Preparation for Market 315 



hampers, baskets, bushel crates and barrels are custom- 

 arily used as gift packages. Occasionally a grower can 

 collect his baskets or hampers from local buyers if the 

 goods are sold with that understanding, but they are 

 ordinarily used only once, the original cost being an im- 

 portant item. In addition to being cheap, the contain- 

 ers should be attractive as well. Nothing helps to sell a 

 bushel of sweet potatoes more than a neat attractive 

 package. The package should be convenient to fill, seal, 

 and handle. One of the most important items is to have 

 a package that can be packed tightly in a car to prevent 

 shifting, and at the same time provide ample ventila- 

 tion. The containers should be light in weight to econ- 

 omize in freight, express and handling charges, and 

 strong and durable to prevent breakage in transit. 



Kinds of packages. — Sweet potatoes are usually 

 shipped in 160-pound barrels, %- and 1-bushel hampers, 

 or in 1-bushel crates. Barrels are most extensively 

 employed on the Atlantic Coast, while crates, which are 

 just coming into prominence, are used almost exclu- 

 sively in the South. Hampers are utilized in the south- 

 em, northern and western sections. Although at pres- 

 ent one of the most popular containers, it has never- 

 given satisfaction because it is too light to be durable. 



Barrels. — Growers of the eastern states have used 

 barrels for many years. They are, however, practically 

 unknown in the western areas. The single-headed cloth 

 top barrel appears to be the most satisfactory one now 

 in use. When properly made and loaded, they are 

 sufficiently strong to carry the weight of the contents 

 and fully protect" the potatoes (see Fig. 34). Slat, 

 or veneer barrels are too flimsy for sweet potatoes ; they 

 crush or break easily and should not be used for any 



