8 BULLETIN 784, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Illustrative material. — Procure samples of typical marketable pota- 

 toes of both grade No. 1 and grade No. 2, using varieties common in 

 district, specimens of imperfect and diseased potatoes, pictures and 

 drawings of various containers for marketing potatoes, samples of 

 crates and baskets for marketing small lots, a map of the State and 

 the United States showing railroad routes to the chief markets for 

 the district, pictures or diagrams showing methods of loading in 

 part or in full carload lots. Procure samples of potatoes for sale on 

 the market and compare with the samples of typical grades. 



Class exercise. — Discuss the following topics with the class : 



1. The grading of potatoes for market, stressing quality as well as 

 uniformity. 



2. Preparing for shipping — the package, crate, barrel, box, sack; 

 advantages and disadvantages of each. What package is commonly 

 used in this district ? 



3. The market for the crop, local and shipping. 



4. Prevailijig prices. 



5. Cooperative shipping organizations. 



6. Are the potatoes shipped in small lots or by the carload ? 



7. What is the general practice regarding the selling and ship- 

 ping — potatoes sold in the field, f. o. b. the car, shipped to a com- 

 mission merchant; open shipment, shipped with bill of lading at- 

 tached, or shipped billed to the shipper ? 



Practical exercises. — Plan a field trip to a potato farm or a potato 

 storage house to observe the methods practiced in preparing potatoes 

 for market and shipping. If potatoes gTown in the district are sold 

 in local markets, visit these markets to observe the way these potatoes 

 are sorted and handled. Note prices for same and compare with prices 

 received in other markets and when shipped. If there is a community 

 marketing association, the class should make inquiries as to their 

 methods of handling and shipping the crop, the number of bushels 

 handled, markets supplied, and net price to shippers. Discover what 

 use is made of culls. A class discussion as to the proper way to handle 

 culls will be profitable. 



Correlations. — On a map of the United States locate the chief mar- 

 kets supplied. What railroads carry the potatoes ? Locate the potato- 

 growing sections of the State and of the United States. These exer- 

 cises will afford good jDractice in geography. 



Arithmetic : From the information gatliered in the practical exer- 

 cises and class study make problems adapted to this lesson and grade 

 of the pupils. 



Language : Written or oral exercises on " Grading potatoes," " Pre- 

 paring for shipment," and " Potatoes on the local market," will give 

 abundant practice in language. 



