Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1910-01-13
STORAGE OF SWEET POTATOES
Must BE Kept Absolutely Dry and
Warm, 40 slight Frost or o.
we're OOld Will lnIurO.
BY 81. D. oRTNHTEApl

The storing Of sweet potatoes for
winter 10 by no means so simple q
matter as the proper care Of Irish p0-
tatoes, while different methods pre-
vail in the north and south.
The harvesting machinery is similar
except that the most improved potato
diggerS are not adapted to the har.
vesting Of the sweet potato, since the
vines would interfere.
The kind generally used Is the regu.
lar twO-horse plow digger. with two
rolling cutters to cut the vines on
either side.
The potatoes are not injured by ~.
Ing in the sun, but should be removed
to the storage room the same day they
are dug.
The essential difference in the stor
inG Of sweet potatoes and the Irish
potato arises from the fact that a
sweet potato must be kept both dry
and warm.
It is q simple matter to bury Irish
potatoes in q bank where they will
keep all winter, but q specially con.
structed storage pace must be made
for the sweet potato.
In the south and even as far north
a. Missouri they may be kept in a
well-ventilated pit, which can be kept
dry by covering with boards or other
roofing.
Select q well-drained place, scrape
away Sufficient dirt to level the
ground, then dig two trenches across
the place from six inches to a foot
deep, and the ground should lay so
that water will not run into nor stand
In them.
Cover the trenches with pieces Of
boards. spread q little straw or dry
litter over the ground and pile the
potatoes thereon in the shape Of a
cone around the ventilator flue, which
consists Of four pieces Of four by
ak inch board nailed in the form Of
. box and set over the point where
the trenches cross, extending up
through the heap Of potatoes and out
at the top.
When the heap Of potatoes has been
completed cover with straw or leaves,
then add I'VE or six inches of dirt
or sufficient to keep out frost.
Care must be taken to keep both
the trenches and ventilatOr open till
It IL necessary to cover them during
a severe cold spell when they are
covered with something like an old
carpet, which should be removed on
days when the weather will permit.
In the north. where the ground re-
mains frozen for several months, this
plan would not answer, but they may
be kept in q well-ventilated cellar
II kept in crates and up from the
ground.
Yet q cellar is by no means the
deal place for storing sweet potatoes.
the accumulation Of moisture being
too great. A frost-proof building that
may be kept dry Is much better. Such
\ building should be constructed Of
brick or stone and lined with wood,
With q dead-air space, which insures q
Try wall. Where only a few are to
be- kept for home use no better or
cheaper way can be found than to
store them in barrels or boxes Of
Try sand or road dust and keep them
IN q warm room or rather in a room
where they will not freeze. It is
possible, of course, to keep them too
warm.
Potatoes kept In dry dust and not
allowed to freeze may be kept for
iced with very little loss.
II must be remembered that the
,weet potato will surely rot II ex-
POSED to frost, even though they do
lot actually freeze; also that they
must be kept dry and where the air
,irculates freely.
For best results probably tempera-
ure of about so degrees, varying
through a range Of ten to twenty de-
rees, win be found best, and where
he proper building may be had this
can be maintained cas-
IL, with free circulation of dry air.
Measuring Grain.