204 The Sweet Potato 



disadvantages may be overcome partially by tbe use of 

 scientific methods, as follows: 



" The main disadvantages in the pit or bank method 

 of storage are (1) the large amount of loss due to decay; 

 (2) the inferior quality of the sound potatoes, due to 

 lack of proper curing; (3) the loss on the market, 

 because banked potatoes will keep for such a short 

 period after being removed; and (4) the inconvenience 

 of getting the potatoes when needed, especially during 

 cold or rainy weather. If it is impossible to build a 

 storage house the potatoes should be cared for in some 

 other way, and it is much better to store in pits or out- 

 door cellars than not to store them at all. By using the 

 best methods of banking known, the loss by decay can be 

 materially reduced but not eliminated, because it is 

 impossible to control the moisture and temperature. 



" Storage pits should be located where the drainage 

 is good. In making a pit a little of the surface soil is 

 thrown back to form a level bed of the size desired. It 

 is a good plan to dig two small trenches across the bed 

 at right angles to each other, to provide for ventilation 

 at the bottom. Lay boards or place troughs over the 

 trenches, and at the point where the trenches cross set 

 a small box on end to form a flue up through the pile of 

 potatoes. The earth floor of the pit is covered with 

 4 or 5 inches of straw, hay, leaves, or pine needles, 

 and the potatoes are placed in a conical pile around 

 the flue. A covering of straw, hay, or similar ma- 

 terial is put on the pile and over this a layer of soil. 

 The covering of soil should be only a few inches 

 thick, but increased as the weather gets cold. Keep 

 the ends of the trenches and flue open until it is neces- . 

 sary to close them to keep out the frost. It is better 



