166 THE POTATO 



No one seems to be able to forecast or guess the 

 future even one season ahead. The "intermit- 

 tent" potato grower may make big money or go 

 broke, but the one who grows a stated acreage 

 every year for ten years makes a nice average an- 

 nual profit. 



As is true of all crops that make food for the 

 human race, the ultimate future of the potato 

 crop for the intelligent grower is certainly very 

 bright. No market is so panicky and so subject 

 to rise and fall in price. This is true in both 

 Europe and America. This is one of the phases 

 of the business that should make the grower alert 

 and watchful of crop and market conditions. It 

 requires more than ordinary judgment to know 

 when to hold or sell. 



There are several ways of loading potato cars 

 for shipment in cold weather to prevent freezing. 

 At Carbondale a foot of straw is put on the bottom 

 of the refrigerator car and a foot around the sides 

 as the potatoes in bags are laid in tiers. After 

 the car is fully loaded, oil stoves are put in, the 

 temperature raised to 80 degrees, the stoves re- 

 moved and the cars tightly sealed. This generally 

 insures the car going through in good shape. 



In Maine, a false bottom and false sides are made 

 in the refrigerator car, leaving a two-inch air 

 space all around. This frame is covered with 

 building paper. The air space serves the same 

 purpose as the straw. About 300 sacks of a little 

 over 100 pounds each or about 30,000 pounds 

 is the weight usually loaded per car, although 

 double this tonnage is sometimes loaded. 



