412 FIMJLD CiiOFiS 



ground in the field where they grew, the piles being covered 

 with potato tops, straw, or hay, and a httle earth. They 

 may be kept in these piles until late in the fall, or even all 

 winter, if necessary. If they are to be left throughout the 

 winter, a pit is usually dug several feet deep and filled with 

 potatoes and covered as stated above. As the weather gets 

 colder, more earth or manure is piled on top to prevent 

 freezing. It is always desirable in a pit of any kind to leave 

 a small opening for ventilation. 



Potatoes are also often stored in cellars under houses, 

 a practice not usually advisable, except for small quantities 

 for home use, if unavoidable, because the cellar is likely to 

 be too warm and if any of tlie potatoes spoil they make con- 

 ditions in the house veiy unhealthf ul for its occupants. Root 

 cellars built separate from the house and potato warehouses 

 are far better storage places. Root cellars are usually built 

 underground and covered with a considerable depth of earth. 

 Such cellars are usually cool in warm weather and sufficiently 

 warm to protect potatoes from freezing in cold weather. If 

 dry and well ventilated, they serve their purpose very well. 

 Potato warehouses are usually built near railroad tracks so 

 that shipments may be made from them at any time during 

 the winter. The walls of these houses are usually made as 

 nearly frost-proof as practical, and, if there is danger of 

 freezing, stoves are used to rais^ the temperature slightly. 



MARKETING AND RETURNS 



561. Marketing. Potatoes are usually marketed as table 

 stock, as seed stock, or as white or red stock, the prices for 

 each kind depending upon the demand. By far the greater 

 portion of the potato crop is marketed as table stock, and 

 better prices are secured if carload lots of one type and variety 

 can be sold. In many locahties, small growers are seriously 

 handicapped bj^ the fact that it is practically impossible for 

 their buyer to get a carload of uniform stock, hence all the 



