POTATOES 



127 



soon as the earliest tubers are large enough for market. Such 



early harvesting may cut down the yield very materially, but 



the profit may be greater due to the high price for early "truck. 



The digging may be 



done by using a 



sweet potato digger 



which is equipi^ed 



with rolling coulters 



to cut the vines, or 



the vines may be cut 



with a hand blade 



and an ordinary 



plow used to turn 



the tubers out. 



Sweet jDotatoes 

 should be allowed to 

 dry in the field for 

 a few hours before 

 being hauled to the 

 place of storage. It 

 is best to provide 

 slatted crates of 

 convenient size in 

 which to keep the 

 ]iotatoes throughout 

 the storage period. 

 The tubers are put 

 in the crates in the 

 field. AVhere such 

 crates are not pro- 

 vided it is best to 

 use smooth contain- 

 ers, such as buckets 

 or pans, in prefer- 

 ence to baskets of 

 aii}^ description for 

 picking up the pota- 

 toes. The potatoes 

 should be handled with the greatest care to prevent scratching 

 and bruising the skins. 



Storage. — The keeping of sweet potatoes is one of the most 

 important items in their culture. Were the difficulty along this 

 line removed the area planted would be greatly increased. 



Fig. -12.— Soft 



sweet potato. — Fanncr.9 Bullc- 

 i'tii 7J.'f. 



