THE POTATO 155 



separate packages and often under separate brands. 

 During the 70's, potatoes were shipped on boats 

 and cars in bulk, now the crop is handled in bags, 

 boxes and barrels. 



It pays to sort the crop carefully — offering 

 only sound, clean tubers for human consumption, 

 feeding all refuse to stock. Then the sound, clean 

 potatoes should be sorted as to size; large, medium 

 and small for different requirements. Potatoes 

 of uniform size cook most evenly. Each size 

 should be put up in clean, new packages. Bar- 

 rels and sacks are acceptable for the large users — 

 hotels, restaurants and dining cars, but crates or 

 cartons make attractive packages for the retail 

 trade. It may not be good business on the part 

 of the average purchaser of supplies for the house- 

 hold, but it is nevertheless doubtless true, that 75 

 per cent, of the potatoes consumed by city and 

 town people, pass over the counter of the retail 

 grocer in small lots. For such trade,' five, ten, 

 and fifteen pound cartons would be very attrac- 

 tive. 



The potato for this high-class trade should be 

 packed on the farm a short time only before being 

 retailed, and go in an original sealed package to 

 the consumer. There would be no bruising and 

 the potato could go to the table free from dis- 

 figurement. This should bring the grower a con- 

 siderable premium for his work. 



Quality and flavor in the potato receives more 

 attention in Europe than in the United States. 

 The early crop can be lower in quality than any 

 other because it is not kept so long. A low quality 

 crop, however, causes a falling oft* in consumption, 

 as in 1907. On the other hand, an increase in 

 equality greatly increases consumption — the aver- 



