The Nevada County picayune., 1918-05-30
WATCH IRISH
 POTATO MARKET
Harvest at the Right Tima and Handle
 Your Crop Carefully.

By J. s. Knox, Horticulturist. Exten-
 sion Division, University of Arkan-
 sas.
 The present indications are that the Irish potato cSop in Arkansas will be considerably above the average. This being the case and knowing that there are still large quantities of the North ern grown crop still in storage, it be- comes evident that if we expect 10 market our crop with profit we must exercise the greatest care in the har- vesting. grading and shipping of our ] crop.
 Care Necessary at Time of Harvest.
 Watch the market and do not dig the potatoes until mature unless the demand is good and the prices high. Remember, digging must be done g. soon as the crop is mature, but that mature potatoes If handled right will keep longer and, therefore, can be marketed slowly and with more profit 1 than if they had to be put on poor market because they were dug too soon and would not keep. Exercise the greatest care in the handling of the crop at time oi harvest and if il can be avoided do not dig the crop when the soil is wet because this causes the soil to adhere to the tub bruises and, consequently, rotting. If you can afford to do so, use potato l digger for harvesting the crop. These are made in such a way that when he soil is in proper condition they will leave almost all of the potatoes in sight. Do not dig the potatoes anl leave them exposed to the sun any l longer than it can be helped. employ | ing. if possible. enough help to keep l them picked up as faot as they arc dug.
 Grade the Potatoes Properly. If we expect to receive a remunerar tive price for our potatoes this year it is absolutely necessary that we have them properly graded. The Blu reau of Markets of tho U. g. Depart
 ment of Agriculture urges the adOD- ton ot the following grades: u. s. Grade No. i.
 This grade shall consist of sound l potatoes of similar varietal character | tstics which are practically free from | dirt, or other foreign matter. frost in | jury. sunburu. second growth. cuts, scab. blight. dry rot and damage caus- cd by insect. disease or mechanical | means. The minimum diameter of D. | nS r{ (o~ hmN k<> i ' inches and of potatoes of long vsrie- ties B. inches. In order to allow l for variations incident to commercial
 trading and handling, five QDr centum " weight of any lor may be under .ie prescribed si0e and. in addition.
 hras pencentnw by weight of any
 uch let may be below tho remaining
 requU1nsnts of this grade" .. g. 0rade No. l
 "Thls grade shall consist a3 potar toes of similar varfetal characteris-
 cs which are practically free from
 frost. injury and decay. and which arc .ree from serious damage caused by iir or other foreign matter. sunburn.
 second growth, cuts. sSnk. blight. dry
 .ot. or other disease. Bsects or me rhanicai means. The minimum diam ter shall be 1Z inches. In order allow for variations incident to ommercial grading and handling. Ave .o 1T centum by weight of any lot may a under the size mentioned and. In idtion. five per centum by weight any such lots may be below the eDainins requirements of this | ;rade."
 The above grades point out clearly us just what is to be expected of IT growers this season and unless we ieasure up to the requirements prices ay be unusually low.
 sack Potatoes Proper,y--leoks Mean Oeat Deal.
 Finally, after the potatoes have | }Nen graded they must be put in a
 eat. clean sack. All sacks should be | iractic2lly new and of tho same size | 'CtatOes from Arkansas are often car 1 ed to the cars for shipping in any '"d every kind of sGcl taat can be | cked up and as result they make | | ot make this mistake. for if the DO | toes have been graded properly and
 Q placed in clean bags of the same ze the appearance will be far better
 i'd. consequently. a better price will l . paad for them. It is we'll to bo
 minded of a certain buyer in ths
 'ort Smith section last season who | .e 0N l bushel. He had the potatoes plac-
 d in new bags Of equal size and then
 osoid them right on the yard for 36
 ,ents a bushsl moro than he paid for
 hem Tho few extra cents that may
 come from proper grading and pack
 ing or sscking may mean the differ
 ence between profit and loss. h~ k,i< ,A v~<SNo oAr~u