Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-21

to advantage under such conditions. II
is of the utmost importance that the
potatoes be gathered without injury.
All cut, bruised or diseased potatoes
should be separated from those which
are TO be stored. This is a matter of
great importance and cannot be over
emphasized. In fact, carelessness in
this direction accounts for many OF the
failures TO keep sweet potatoes. The
boxes or crates used for the gathering
and storing of the potatoes should be
lined with burlap to prevent their be-
ing bruised. This may seem to be
small matter to many, but IL is never
theless of the utmost Importance. II
people would learn that sweet pota-
| toes are as delicate in many respects
as fruit and would handle them more
carefully, they would be able to keep
much larger per cent of the crop.
When digging the potatoes il is well
TO let them dry in the sun awhile be-
| fore storing. This helps to get rid Of
some of the moisture on the outside Of
| the potato which is a very important
matter. The sweet potato contains
very high per cent of water, a fact to
| bear in mind in undertaking to store
them because ii is now quite well es-
tablished that if a considerable amount
of this surplus water can be gotten rid
VI uuIAiS the lISl SAdSG "a the NuA ms
process the potatoes will keep infinitely
better. Like most crops freshly dug
from the soil and put up in heaps, the
potatoes undergo a severe sweating pro-
cess, and hence if the heaps are made
too large and compact an undue amount
of water escapes and too much heat is
generated with the tendency to produce
fermentation. and thus initiate serious
~ against the keeping qualities of the
tuber.
On a wholesale scale the keeping of
sweet potatoes can be effected quite sue
cessfully by building a house in which
the temperature can be controlled. The
potatoes are placed in large bins or
racks and the temperature raised to 80
or 100 degrees. The house is kept at
this temperature for ten days or two
weeks TO thoroughly dry out the pota-
toes. After this has been accomplished,
the temperature should be lowered and
maintained around so or go degrees. The
large grower has q pretty well defined
means OF preserving his crop at his
command If he desires to utilize it.
OF course, he will need to make some
considerable outlay for a house, but if
he expects to specialize in the growth
OF sweet potatoes this will be money
well invested.
me smaIl grower has one of two
methods of preserving his crop at his
Command. He may store them in a dry
cellar or in a pit or bed in the field
n garden. If stored in the cellar the
Glowing points should be remembered
lace in rather shallow boxes and al
CIV to stand somewhere in the open for
! few days where the potatoes will be
rejected from rain but will have
nance to undergo the first sweat and
I dry out considerably. Then place i'm
I cellar which can be heated by arti-
ncial means TO a temperature of 80 to
/ % degrees and allow to dry for a week
| n two. Then the windows should be
-Bened and the potatoes kept at as low
= temperature as possible The writer
nas been able to keep sweet potatoes
quite successfully in a cellar where a
furnace is located by following the plan
Indicated and there are thousands of
homes where similar arrangement
/ sould be made.
If the potatoes are 20 be bedded I'm
he field or in the garden, proceed as
follows: Level off and make a firm
Cliptical place. depending on the amount
/ of potatoes to be stored Dig a ditch
around this and elevate the bed six
/ inches or so above the level OF the
ground surrounding IL. Put on the bot
tom a small layer of oat straw SO that
the potatoes will not come directly in
contact with the ground. Select sound
potatoes and pile in a conical heap, not
over three feet wide at the base or more
/ han three feet in height. Cover light
/ " with straw for few days which can
removed occasionally. TO allow the
sunlight TO dry the potatoes out thor
oughly. Allow to stand I'm this semi
exposed condition for a week or ten
| avs. Then cover lightly with fresh dry
straw. As the weather becomes cool
/ lut on a light coating of earth, not over
m inch or two. This should be gradu-
/ lily increased to a depth or three or
/ our inches. The top of the bed should
/ e left open for ventilating purposes. 1t
l important that the bed be protected
against rain as much as possible, and to
| his end IL is we'll to sink four posts
into the ground and build a rough board
cover over the top. The writer has an
/ especially constructed frame for this
| 5urpose and is taken down each year
and put away. 4 cover of this kind
/ nay be made TO do service for many
years. IL costs very little TO make IL in
/ lie beginning and 1T is an effective
! means OF keeping the potatoes sufficient
/ ~ dry TO insure their keeping in good
condition. Potatoes treated in the man.
ner indicated where proper care is ex-
ercised often keep from November to
| June in excellent condition. One could
hardly ask for more under the. cir