The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-09-07
TIE AGRICULTU 4 /, WORLD
VALUABLE IMPORTATION FOR. THE
PRACTICABLE FARMER.

PRACTICAL FARMER.
0iE Potatoes ms Soon as Ripe, Points
IN Handling? Use Crates for Haul
lng-IAecping = Few Hcns-Items Of
Interest. #'S$ sst 5SsS
Do not wait too long before digging
potatoes AS soon as the tops are ripe
and begin to die, take them out Of the
ground and get into the bin Digging
Is one Of the most important and ex-
pensive processes in raising this crop.
The perfection and extensive manufac-
ture of digging machines have revoll-
ticnized methods Of digging, especially
| where they are raised as extensive field
crops. 1t is nearly impossible to hire
men to dig them who will be careful
about bruising and will at the same
time accomplish much, while with the
patent digging machine, teams which
would otherwise be unemployed lift and
lay them practically clean from dirt
along the row, leaving only the picking
up to be done by hand. However, on
many farms the crop of potatoes is
too small to make the purchase Of
digger practicable and hand methods
must be resorted to. It is work in
Which little care counts for much, as
bruised OF broken potatoes soon spoil
and it is difficult to separate them from
the good ones. The potato fork is about
the best hand tool for digging and
next to it q four or six-tine manure
fork works WELL Digging with a. hoe
is slow work and too many potatoes
will be cut, even though care is exer-
cised. In digging with fork be care
full not to set it too close, to the vino
OF many of the potatoes will be struck
or Clipped by the tines. In separating
the dirt from them be careful about
bruising, for q bruised potato is almost
sure to rot when stored land will cause
those about it to decay also. Judgment
must be exercised in this work as it
must be done rapidly, even at the ex-
pense of an occasional bruised or brok-
en- potato, to be most economical. Plow-
ing them out is sometimes practiced,
but unless the plow is run very deep
too many will be cut and when it is run
deep much valuable time is consumed
in getting the dirt off, many being lost
entirely. Dragging the ground to I'M
cover them after they have been plowed
out is sometimes practiced, but they
are too badly bruised by the harrow
teeth for it to be an economical method.
| The manner of handling while storing
is also important and the thing most
to be avoided is bruising. Crates hold
ing about half bushel with solid inch
board ends having holes for handles
with bottom and sides made of strips,
are very convenient for this work.
Haul out a wagon load of them and
throw off along the field. In picking
up the potatoes simply leave the boxes
where they are filled. When all are
full, load on a wagon anu haul to the
storeroom. The boxes should not be
heaped, as they are set in rows one
on top of another in the wagon in haul
ing. In unloading be careful not to
bruise them. One Of the best methods
is to carry them in crates from the
wagon to where they are to be stored.
Put in a cool, dry place and give plenty
of ventilation. BY opening it at night
and keeping it closed during the day
the temperature can be kept down
very easily. $3.50.