The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-06-04
szr STANDARD FOR sPUDs
at Chicago Decides on
Grading Rules. Fewer Varieties
Recommended.

.Chicago-The first steps toward
stanGardizing potatoes shipped from
Northern states were taken at con-
ference held here Monday evening at
the Morrison Hotel, which was at
tended by IL of the leading educa-
tors and dealers of this section. The
urpose of the conference was to de-
termine some practical methods OF
sorting and grading potatoes, also,
to discuss the question of better
seed, and was held under the aus
pices of the Wisconsin Potato Grow
ers' association.
Those who were called to the con-
ference and attended were the fol-
lowing Prof. l.. R. Jones and j. G.
Milward, Winconsin University, Mad
ison, Wis; ]. w. Hicks, president of
the Wisconsin Potato Growers as
ISOLATION, Prentice, Wis; G. L. Fitch,
Agricultural college, Ames, Iowa;
Prof. William Stewart, department OF
agriculture, Washington, D. c.; w.
d. Juday, Oneida County Agent.
Rhinelander, Wis; Prof c. w.
Wade, Michigan Agricultural college.
Lansing, Mich; E. P. Miller of AL
bert Miller & Co., Chicago; L. Starks
and J. X. ingalls, of L. Starks & Co.,
Chicago; c. W. Murphey of the O..
w. Murphey company, Chicago, and
John Hyldahl of Hyldahl Brothers,
Chicago.
After considerable discussion it
was decided that the most good could
be accomplished by attempting only
to set general standard at first, and
after the work of Standardization has
once gotten a foothold in the north
ern states it then will be time enough
Ito set definite rules and grades
whereby potatoes could come under
several classifications of quality and
size. The conference therefore set
out to establish general stand
ard which would eliminate all such
stock as is now considered and gem
orally recognized to be undesirable
for market purposes. In other words,
the standard finally agreed upon was
not one which said definitely what
potatoes should be, but what they
should not be.
The result of the conference was,
this recommendation: That potatoes
to be considered as standard grade
should meet with the following speci-
| fications:
| Size-Round white potatoes to
screen over minimum mesh of one
and seven-eighths inch and long
white stock over one and threes
fourths-inch screen and not to weigh
over IL ounces apiece; with an all
iowance Of 5 per cent oversize or
undersize stock.
| Condition-potatoes to be practi-
cally free from external imperfec-
lions including scab, sunburn, second
growth, dry root, late blight, me-
chanical or frost injury or other de-
fections.
Uniformity-Pota to be of one
variety, matured, firm and reason
ably clean.
The question of desirable market
varieties for the northern states was
discussed, and after impressions from
the agricultural men of the states
represented had been secured, it was
decided that Rural New Workers and
Green Mountains we're the most de-
sirable varieties, and that the pro-
duction of table stock should be re-
stricted to these kinds so as to elm
mate the present seed varietal mix
lures, which are now prevalent.
It was the decision OF the confer
|ence that the plan of Standardization
be worked out in one or more limited
sections of each state so that the re-
|sult can lie determined with view
to extending the standards and set
ting definite grades.
The conference also recommended
to growers the advisability of treat
ing with formaldehyde the potatoes
which they intended planting for
seed, and the dealers present offered
to assist the agricultural men in CIV
ing publicity to the recommendation
by distributing formaldehyde bulle-
tins to farmers through their ware
houses.
While no Minnesota agricultural
men or dealers were present, Mr..
Hicks stated that he had word from
the Minnesota dealers that they were
in favor of sorting and grading and
would agree to help in the work.
| The question of more liberal sup
port from the various states for the
work carried on by the experiment
stations thereof was brought up and
Mr.. Miller and Mr.. Murphav Of Wis