POTATO CULTURE. 207 



so they could get the potatoes through and enable us to save 

 them from the frost. The car was planted on our side-track 

 at just 5 o'clock. We had notice of its coming, and eight of 

 our men and boys were invited to go into the lunch-room 

 and have a good supper, so that they might be ready to han- 

 dle the potatoes before Jack Frost could nip them. The 

 thermometer showed only 15 degrees above zero, and there 

 was a brisk west wind. The boys, however, handled the 

 potatoes so quickly' that, within two hours, the whole carload 

 was safely deposited in the cellar, and the doors and win- 

 dows closed. Yon may be sure I drew a long breath of 

 relief when the last box went away. I guess the boys drew 

 some long breaths too. Jt was worth something to see the 

 way those boxes full of potatoes moved into the place assign- 

 ed them. Now, here is a little to the credit of our Weather 

 Bureau. They have been criticised during our recent drouth 

 because rains did not always come when they told us condi- 

 tions were favorable ; but as to the matter of temperature 

 they made hardly a mistake ; and J am glad to be able to say, 

 also, that at least one railroad company in the United States 

 was willing to hold a train half an hour for the sake of sav- 

 ing a carload of potatoes. 



Suppose these potatoes had been picked up or shoveled up, 

 poured into the car, picked up or shoveled up again, and 

 poured into our cellar. Think of the bruising and injury, 

 aside from the convenience and neatness in doing the work. 

 Another thing, as a great part of these potatoes are to be 

 sold at retail, many customers will pay 15 cents extra for the 

 privilege of taking the nice new clean bushel boxes home 

 with their potatoes, for almost every family will find these 

 boxes, that hold an exact bushel when level full, exceedingly 

 handy to have in the cellar, barn, or other out-buildings. 



