Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-18

'''''''''
- OHIO ...--..-..... 10000
In the states ~ Alabama. Georgia.
NpFth Carolina south Carolina
Texas, Mississippi. Arkansas. Ten
ncssee aud Virginia the production
Of sweet potatoes exceeds tile local
consumption, and large quau,ics are
shippcI 10 Northern markets In the
rreen state as soon Az harvested or
they az" held Ia suitable storage
houses and moved TO the markets.
during the winter and spring.
White Virginia produces icss than
100000 bushels annually she ships
approximately so per cent of all the
green sweet potatoes handled through
Northern markets. These are mainly
of the Jrrs"y or drv type varieties.
and are shipped largely from the two
Eastern shore counties During a
normal season Accomac and North
ampton Counties alone ship 5000 car
loads OF this crop.
Stnir Needs Curing House.
The development of the modern
sweet potato curing house has
reached its greatest h.igh; In the
states Of Texas, Louisiana. MIssis-
Sippi. Georgia, South Carolina and
Arkansas. These States have a total
Of nearly 5000 houses, with a storage
capacity OF more than 3. o00. 900 bush
els The houses vary in size from
500 10 10000 bushels capacity. Many
are nodded after the government
plan house. while some are Of patent
design They arc heated ~ wood.
coal or oil stoves In some cases. and
10y hot water in oth"rs. "rrv Of tho
larger ..,r ar
ranccmout oy whicA hcut.n air IS
driven through iiumes To- all parts ~
the building by AN electric ran 80
All IHTlp1IG a. 81
houses now al use, none meet II"
needs OF the everyday farmer az
We'll as the government type house
plans OF which may lie secured
through the V. +. l. Extension Divi-
sion. B!ackshurg. Va.
The varieties most commonly
grown for storage are Porto Rico
and Nancy Han. Unlike the Jersey
types. when these varieties are cured
in storage a large per cent Of their
starcn content is converted into Su-
gar. This change takes place to
greater extent in the Porto Rico than
in the Nancy Hall.
In addition 10 the large quantities
Of this crop that are sold green and
from storage houses, thousands OF
bushels are annually packed in cans
and sold over the entire country.
-Four canning factories in Mississippi
"IpHc Ist'f from jO,UUW 10
10000 bushels each in tin cans. In
the Gulf States the Nancy Han and
Dooley are the standard canning
varieties. In Virginia and Maryland
The Jersey varieties are used almost
exclusively. Due 10 rs chemical
makeup the color OF the Porto Rico
canno; be maintained successfully in
tin cans.
Loss From Improper Storage.
me farmers of Virginia can well
congratulate themselves that their
state holds first place in the ship
ment or green sweet potatoes, but
whi'e rejoicing over this record they
should not overlook the fact that
during 1870 and 1921 as many sweet
potatoes rotted in Virginia as she
shipped TO Northern markets. This
enormous loss was not due to lack
OF markets. for during the fail and
winter of l320-2l Richmond alone
consumed nearly nifty carloads of
sweet potatoes from other states
The large amount Of rottinc was the
direct result of fungous diseases and
improper storage. Such a loss Is
not peculiar to any one season. II
occurs with the greatest regularity
year after year. Virginia must CON
tinue to cat sweet potatoes grown
III ONhtl uHAll nPT growers
realize the Importance of disease
control and the use OF the modern
storage house.
NirSinia's present needs may he
supplied without any increase in her
acreage In sweet potatoes IL her
growers consider the following es-
scntials for the successful produc-
ton of the crop:
i. Diseasc-frcc seed properly
dipped at bedding time.
- = usc.pf clean soil and beds
3. Careful preparation of soil.
4. Intelligent use OF fertilizers.
o.. Necessary cultivation.
8. Harvesting with care before
froet aisse 3 II. go y LAY ~ y. y.