Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-10


suggested that the potatoes be dug
Non a dry, clear day since the pores
of the potatoes will remain open and
not be closed by film of mud as is
the case on wet day. When placed
in the storage house they begin to
| throw off the excess moisture by
| sweating"
Another reason for digging on a
| dry and clear day is that if the po--
tatoes become wet in the process of
| harvesting, it will be difficult to dry
off this moisture when they are put
into crates, hampers, baskets, bins or
| piled together in quantity in any
manner. The rot spores have an ex-
| cellent opportunity to get started un-
der such conditions. Also, wet po-
alto bruises more quickly than a dry
| one. Bruising is the first step to-
ward decay.
Sweet potatoes should be hauled to
| the storage house in wagons with
| springs and in boxes that will pre-
vent bruising. 1t is also advisable
| to DO this hauling the same day that
! the potatoes are dug, as too much
exposure to the sun and chilling on
cold nights will often start the po-
atoes decaying.
Although the question of grades
and standards will be discussed later
on, it is well to associate grading
with digging. At this time, it will
be found practicable and advanta-
geous to sort out all bruised, cut
diseased, cracked and other imper-
feet potatoes which if placed with
the good ones would be the cause Of
loss in decay.
There is sure to be great number
Of small and understood potatoes, as
WE'LL as many damaged ones. har-
vested. These potatoes may be fed
to stock or put in cans. There is
quite demand for canned sweet po-
tatoes, demand that seems to be
on the increase with the supply not
keeping up. Recent Investigations at
the Georgia State College of Agri-
culture resulted in the following recr
concentrations regarding the canning
Of sweet potatoes:
"a small Steam Gamer will cost
about SIS. The potatoes should be
peeled by hand after cooking forty
five minutes, packed in the cans while
hot and sealed. Cans are preferable
to glass jars for sweet potatoes, es-
pecially for commercial purposes.
The processing should be done at ten
pounds steam pressure for IS min
utes. The cans should then be cooled
by filling the retort with cold water
before the product has a chance to
air-cool. This water is introduced
into the retort-a as soon as the steam
has escaped, after the processing has
been finished. BY following these
directions. the color of the product
will be good and the loss caused by
spoilage reduced to a minimum"
Sweet potatoes are not only val
liable as human food. but may also
be used for stock. In nutritious
properties the root excels all others
except the carrot. Potatoes analyze
as follows: Water, Ill per cent: ash,
10 per cent; crude protein, LIS per
cent; crude fiber, 13 per cent; nitro
extract. GA per cent. The addition
of these percentages, with the excep-
ton Of the water and ash, gives 27.9
per cent organic matter. A compari-
son with Irish potatoes show that
the sweet potato contains 7.8 per cent
less water. the same amount of ash,
0.6 per cent less crude protein, OF
per cent more crude fiber, IA per cent
more nitrogen free extract, O.3 per
cent more ether extract and rs per
cent more organic matter. 1t is said
that for feeding stock that three
bushels Of sweet potatoes are equal
to one Of corn. When the amount
that may be raised to the acre is
considered. this shows that a yield
of $50 acres of sweet potatoes is
equal to so bushels of corn. Yields
exceeding this are not uncommon.
Destroying Johnson Grass
J. l.. S., Lexington, N. c,
writes: I wish your advice on
how to get rid of half acre Of
Johnson grass. Would it not
be we'll to first burn it off as it
has been laying out for two
years since being broken?
There would be no objection to
your burning off the area of Johnson
grass you wish to destroy. 1t there
is much top to the plants this might
enable you to kill out considerable
matured and fallen on the surface of
the ground. Then proceed as fol-
lows: When the grass shows a de-
velopment of 10 to "a inches plow 1t
rather shallow, just. deep enough to
turn the root stalks up to the sur
time avoid cutting or ahrading the1l
as much as possible. Harrow the
land thoroughly in opposite direc-
tions so as to bring as many of the
roots and stalks to the surface as
possible. Having accomplished this,
er and burn it. Then plant the land
to cowpeas, velvet beans or any other
good smother crop. In the fall break
the land shallow just before winter
freezes occur. Harrow 1t again ana
get out as many of the roots as pos
sible. Then plant another smother
crop such as rape, crimson clover and
vetch would constitute. The Vetch
and crimson clover help to give bot
: tom to the crop and make it thick
and dense along the ground, thus
helping to smother oCt the Johnson
grass. You may have to grow smoth-
er crops on this land several years in
succession to free it of these roots
This plant is wonderfully tenacious
to life. It's fleshy roots if abraded
at any joint will start another plant.
therefore it requires a most persist
ent and continued effort to bring it
under control.
Securing Stand of Soy Beans
j. K. D., CedartoWn, Ga,
writes: 1 expect to plant some
soy beans but am informed that
it is difficult to get stand.
There are a great many people
in this section going to plant
them for the first time, and 1
will appreciate receiving instruc-
tions about planting so L may