Cleveland County herald., 1918-06-13
WATCH IRISH
POTATO MARKET
harvest at the Right Tins and Handle
Your Crop Carefully.

SaS.
The present indications are that the
irish potato crop 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, 1t be-
comes evident that if we expect 10
market our crop with profit we must
exercise the greatest care In the har-
Sesting. 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 as
soon as the crop Is mature, but that
mature potatoes II handled right will
keep longer and, therefore. can be
marketed slowly and with more profit
than X 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 of harvest and IL 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. II
you can afford to do so, use ii potato
digger for harvesting the crop. These
are made in such way that when
tho SOIL is in proper condition they
Will leave almost all Of the potatoes
In sight. Do not dig the potatoes AMI
lenve them exposed to the sun any
longer than 1t can be helped, employ
ing, IL possible. enough help to keep
them picked UP as fast as they arc
dug.
Grade the Potatoes Properly.
IL we expect to receive remunera-
tive price for our potatoes this year
It is absolutely necessary that we
have them properly graded. The Blu
reau of Markets of the U. S. Depart
ment q Agriculture urges the adop-
tton of the following grades:
U. S. Grade No. I.
This grade shall consist OF sound
potatoes of similar yarietal character
istics which are practically free from
dirt, or other foreign matter, frost in
Jury, Sunburn, second growth, cuts,
scab, blight, dry rot and damage caus-
cd by insect, disease or mechanical
means. The minimum diameter of po-
tatocs Of round varieties shall be rs
inches and of potatoes of long varle-
ties S4 inches. In order to allow
for variations incident to commercial
grading and handling, five per centum
by weight Of any lot may be under
the prescribed size and, in addition,
three percentum by weight of any
such lot play be below the remaining
requirements OF this grade"
U. S. Grade No. 2.
This grade shall consist OF pota-
toes OF similar yarietal characteris-
tics which are practically free from
ffost, injury and decay, and which arc
free from serioAs damage caused by
dirt or other foreign matter, sunburn,
second growth. cuts. scab, blight, dry
rot, or other disease, insects or me-
chanicai mea.s. The minimum diam
,ter shall be 1 1-2 inches. In order
to ALLOW for variations incident to
grading and handling, Ave
per centum by wcixht Of any lot may
BE- under the size mentioned and, in |
addition, five per centum by weight |
II any such lots may be below tho |
requirements of this
grade"
The above grades point out clearly
10 US just what is to be expected OF |
BUR growers this season and unless we
measure up to the requirements prices
nay be unusually low
Sack Potatoes ProperIy--Looks Mean
Great Deal.
Finally, after the potatoes have
been graded they must be put in i
neat, clean sack. All sacks should be
new and Of the same size.
Potatoes from Arkansas are often car
ried to the cars for shipping in any
and every kind of sack that can be
picked up and as result they make
q bad appearance on the market. Do
not make this mistake, for il the po-
tatoes have been graded properly and
are placed in clean bags OF the same
size the appearance will be far better
and, consequently, better price will
be paid for them. 1t is we'll to be
reminded of certain buyer In the
Fort Smith section last season who
bought carload of potatoes at SIPS
a bushel. He had the potatoes plac-
ed in new bags of equal size and then |
resold them right on the yard for SIS |
cents a bushel more than ne paid for
them. The few extra cents that may |
he from proper grading and pack
nRkor sacking may mean the differ
Between profit and loss.
1psas has big crop of potatoes.
Ito put them UP in such n
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