PREPARING PRODUCE FOR SALE 63 



samples by the carelessness of gatherers. But vegetables 

 also pay for the due exercise of care in the gathering, 

 green produce in particular like Cabbages, Savoys, 

 Kale, Lettuces, and Endive, have a sorry appearance when 

 a number of their leaves are broken or damaged. It is 

 easy to lower the market value of a crop seriously in 

 this way, and early Cabbages especially show the evil 

 effects of rough gathering. Potatoes cannot be treated 

 with the same tenderness as dessert Pears or Plums, but 

 there is no reason why they should not be secured 

 with more care than is frequently extended to them. It 

 seems to be a prevalent idea that it is impossible to 

 bruise a Potato by any amount of roughness, yet it can 

 be and is done much too often, while purchasers fancy 

 the discoloured blotches they find on peeling the tubers 

 for cooking are due to disease. Experienced exhibitors 

 at shows know full well the value of care in lifting and 

 preparing Potatoes for competition, and though a market 

 grower who has many acres of tubers to lift cannot 

 expend the same labour on the task, yet he can do 

 something in the direction with profit to himself. Much 

 the same applies to root crops generally ; within reason- 

 able limits they pay for all the care bestowed upon them, 

 in removing them from the ground under the best 

 conditions and in avoiding injury as far as possible. 



The operation of cleansing after a crop is taken from 

 the land is principally requisite for roots such as Potatoes, 

 Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips or Radishes, as well as those 

 earthed up for blanching like Celery or Sea-kale. As 

 regards the four first named, when the soil is not of a 

 very adhesive character, and it is in a fairly dry state, 

 all that may be needful will be the removal of the soil 

 by hand, or by sifting in the course of sorting, in the 

 case of Potatoes. A large amount of soil adhering to any 

 roots sent for sale has not only a disfiguring effect, it 

 lowers the value materially, and those over-sharp 



