Tin: POTATO IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 37 



Cupolas (as shown in Fig. 30) are sometimes used for the same purpose and thus 

 prevent the entrance of moisture. These should have straw placed in the opening 

 upon the approach of winter. 



Shrinkage in Storage. Potatoes lose weight a great deal in storage. The loss 

 is slow at first, amounting to about 6 or 8 per cent, during the first six months. 

 After that the loss amounts to about 5 per cent, per month. 



MARKETING. 



Before growers in a district can expect to obtain successful markets their first 

 aim should be to grow one or two standard varieties, so that they can ship in car-load 

 lots potatoes of the same variety or type. Secondly, they should grade their crop 

 well ; and, thirdly, they should practise co-operative marketing. If the best results 

 are to be obtained from co-operative effort, two factors are essential: (1) That the 

 members always remain loyal to their association; (2) that the association have a 

 competent manager of good business ability. 



Questions are often asked such as these: "When shall I market my crop?" 

 "Will it pay to sell now or hold until spring?" It is very difficult to answer such 

 questions. If the price is a fair one it may be wise to market the crop in the fall, 

 because if the grower waits until spring he is taking a big chance as regards price, 

 and at the same time he may lose many potatoes in storage. On the other hand, 

 if the farmer is pressed for time in the fall, he can use his time to better advantage 

 than marketing potatoes; also in the winter he will have more time for sorting. 

 In any case the potato-buyer will usually only take a certain quantity in the fall. 



DISPOSAL OF CULL POTATOES. 



There is too much of a tendency for growers to use those potatoes for seed 

 which have been thrown out as unfit for table stock (culls). Such a practice is 

 a very serious one and should be guarded against if growers wish their potato- 

 growing to reach a high standard. 



There are various methods for disposal of those cull potatoes. In some countries 

 they are used for the manufacture of alcohol, starch, or stock-food. In this country 

 we have at the present time to resort to feeding them to stock; this is our most 

 profitable and best way to dispose of them. Professor W. A. Henry, Director of the 

 Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Wisconsin, in his well-known text- 

 book on " Feeds and Feeding," makes the following statement in regard to potatoes 

 as feed for stock: "They are fed chiefly to pigs, but can also be given in limited 

 amounts to cattle, sheep, and horses as a partial substitute for grain. For pigs they 

 should be steamed or boiled and fed with concentrates. In various trials 340 to 

 442 Ib. of potatoes have saved 100 Ib. of grain. The bitter-tasting water in which 

 potatoes are cooked should be thrown away, likewise all unripe tubers and the 

 sprouts, which contain considerable poison. For horses potatoes may be fed cooked 

 or raw, in amounts up to 17.5 Ib. per head daily. For dairy cows a heavy allowance 

 of potatoes produces milk of poor flavour. Not over 33 Ib. of cooked potatoes should 

 be fed daily and less of the raw tubers." 



PREPARATION OF CARS FOR SHIPPING POTATOES. 



M:my car-loads of potatoes are in an inferior condition when they reach their 

 destination on account of lack of knowledge as to the best methods of loading and 

 shipping. 



For long-distance shipments crates are the most satisfactory containers and are 

 absolutely necessary for ocean transportation. The end pieces of the crates should 

 be hexagon shape, which allows for better ventilation when storing a large quantity 

 together. 



In dealing with potatoes in sucks, when loading into freight-cars it is desirable 

 that the car be provided with a false floor to give good ventilation in order to allow 

 better circulation of the air in the event of the car being heated, and also to prevent 

 freezing. 



