The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-05-31
New Standard Announce
ment For Sweet Potatoes

Washington, ID. C.-After an in
I vestigation in producing areas and
at marketing centers the Bureau of
Markets, United States Department
of Agriculture, in April, 1918, pro-
posed tentative grades for sweet
potatoes. Since that time the prac-
tical application of these grades has
been watched closely, and it has
been noted that the use of some of
them has given general satisfaction
to growers and dealers alike.
But in order to meet the require
mentS OF everyone, and in the hope
og stabilizing the marketing Of the
sweet potato crops, the Bureau Of
Markets has made some changes in
the specifications already proposed
and now recommends the use Of u.
S. Grades, No. l, No. l medium, No.
l long. No. 2 Jumbo, and No. 3 to
supersede the tentative grades.
U. S. Grade No. l consists of
sound sweet potatoes of similar vari-
etal characteristics which are practic-
ally free from dirt or other foreign
matter, frost injury decay, bruises,
cuts, scars, cracks, and damage cauS-
ed by heat, disease, insects (includ-
ing WecNIlS) VI uy VI
other causes. Each sweet potato
shall be not less than inches nor
more than 10 inches in length Gun
less the diameter is IA inches or
more). To allow for cariatiOn in
cident to commercial grading and
handling per cent, by weight, OF
any lot need not meet the size re-
quirements, and, in addition, 6 per
cent, by weight, may be below the
quality requirements of the grade.
Any lot where the diameter is not
less than l 1-2 inches and which con-
.tains more than per cent, by weight
of sweet potatoes below l ga inches
in length, but which otherwise meets
the requirements of U. S. Grade No.
] shall be designated as U. S. Grade
/ medium.
Any lot where The length is not
less than inches nor more than II
inches and which contains more than
per cent, by weight of potatoes
over 10 inches in length, but which
otherwise meets the requirements of
u. S. Grade No. l shall be designated
as U. S. Grade No. l long.
U. S. Grade No. consists of sweet
potatoes of similar varietal charact-
eristils, not meeting the require
ments of the foregoing grades, but
which are free from serious damage
caused by the agencies enumerated
in the specifications of U. S. Grade
No l Except weevils). and which
are not less than l IL inches nor
more than 1-2 inches in diameter.
To allow for various insidents 10
commercial grading and handling, 3
per cent, by weight, of any lot may
not meet the requirements as 10
diameter. and, in addition, 6 per cent
by weight, may be below the other
requirements for this grade.
The quality requirements for U.
S. Jumbo Grade are the same as
those for U. S. Grade, No. 2, but each
sweet potato must be not less than
3 IL inches in diameter. Five per
cent. by weight, may be less than )
1-2 inches in diameter, and, in addl-
ton, 6 per cent, by weight, may be
allowed the remaining requirements
of this grade to allow for variations
incident to commercial grading ara
handling.
u. s. Grade No. S, consists Of
sweet potatoes not meeting the re-
uuirements of any of the foregoing
grades.
Complete information concerning
sweet potato grades can be had by
requesting the Bureau OF Markets,
United States Department of Agrl-
culture, Washington, D. c., for De-
partment Circular SO.