The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1917-05-23

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| tance between heads, 26 inches; cir
conference of bulge, Cd inches; out
side measurement; and the thick
ness Of slaves not greater than 4-1O
Of an inch. The capacity of this
barrel is 1866 cubic inches. (This
capacity is a little. more than three
/ bushels).' In most sections of the
country, the standard barrel has al
ready been adopted in anticipation
of the requirement of the law. This
Act is administered by the Depart
ment of Commerce through the Di-
rector of Bureau\ of Standards. Re-
quests for information in regard to
it's Interpretation and enforcement
shoul dbe addressed to that depart
ment.
Early new potatoes are shipped
from some parts of Florida and some
other southern states in bushel ham
pers. Only very small percentage
of the crop is shipped in that way.
The railroads make strong objcc
tions to this package, pointing out
that it is too flimsy to be safe
container for such articles as DO
tatoes, and the condition of MANY
shipments examined in the markets
prove that such a statement is COR
rect. When hampers are used, a
particular method should be en-
ployed. This method is described in
Farmers Bulletin No. 753. Crates
and boxes may be used for extra
Fancy" or Especial" grades or po-
tatoes prepared for dining cars, no.
tells and restaurants. These are
mostly of about 45 to SO and 100
pounds capacity. A slat crate, con-
tanning about a bushel, is used in
parts of Missssippe for new pota-
toes.
The use of containers of SO many
types and SKIES for potatoes seems
entirely unnecessary. 1t causes con-
fusion in the markets and makes the
quotation of market prices more diff
ficult. The cloth-top barrels, used
extensively in the east ,are not an
attractive package, and as some
times when handled and loaded in
cars, are frequently the cause of
losses to shippers. The veneer bar
rel has been referred to as an un-
satisfactory package for potatoes. On
account of its weight it is usually
necessary to employ two men to load
and handle potatoes in barrels. This
is also the case in handling potatoes
put up in the large 10, II, and 12
peck sacks. In some markets, men
may be seen handling these large
sacks with hooks similar to hay
hooks. This practice cannot be too
severely condemned, as the hooks
are certain to injurc the potatoes
in bags.
I The Department of Agriculture
ha smade careful inquiries among
shippers, associations, and dealers in
the markets to learn the general
sentiment concerning these pack
ages, and the standard container to
replace them. While there are a
few good reasons for the retention
of some Of the packages now in use,
there is very general feeling that
burlap bag, holding about bush
els, or 120 pounds, is the mast sat
isfactory package now in use and
| that it would be feasible and de-
sirable to replace the larger bag and
the barrel with this container Some
doubt is expressed as to the advsa-
bility of shipping in sacks the early
immature potatoes that will now be
moving in barrels, on account of the
likelihood of their becoming skinned
and bruised, but it is to be remenl-
bercd that nearly all of the early
potatoes grown in California and all
OF those grown in Texas, Oklahoma,
Louisiana and Kansas are success
fully shipped in sacks holding about
12O pounds. Potatoes IN that pack
age are easy to handle and load
safely and well in cars. 1t has
proven satisfactory container. The
State Market Agent has been advised