61.1 | 89.0 88.2 | 58.0 67.8 |
Deember | 54.9 70.6 | 56.2 73.7 | 75.1 81.6 | 44.4 67.6 | 53.8 62.6 | 86. 3 88.9 | 57,6 66.4 |
Potatoes grown in southern climates may be stored in dark warehouses or in straw-covered piles in the field.
The normal losses in storage from October to May amount to 5 to 12 per cent, of the total bulk. This does not include losses due to disease or sorting.
It has been estimated that of the total storage loss 75 per cent. is due to loss of moisture and 25 per cent. to respiration. The potato tuber does not die when taken from the ground and placed in a cellar, but it lives by using some of the food material stored up in its cells. The material used is in the form of sugar, which a ferment forms from starch. Respiration is practically stopped when the tuber is frozen and the sweet taste of frozen potatoes is due to accumulation of sugar.
The important points to be considered in potato storage are:
Conditions to keep a temperature as low as possible without freezing;
Conditions to keep the air as dry as possible, and a place where potatoes may be kept dark.
While mining at an altitude of 1,000 feet in Colorado, a good many years ago, the senior author of this work met a prospector who was going to leave the country. He said that in an old tunnel would be found some supplies, including twelve sacks of potatoes which had been put there two years before. These the prospector gave to him. The condition of these potatoes was apparently the same as when they were dug; they were not shriveled, no shrinkage was apparent, they had not started to sprout, and when cooked they were just as edible as when dug out of the ground. There had been an airshaft constructed at the end of the tunnel and through the tunnel was a good current of dry air. The temperature was uniformly about 40 degrees F., being in a rock tunnel 200 feet below the surface of the ground. In building a potato cellar he tried to get as near those conditions as possible.
The cellar illustrated is about 50 by 200 feet. At each end there is a dead-air space ten feet square in the form of a vestibule between the outer and inner doors. This affords protection from freezing. There is a driveway clear through, with bins on either side, skylights and ventilators being placed every ten feet. The temperature of the cellar may be lowered by opening the doors and letting a current of air pass through. When it is too cold for this, the ventilators at the top may be opened. The best ventilation is always secured by building the cellar in line with the direction of the prevailing air currents. During the winter the temperature should be kept as near 32 degrees F. as possible; it is best when it does not go below 30 degrees nor above 36 degrees. A temperature of 28 degrees F. for one or two hours will not freeze potatoes when in large quantities. In a cold country some means for providing artificial heat should be provided. In the spring of the year, when the weather becomes warm, the cellar doors are kept open at night and closed in the daytime.
 
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