SWEET-POTATO STORAGE STUDIES. 
13 
the three varieties for the storage period of 16i days was 13.83 per 
cent when stored at 50° to 55° F., 15.27 per cent at 55° to 60° F., and 
15.70 per cent at 60° to 65° F. These percentages are fairly low for 
such a long storage period, especially for storage in crates. At 111 
days in this experiment, this period being comparable to the time 
sweet potatoes are ordinarily held in storage, the average percentage 
of shrinkage was 11.33 at 50° to 55° F., 12.47 at 55° to 60° F., and 
13.22 at 60° to 65° F. 
Table 6. — Relation of temperature during storage ot the keeping quality of 
sweet potatoes. 
[Shrinkage and decay averages of three standard varieties in storage-house tests during two seasons.] 
Tem- 
pera- 
ture. 
Weight* 
at har- 
vest 
time. 
Loss 
in 
weight 
din- 
ing 
cur- 
ing. 
Loss in weight at end of— 
Variety. 
51 
days. 
82 
days. 
111 
days. 
141 
days. 
164 days. 
Loss due to 
decay in 164 
days. 
Big-Stem Jersey — 
Nancy Hall 
Southern Queen 
°F. 
50 to 55 
50 to 55 
50 to 55 
Lbs. 
142.56 
140.00 
153.09 
Per ct. 
6.59 
7.14 
7.83 
Per ct. 
8.02 
8.46 
9.12 
Per ct. 
9.42 
9.69 
10.49 
Per ct. 
10.88 
11.03 
12.00 
Per ct. 
12.09 
12.12 
13.21 
Lbs. 
19.31 
18.44 
22.50 
Per ct. 
13.54 
13.10 
14.69 
Lbs. 
1.81 
.84 
.59 
Per ct. 
1.27 
.60 
.38 
Total for three 
435. 67 
60.25 
13.83 
3.25 
Average for 
three varie- 
7.23 
8.55 
9.88 
11.33 
12.49 
.75 
55 to 60 
55 to 60 
55 to 60 
Big-Stem Jersey 
Nancy Hall 
144.16 
144. 47 
151.72 
7.74 
8.50 
8.71 
9.02 
9.73 
9.68 
10.82 
11.12 
11.53 
12.59 
12.74 
12.09 
14.24 
14.30 
14.03 
22.50 
22.31 
22.44 
15.61 
15.45 
14.79 
!72 
.56 
1. 17 
.49 
Southern Queen 
.37 
Total for three 
440.34 
67.25 
15.27 
2.97 
Average for 
three varie- 
8.32 
9.48 
11.16 
12.47 
14.18 
.67 
60 to 65 
60 to 65 
60 to 65 
Big-Stem Jersey 
Nancy Hall 
Southern Queen 
139. 94 
143. 16 
150. 53 
7.98 
9.17 
6.73 
9.60 
11.05 
8.24 
12.10 
13.18 
10.40 
13.75 
14.69 
11.73 
15.46 
15. 89 
12.81 
23.62 
24.12 
20.34 
16.85 
16. 85 
13.51 
3.31 
.78 
2.36 
.54 
Total for three 
433. 62 
68.09 
15.70 
4 09 
Average for 
three varie- 
ties 
7.93 
9.61 
11.87 
13.22 
14.68 
.96 
1 Weight means the average weight of potatoes stored per year (total weight divided by 2). 
Toward the end of the storage period the Big- Stem Jersey usually 
withers at the tips, while the two other varieties remain plump. The 
Southern Queen retains its plumpness better than the others. For 
this reason Jersey varieties are usually marketed first. 
KEEPING QUALITIES OF SWEET POTATOES STORED IN BINS 
AND IN CRATES. 
Sweet potatoes may be stored in bins, or in crates, boxes, hampers, 
baskets, or other containers. It is often asserted that crates, baskets, 
and other containers are better than bins, because when decay sets in 
it is likely to be confined to the container holding only a small quan- 
