Cabbage 79 



the process of packing the barrel should be shaken or 

 "racked" several times so as to cause the potatoes to settle 

 and arrange themselves into the spaces between the tubers, 

 and make the pack firm and snug so that it will be well 

 filled at the time it reaches the market. 



Sweet potatoes are packed in the same manner, and 

 fully as much care is necessary in the grading of them as 

 very small string-like potatoes are not desirable and tubers 

 which are considerably over size add nothing to the ap- 

 pearance of the package. Potatoes of medium size are the 

 most satisfactory for the Northern markets and usually 

 bring the best price. 



Some of the Southern sweet potato growers are of the 

 opinion that the use of double headed barrels add materi- 

 ally to the marketing of the tubers in the North, as a 

 double headed barrel insures the potatoes reaching the 

 market in a better condition than is usually the case with 

 the burlapped barrel. 



Cabbage 



In the Southern states where cabbage is grown for the 

 Northern markets the usual package for marketing is a 

 slat-crate holding about 100 pounds. The heads are graded 

 according to size and packed as carefully as any other 

 perishable product. The slat crate or ventilated barrel is 

 preferred to the ordinary barrel because of the better ven- 

 tilation that is obtained. Cabbage wilts considerably after 

 being cut, and unless there is abundant ventilation for this 

 moisture, the air in the package becomes saturated and 

 moisture frequently condenses on the sides of the barrel. 

 In a tight package rot will quickly develop, and the prod- 

 uct be spoiled. 



Late cabbage is most often packed in a square crate 

 holding about a barrel, and in either sort of package it is 

 important to pack heads of uniform size in each package, 

 and to fill the package very full and. solid, as cabbage wilts 

 and shrinks considerably during transportation so that it 

 is important to guard against having it reach the buyer in 

 a slack condition. 



