250 THE POTATO 



having raised tops; also in patent folding crates. 

 Throughout the process of handling care must be 

 exercised to see that the sweet potatoes do not 

 become bruised, for upon this their shipping and 

 keeping qualities greatly depend. 



"Unlike most perishable products, the sweet 

 potato requires warmth and a dry atmosphere 

 while in storage. The method of storing will 

 depend both upon the locality and the quantity of 

 potatoes to be cared for. The temperature and 

 conditions of a rather cool living room are admira- 

 bly adapted for keeping sweet potatoes intended 

 for home use in the North, while in the South they 

 may be placed in pits or stored in outdoor cellars. 

 The home supply may be placed in crates and 

 stored in a loft over the kitchen part of the dwell- 

 ing. Sweet potatoes should not be stored in bags 

 or in barrels without ventilation. 



"Where large quantities of sweet potatoes are 

 stored for winter marketing, the method employed 

 in the Southern States is to place them in outdoor 

 pits and cellars, while at the North some form of 

 heated storage house will be required. Whether 

 the storage be in pit, cellar, or house, a dry, warm 

 atmosphere with ventilation is essential to good 

 keeping. 



"Of the large number of varieties of the sweet 

 potato there are not more than ten that are now of 

 great commercial importance in the United States. 

 For the markets that require a dry, mealy -fleshed 

 potato those varieties belonging to the Jersey 

 group are suitable. For the Southern trade and 

 where a moist-fleshed potato is desired those com- 

 monly designated as yams are in demand. Among 

 the Jerseys that are extensively grown are the Big- 

 Stem Jersey, the Yellow Jersey, and the Red Jer- 



