228 The Sweet Potato 



Growers who are working up fancy trade sometimes use 

 paper lining around the inside of the barrel, with corru- 

 gated paper caps on the ends. These caps are sup- 

 posed to prevent bruising. Lace circles of paper are 

 often placed on top to make the barrel more attractive 

 when exposed for sale. These frills are, however, un- 

 called for and with sweet potatoes more than any other 

 farm crop superb quality of the product with neat and 

 substantial packing will in the end prove most profitable. 

 In packing hampers or crates, there is less tempta- 

 tion to bruise the potatoes by dropping into the contain- 

 ers than is true of barrels. Sweet potatoes should be 

 lifted from one container and placed as carefully in 

 another as in handling eggs. It is remarkable the speed 

 that can be acquired with a little practice and at the 

 same time handle the roots in such a manner that they 

 will not be bruised. Hampers or bushel crates should 

 be packed tightly with about %-inch bilge. A full 

 bushel hamper or crate holding 2150 cubic inches will 

 hold 50 to 52 pounds of l^To. 1 sweet potatoes after they 

 have been cured, if tightly packed. Most growers try 

 to put 51 pounds into a package of this kind, calcu- 

 lating that it will contain about 50 pounds net when it 

 reaches the consumer. The appearance of packs can 

 be greatly enhanced if careful facing is done. By 

 facing is meant the special placing of the top layer of 

 potatoes to insure a smooth, even and attractive sur- 

 face. Facing is not a means of defi-auding the buyer 

 by placing potatoes of one grade on top and inferior 

 grades on the bottom and selling the whole on the basis 

 of the top quality, but consists in the systematic arrange- 

 ment of the top layer of potatoes so that the appearance 

 will be pleasing. Proper facing not only assists in 



