220 VEGETABLE GROWING PROJECTS 



12. Storing and marketing. — A fairly moist atmosphere and a 

 temperature of 33° F. are most favorable for the storage of po- 

 tatoes. The tubers are easily injured by frost, and they soon 

 shrivel and become inferior in quality when kept in dry, warm 

 rooms. Moist cellars and caves furnish the best conditions for 

 the storage of this crop. 



The grading of potatoes is becoming more popular, and it may 

 be the means of materially increasing the returns per acre. Crates, 

 barrels, baskets, and sacks are used in the marketing of this crop. 



1. What are the most favorable conditions for the storage of 



potatoes? Fr: 147-152. Gi: 236-258. 



2. Do you have suitable storage facilities for this crop ? 



3. How will it pay you best to market your crop ? 



Project XIV. Growing Sweet Potatoes 



The sweet potato belongs to the Morning Glory family. There 

 are several other species here of economic importance, wild sweet 

 potato vine and the bindweeds as weeds, and moon-flowers and 

 morning glory as ornamentals. The family has a wide distribu- 

 tion but is most abundant in the tropics. The sweet potato is a 

 native of the West Indies and Central America. This accounts 

 for the fact that it does best in a warm climate. 



The sweet potato plant is a trailing, twining, perennial plant, i.e., 

 lives year after year. The enlarged underground parts are some- 

 times called " tubers " or " root tubers " but they are in reality 

 roots and not genuine tubers as in the Irish potato. The leaves 

 are arranged alternately on the stems and are heart-shaped in gen- 

 eral outline. The flowers are large, funnel-form in shape, and purple 

 in color. There are several types or varieties of sweet potatoes. 

 The varieties differ somewhat in the shape and size of the roots 



