Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-20
An EXAMPLE for Farmers

r an inconspicuous news story from south
Georgia is found the demonstration of a
fundamental principle which underiies
Georgias present and future prosperity.
Here it is:
Thomas Garrett, of Charing, Taylor
county, has sold to the Planters Products
Company, which operates curing house at
Charing, 1,427 bushels Of graded sweet po-
tatoes, which were raised on eight acres OF
land. Mr.. Garrett has thirty additional acres
in potatoes"
This Taylor county farmer has grasped one
of the essential truths that vitality affect agri-
cultural operations if they are to be con-
Quoted on satisfactory basis. Notice that
he sold GRADED potatoes after they had been
properly CURED.
Sweet potatoes, easily grown in Georgia,
and particularly in the southern portion of
the State, where sandy soil. predominates,
constitute one of the most profitable crops
that can be produced. The very fact that
their production requires comparatively little
labor and financial expenditure has caused the
lOWly tuber to be regarded with something
like contempt. Some farmers still persist in
using sweet potatoes as hog feed rather than
as money crop to supplement cotton, or as
product to be utilized in carrying out the
policy of living at home"
Volumes have been written on the food
value of the yam; other volumes to give the
result of scientific research showing the best
ket. The old-fashioned way of curing pota-
toes has been largely abandoned in favor of
the more economical, more efficient method
of curing now being demonstrated throLg hout
the South. Until the advent Of the curing
house, the farmer buried his sweet potatoes
in huge mound, digging them out needed
during the winter If lucky, he had sweet pa-
tatoes for several weeks; if not, his potato
supply, when uncovered. was found to be de-
cayed beyond hope of salvage.
Il r11o doc I,oN
ton of curing houses so constructed to
make 1t possible to cure yams thoroughly and
rapidly, drying out surplus water, which
| causes early decay, and making them firm
but not tough and stringy. When the curing
process has been completed, the potatoes can
be shipped without loss to the producer or to
the buyer, whose interests must be conserved
if a steady market is to be maintained.
Too much emphasis can not be laid on the
necessity for proper grading of sweet pota-
| toes. The same thing applies to all manner
| of farm products, although it is a sad COM
mentary on Southern agriculture that this
| phase of marketing has been practically dis
regarded, Notwithstanding the fact cotton is
sold by grade. Potatoes, like many other crops
| can not be sold in the field under ordinary
| circumstances. They must be- slipped OF
| consignment, or sold outright to purchasers
| at more or less distant points. Infrequently
buyers sent out to purchase direct from
| the farmer and thus inspect the crop at first
|
saler or commission man to have some
fairly accurate idea of what he is
| going to receive when he buys q given
| quantity of sweet potatoes. If he buys a
| supposedly good quality and finds that he
| has been shipped a mixture of hubby, stringy,
! half-decayed potatoes, his confidence is de-
| stroyed and his price offer declines cor
respondingly. Nobody likes to buy "a pig in
| a poke"
Grading solves this problem. Standard
| grades, scrupulously observed tend to estab-
| lish confidence in the market and assure a
! fair deal for all concerned. If the farmer
| sells and ships good grade of potatoes, his
| returns are commensurate. If he sells a
| poorer grade at a lower price, he knows what
| his price will be. There is little room for
| disappointment on either side when both par
| ties know what is being transferred.
| Proper curing, grading and packing of
| sWee. potatoes constitutes the answer to the
question that is agitating thousands of farm
ers throughout the. South A good money
crop goes to waste every year in large meas
| ure simply because proper methods are not
used in preparing it for market and for home
| consumption. 1t Is encouraging to note the
increasing number Of curing houses being
erected at strategic points. There are COM
munity curing houses, individual curing
house and curing hoses bilt solely as a bust
ness proposition to handle potatoes for pat
| rons at a given price. Such establishments
| are doing much to raise the standard of mar
| keting in the sweet potato belt.
! The example of Mr.. Garrett, of Taylor
county, is one that might be profitably emu
| lated by thousands Of farmers. Undoubtedly
| many are securing results equally as salts
| factory, but the concrete instance serves to
drive home a principle which, if faithfully
| observed, means much to the financial adj
vancement of the Southern States.