The Dermott news., 1917-08-23
STORE THE POTATO
ARRANGEMENT FOR coNSERv. ING THE COUNTRIES SUPPLY.
Government Officials Tell of the Fa- cilities That Have Been Provided Complete Plan of Action
 Has Been Mapped Out.

Washington.-Means of conserving the nations potato supply in the most effective manner have been worked out by food administration officials. They have issued the following state ment:
 Unusual facilities for financing stor- age are offered American potato grow CTS as result of war conditions. The federal reserve system is at their dis posal, and farmers who store their 1917 potato crop in approved local ware houses, may obtain. upon their storage receipts, 9o-day loans from member banks of the reserve system at rate not to exceed 6 per cent. Mir. Lou D. Sweet, potato expert with the food ad- ministration. was instrumental in bringing this matter to the reserve boards attention.
 New England growers have started movement to take advantage of this ruling to help them solve their market ing problem. The prospect which the growers of this group of states face Is that of handling 45.oo0.0oo bushels of potatoeS-one-te tenth oS the entire United States crop-without causing an overstocked market and the result Ing loss of all profit on the crop.
 The growers communicated with To- cal authorities in their respective states. who in turn laid the situation before the food administration. A con ference between the growers, local au- thorties and experts from the food administration was held recently at Boston, Mass. A plan of action was mapped out at this meeting which in- rludeS the following:
 l. Marketing of only one-third of the crop at harvest time; another third in 20 days, or placing in storage and later distributed as demand affords oppor- tunity; the remaining third to be stored by the grower and marketed throughout the year.
 . All potatoes to be graded with care, taking cut culls, cuts. cracks and any that are bruised. It was recom- mended that n wire screen grader be used-one and seveu-eig ighthS-lneh mesh for oblong tuberS and two-inch mesh ItE IbullI tiitS. trlddtNl Stpth AANti to be placed in good two-bushel sacks one hundred and fifteen pounds to the sack-and the sacks sewed tightly so as to prevent shucking and bruising.
 3. Increasing the load in each rail- road car from the normal 30.0o0 pounds. That these ears can be un- loaded within 24 to 36 hours of their arrival at destination.
 1. That municipalities and other bodies provide storage for as large quantities as possible at the peak of the harvest.
 "A storage house" said Lou p. Sweet, who attended this meeting. such as will conform to the require ments laid down by the Federal Reserve board. does not call for n specially con structed house. There are innumer- able buildings. which, If properly cleaned. ventilation provided, and man. aged so as te maintain temperature of about 35 degrees, will answer ad- mlrably for this purpose.
 This year the United States planted its potato crop from the poorest quail ity of seed that ever went into the ground. and naturally the harvest will be potatoes of poor quality. Strict grading. careful packing, common sense storage. and careful shipping are necessary to insure just returns to the growers who have responded to the presidents call for increased produc- ton of potatoes"