448 



SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



if the potatoes be not frost bitten, improves the keeping 

 qualities of the crop. 



425. Methods of harvesting. The long vines must 

 first be disposed of. They are usually pulled by running 

 a plow on each side of the row. This work is done much 

 more satisfactorily if the line of plants be barred off with 

 a turn-plow, to the beam of which is attached a rolling 



FIG. 195. SPECIAL PLOWS FOR DIGGING SWEET-POTATOES. 



coulter, which cuts the vines close to the row (Fig. 1 95) . The 

 potatoes are then upturned by the use of a large turn-plow. 

 If the work of harvesting is performed by careful laborers, 

 sorting may be done in the field, the injured and unmarket- 

 able roots being gathered in different baskets from those 

 containing the marketable potatoes. With less careful 

 labor, it is better to gather all potatoes together, sorting 

 them at the place of storage or of packing. Extreme care 

 should be taken to avoid bruising the potatoes, since germs 

 of decay enter through bruises and cuts. One means of 

 reducing bruising consists in gathering the roots in small 



