The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-12-30
FARMER AND PLANTER.
KEEPING SWEET POTATOES.
"A Few Valuable Hints on the Preservation
of This Useful Vegetable.

hccpiDB tHe sweet potato Is UdSeu upon
my own experience, and upon the care
full observation of the methods used by
others. The sweet potato is perhaps
the favorite vegetable of the south.
and of late years it is grown to con-
siderable extent in many northern
states and it seems strange SO few
know how to keep them through the
winter season.
So difficult indeed it is regarded that
only small per cent. of farmers make
any effort in that line at all. The idea
is prevalent that our most successful
potato men have some secret art in
keeping them. Such men have made
nice little fortunes in growing the
tuber
In keeping the sweet potato it is ad-
visable to use that method which is
most economical and convenient, which
depends upon the size of the crop and
the surroundings. The method mat
tiers but little so the following prin-
ciples and conditions are observed:
l. A sandy clay loan is best suited to
strong and healthy growth of the po-
sobOs A hC0NJ ilDuCSbOhC cOlt, VI OnC
strongly impreguated with alkaline
substances, injure the skin of the tuber
and makes it susceptible to rot. Avoid
soils that are heavily fortified with
amoniacal manures
2. Dig the sweet potato before frost
kills the vine. An injury to the stem
Injuries the whole tuber. Select dry
time, if possible, to dig in. Handle
each potato carefully; do not bruise
nor scratch them. Do not get them
sun-blistered while digging.
8. Remove from patch directly to
place of storage, and never handle
them till taken out to market or to
bed. Rot, if it sets in, may necessitate
an assortment, but such a condition
should not exist If q second handling
becomes necessary, use the greatest
care.
A. The cellar or place of storage
should be perfectly dry. Moisture is
conducive to rot
5. Let the temperature range be-
tween 80 and go degrees Fahrenheit,
and never lower than 40. The more
uniform the temperature the better.
9. Ventilation is of vital importance.
Top ventilation should always be
given, especially after November; this
is secured by proper construction of
the potato-house. Never cover the po-
tatoes with straw or cloth of any
kind, for this prevents the es-
cape of moisture and injurious
gases, and often causes too high a
temperature. The best cover, when
cover is used, is dry dirt or sawdust
No cover at all directly on the potato
is decidedly preferable.
UNDERGROUND cELLAR-METHoDs USED.
An underground cellar in the easiest
and most economical means of keeping
large quantity of potatoes. These
should be built where perfect freedom
from moisture can be secured. An ele-
waited point, with slopes from all sides,
and deep clay soil, is good loca-
ton. 1t is almost impossible to get a
dry cellar when it is dug through rock
strata or has a rock bottom. A rock
wall is not SO good; clay, brick or wood
is better.
Partition the cellar into bins of from
forty to one hundred barrels capacity
each, with air space between each bin
Let an aisle of few feet extend the
length of the cellar, and build the bins
on either side of it. Some varieties
that are hard to keep require smaller
bins, while other varieties can be
bulked in larger quantities. If the
season is wet and the potatoes sappy,
avoid large bulks.
When the potatoes are placed in the
cellar, leave open the doors or take up
the floor Immediately over the bins
and leave up till cold weather neccessi-
tates their closing. When closed they
do not need to be opened again. Ven
tilation for the rest of the season should
be given through hatchways-one, two
or three, IS the case may require-which
should open above the aisle. These
hatchways should serve as the entrance
to and the exit from the cellar, and
should be left open as much as the
weather will admit.
The entrance from the outside should
be provided bna door or dcors enter
ing the space above the cellar. These
may be opened or closed as the tenn
perature requires Avoid alwaysa cur
rent of air.
After the doors above the bins have
been closed or the floors replaced for
the winter, they may be covered with
dirt or sawdust to protect the pota-
toes against extreme cold weather
No artificial heat is necessary by this
method.
An underground cellar so built as
not to admit of the above treatment
may be so regulated as to observe as
far as possible the above principles.
FOREGROUND CELLAR.
A foreground cellar may be built upon
the same plan as the underground cell
lar just described. Double walls are
necessary, and means should be pro-
vided for artificial heating. Pack the
walls with dirt or sawdust; also use a