180 The Sweet Potato 



Department of Agriculture and also individual growers. 

 This attention has been rewarded by the development of 

 a very economical and efficient plan of storage which is 

 in the reach of all growers. The future commercial 

 development of the industry will no doubt be constructed 

 on the basis of storage possibilities. 



Essentials in Jceeping sweet potatoes. 



To keep sweet potatoes successfully in storage so that 

 they will not only be protected from decay while in the 

 curing-house but will hold up well after being removed 

 whether for shipping, seed purposes, or other uses, 

 some essential principles must be carefully observed. 

 In the first place, every precaution should be taken to 

 prevent the spread of diseases, several of which seriously 

 affect the sweet potato crop in storage. The time of 

 digging and housing has been found to have a very 

 marked influence over the keeping qualities of this 

 crop. Extreme care in handling is absolutely essential 

 if the potatoes are to be stored without bruises, which 

 greatly interfere with their keeping qualities by facili- 

 tating the spread of numerous fungous diseases in the 

 storage-house through breaks in the skins. It has been 

 found that sweet potatoes should be well dried with 

 warm dry air during the curing process and afterwards 

 kept at a temperature ranging; from 40° to 60° through- 

 out the entire storage period. In keeping potatoes suc- 

 cessfully, whether in a bank, storage-house or otherwise, 

 it is essential that both proper insulation and ventilation 

 be provided. 



Care in hothed for disease. — The successful curing 

 and storage of sweet potatoes begins in the plant-bed. 

 Too often little attention is paid to the kind of bedding 



