October, 1917 
WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE 
23 
Establishment of Potato Grades. 
Growers, shippers and distribu- 
tor's of potatoes met in Washington 
recently to discuss this year’s po- 
tato crop and to determine the 
course of action to be pursued in 
the growing and distribution of 
next year’s crop. In the opinion 
of this group of men, the regular 
channels of trade should be inter- 
rupted as little as possible, unless 
some unusual contingency should 
arise. In such event, they believe 
that the U. S. Food Administra- 
tion is undoubtedly in position to 
take such action as will best serve 
the interests of all, and that such 
action would receive their hearty 
support and cooperation. 
One of the features of the meet- 
ing was the recommendation that 
definite grades of potatoes be 
adopted. This was deemed advis- 
able because of the tremendous 
economic waste due to improper 
grading; and also because the 
shipping of ungraded potatoes 
means cost of transportation, 
waste of railway equipment and 
labor in handling potatoes which, 
while worthless at destination, 
would have had some value as 
stock feed on the grower’s farm. 
U. S. Grade No. 1 
This grade shall consist of sound 
potatoes of similar varietal char- 
acteristics, which are practically 
free from dirt or other foreign 
matter, frost injury, sunburn, sec- 
ond growth cuts, scab, blight, dry 
rot, and damage caused by disease, 
insects, or mechanical means. The 
minimum diameter of potatoes of 
the round varieties shall be one 
and seven-eighths (1%) inches, 
and of potatoes of the long varie- 
ties, one and three fourth (1%) 
inches. In order to allow for vari- 
ations incident to commercial 
grading and handling, five per cen- 
tum by weight of any lot may be 
under the prescribed size, and, in 
addition, three per centum by 
weight of any such lot may be be- 
low the remaining requirements of 
this grade. 
U. S. Grade No. 2 
This grade shall consist of pota- 
toes of similar varietal character- 
istics, which are practically fi'ee 
from frost injury and decay, and 
potatoes of extra finer quality and 
size, or for lots of potatoes com- 
posed of different varietal charac- 
teristics, oi' for potatoes under the 
minimum diameter, and other re- 
quirements of U. S. Grade No. 2. 
Unless shipped in bulk, potatoes 
of U. S. Grade No. 1 should be 
placed only in new, clean sacks or 
barrels, which should be well filled, 
securely sewed or covered and, in 
Many of our rural schools show a cur ous blending of architectural features. Here, 
for instance, we have a school house of modern design and. close by. a wood house 
of the early, very pa: ly, Uieek period ini icated by "simplicity, symmetry, monumen- 
tal rerose’’. Some tuhuulc have the \sc d house in the rear but that is a matter 
of taste. 
which are free from serious dam- 
age caused by dirt or other foreign 
matter, sunburn, second growth, 
cuts, scab, blight, dry rot, or other 
disease, insects, or mechanical 
means. The minimum diameter 
shall be one and one-half ( 1 Vs ) 
inches. In order to allow for var- 
iations incident to commercial 
grading and handling, five per cen- 
tum by weight of any lot may be 
under the prescribed size, and, in 
addition, five per centum by weight 
of any such lot may be below the 
remaining requirements of this 
grade. 
For the purpose of the above 
recommendations no attempt has 
been made to provide grades for 
addition to any necessary state- 
ments or marks, should be plainly 
marked “U. S. No. 1.” 
Containers of potatoes of No. 2 
grade also should be plainly 
marked “U. S. No. 2.” 
A joint committee representing 
the growers and the shippers and 
distributors at this conference went 
on record as recommending that 
the Bureau of Standards be urged 
to take the necessary steps as soon 
as possible toward the establish- 
ment of 100 pounds as the unit 
upon which quotation of prices and 
buying and selling of potatoes 
shall be based throughout the 
United States. 
U. S. Food Administration. 
