CONSTRUCTION OF PITS 297 



Tools for Harvesting. The plow has been modified in many 

 ways for harvesting sweet potatoes (Fig. 120). Generally a 

 rolling coulter is put on the plow to cut the vines. With such a 

 plow the first furrow may be run with the land side next to the sweet 

 potato row, while the second furrow is gauged to turn out the pota- 

 toes. Also plows are fitted with two rolling coulters spaced about 

 twelve inches apart, and the sweet potato row may then be turned 

 out with the first furrow. The regular large potato digger used for 

 digging Irish potatoes can also be used for sweet potatoes, but is 

 not altogether satisfactory, as it usually bruises them up more or 

 less. 



Storing Sweet Potatoes. Methods of storing sweet potatoes 

 vary, from placing them in very simple pits to well equipped and 

 especially built warehouses. The main principle in storing is to 

 first cure the potatoes, which really means drying out the excessive 

 moisture, and takes three to four weeks. The moisture should be 

 dried out at rather high temperature, anywhere from 8'0 to 100. 

 After this the potato should be slowly reduced to a temperature of 

 50 or 60 and held without disturbing until used. To facilitate 

 the curing or drying out, provision must be made for ventilation, 

 and if they are to be cured in large quantities, usually provision must 

 be made for heating. 



Construction of Pits. A simple outdoor pit is made by first 

 digging a slight excavation in a high, elevated place. If the pit is 

 a large one, ventilation should be provided in the bottom by making 

 shallow trenches covered with slats or brush, with a board ventilator 

 in the center. The potatoes are piled in the pit and lightly covered 

 with straw until they have gone through the sweating process. 

 They may then be more heavily covered with straw, and when cold 

 weather comes, a covering of dirt. Permanent board covered pits 

 are also made in a simple way and are satisfactory if good provision 

 is made for ventilation. 



Where large warehouses are built (Fig. 121), the walls are made 

 reasonably tight, but good provision is made for vent ilation. Slatted 

 bins are made in the warehouse, so that there is circulation of air 

 underneath the bins and on all sides. Usually some provision is 

 made for heating, so that a circulation of warm air can be kept up 



