The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-07-11

ia % the Consum

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agricultural
Much of the loss in marketing pota-
toes due to shipping ungraded, care
lessly handled, diseased stock can be
eliminated by the grower with re-
sultant increase in his profits. Every
rotten, frozen or under-grade potato
that is loaded, and every potato spoil
ed while in transit or in storage, re-
duces the growers profits and means
| q waste of time and labor. 1t also
means a waste of time and labor for
every person handling it, waste of
car space. and consequently it amounts
TO an appreciable loss to the COM
munity as whole. The United States
department of agriculture, through its
markets inspection service, is trying
| to eliminate this waste.
The original purpose of the markets
| inspection service was conceived to be
protection to the shipper. By re-
cent act of congress the inspection
.aw has been so amended that anyone
With an interest in a shipment can ask
Ior an inspection. If a shipper re-
ceives word that a shipment has been
rejected by the consignee, he can wire
the markets inspection office in desig-
mated markets asking for an inSpec-
ton to determine the cause and JUS
tice of the rejection. The result, as
was anticipated, has been the almost
automatic elimination of unjust rejec-
tons. Knowing that an inspector is
available to the shipper, receiver
who discovers that he has bought on
a falling market does not feel so free
to reject the shipments consigned to
him. The mere establishment of the
away with that practice.
Faults Found in Shipments.
A second type of protection this |
service was designed to afford shippers |
was in settlement of claims made |
when shipments were received in bad |
condition. Inspections have demon
strated that the railroads often are
responsible for losses, especially for |
freezing injury, and for troubles which
may arise because of delay in transit.
These results were expected, but to a
surprising extent it has been found
that the grower and shipper also are
responsible, in that they often ship
poor, undergrade, diseased potatoes.
Growers and shippers must be held
responsible for much of the loss which
results from shipping diseased pota-
toes, since a large portion of such
losses can be controlled, if not entirely
in the field.
Serious damage results from careless
handling when the potatoes are har-
vested. Too many people handle pota-
toes as though they were cobblestones
rather than a perishable product.
Even the breaking of the protective
skin frequently proves serious. Such
injury not only damages the appear
ance and necessitates deep pairing of
the tuber, but affords ready entrance
to infection. Loss of this sort lies in
every growers and shippers power
% control.
Sizing Not Always Dependable.
In grading potatoes too much de-
llone. A potato, for example, may be
10 covered with second growth knobs
that it will not pass through the
neshes of the grader, but it does not
lightly belong in the first grade The |
,nobs mean much waste and require
xtra time in preparing the potato for
he table. Or, a potato may measure I
lp satisfactorily to the standards of
lie and yet be so diseased as to be
worthless. A potato may even present
fine prize-winning appearance on
he surface and be far below grade be-
ause of injuries or disease Of which
here is no evidence without cutting
he tuber. Freezing injury, or hollow y
cart. Illustrates cases of this kind
he grower should not be blamed for
,sses which result from these causes,
ut to great extent field conditions :
re the primary cause OF the troubles :"
hitch appear when the potatoes are
marketed !,
In its study Of shipments Of potatoes :
a the principal markets, the inspec- q
on service finds that late blight tuber =
Dt. which is frequently followed by
imy soft rot, causes heavy losses !,
his disease Is apparent at the time 9
loading. and the bad tubers can b =