The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-12-15
STORING SWEET POTATO CROP

How to store the sweet potato crop
in such a manner as to insure against
loss by decay is a matter that serious
" concerns the farmers OF the state.
A considerable loss occurs in this
crop every winter from preventable
causes. The methods of harvesting
the crop are responsible for large
amount of this loss, and the methods
of storing for most of the balance.
Digging Sweet Potatoes
The bulk of this crop is not general
ly harvested until the first frost oc-
ours. The field, should then be gone
over, and the vines cut from the
crown of the hills by means of a
sharp hoe or sickle. This operation
prevents the decay in the frosted
vines from being communicated to
the potatoes, and so causing the soft
rot which shows itself soon after the
potatoes are dug. If we follow this
method the potatoes can ripen in the
ground before we dig them, and their
keeping qualities will be improved.
In the digging operation, care
should be exercised to prevent injury
to the tubers by cuts, scratches or
bruises, which are another source CT
soft rot Where a considerable acre
age is to be harvested, it is a point
of economy to use regular potato
digger. This works better and quick
er, avoids injury, and insures the get
ting of all the crop from the ground.
After the digging the crop should
be allowed to lie on the ground in
rows for three or four days, SO as to
get thoroughly dried and cured by the
sun. 1t is as necessary to cure 20
totaes, both Irish and sweet, as it is
to cure hay or forage.
Storing Sweet Potatoes
l have seldom, if ever, seen a sue
cessful sweet potato house made by
digging hole in the ground and roof
ing in, or by initiating smoke house,
because both of these lack ventila-
ton. A common practice is to make
small conical piles about ten bushels
each, and to cover them with soil and
bark AS far as my observation
goes, this method is frequently a fail
ure, because the contents of these
piles are not properly secured against
rain, and are not properly ventilated.
In my own practice l have found it
best to store sweet potatoes in BANKS
on the top of the ground convenient
ly near to the barn or dwelling house.
A piece Of ground running north and
south, of the desired length, and
about four feet wide, is leveled by
means of hoe or rake, and the pota-
toes are piled on this, about five feet
deep, tapering to sharp ridge. This
makes a long V-shaped bank, and care
is taken to have the sides with a
smooth and uniform slope. After all
the potatoes are piled in the bank,
a good plan is to allow them to have
a few days exposure to the sun so as
to become thoroughly dry, covering at
night with sacks or hay to keep off
the dew. Then the whole. bank is
covered two or three inches deep with
some kfind of hay, and over the hay
couple of inches of soil are thrown.
| The hay absorbs the moisture that is
given off by the potatoes during the
sweating that occurs soon after the
bank is entirely covered. The soil
kkeeps the hay in place and protects
against cold The bank should be
made water-tight by means of boards
laid lengthwise, with Tapped edges to
shed rain or a temporary frame Of
| scantlings can be made over the
bank, and shingles or taxpayer used
to keep the potatoes dry.
If the crop is stored in this way, it
is less likely to rot than with ordinary
methods, and it can be held until late
in the spring, when prices run high
BY C. X. McQuarrie, Florida Agricul-
tural Experiment Station. Press Bull
| letin No. III.