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BIGGLE GARDEN BOOK 



Digging, storing and marketing : The maturity 

 and death of the vines show that it is time to dig 

 the main or late crop, which should be done at once 

 if the tubers seem to be rotting; but if they are keep- 

 ing all right it may be better to delay digging until 

 later in the fall when the weather is cooler. Early- 

 market tubers are dug whenever big enough, re- 

 gardless of the vines. In the fall choose a dry time 

 to do the digging, if possible. They should be dug 

 by hand if the area is not large — using a four-tined 

 potato hook made for the purpose. Or, if the area 

 is large, there are excellent horse-power machine 

 diggers and pickers that save much time and labor. 



In harvesting, as well as in storage, potatoes 

 should be exposed to light as little as possible. 

 After digging I advise that they should lie on the 

 ground only long enough to dry thoroughly, and 

 then be gathered up into slatted bushel-crates, piled 

 on the wagon, hauled to the packing or storage place 

 and sorted into grades (a machine potato-sorter is 

 made that facilitates this work). In some cases the 

 potatoes are sorted in the field and packed at once 

 in barrels, or in burlap sacks holding no to 120 

 pounds. Early potatoes are sold in Maryland and 

 some other states in round one-third-barrel veneer 

 baskets. Late potatoes are often shipped in barrels 

 with the tops tied with burlap, or in burlap sacks, or 

 loose in carload lots. 



In storing potatoes a dark, dry place and a low 

 temperature is required. The potato tuber is unin- 

 jured by a temperature of 33° F. Warmth, light 

 and moisture favor sprouting, which injures potatoes 

 both for planting and eating. Storage in cellars 

 is very common ; outdoor pits are sometimes used 

 (consult Chapter IX in regard to pits). No matter 



