mo 
liiive ;iii(i Jiiuds in the Weift: cut-over lauds iu the 
Noj-tlnvest, Lake States, and Soutli: aud also swamp 
lands in the Middle West and South, which can he 
made available through the proper development. 
Much of this land can be made suitable for farm 
I'piues if properly handled. But it will recjuire that 
each type of land be dealt with in its own particular 
fashion. The arid laud will rerjuire water; the 
cut-over land will require clearing, and the swamp 
laud must be drained. Without any of these aids, 
they remain largely “No Man's Laud.” The solu- 
lion of tliese problems is no new thing. In tlie 
admirable achievement of the Ileclamation Service 
iu reclamation and drainage we have abundant i»roof 
of what can be done. Looking toward tlie construc- 
lioii of additional projects, 1 am glad to say that 
plans :ind investigations have been umler way for 
sonu^ time. A survey and study bas been in the 
course of consummation by tbe Iteclamatiou Service 
(01 the (Jreat ('oloi-ado Basin. That gi'eat jiroject, 1 
Ixdievo, will apjieal to the new sjiirit of Ameiica. 
It would mean the comiuest of an empire in the 
Southwest. It is believed that more tbau three 
millions of acres of arid land could be reclainu'd by 
tbe comjdetion of tlu' Ljiiier aud Ixiwer (’oloi'ado 
Basin I'rojects. 
(■(.’ontiniH'd m^xt week) 
“ The Rochester Herald ” Breaks Out 
Again 
.lust to lot you know that a piiblicatiou such a.s yours 
has boon hoard of by the oditorial writers of some of the 
W'ostorn Now York dailies, I am (’iiclosing a “elii>idng.’’ 
which probably would not have boon writtiai if The it. 
N.-Y". wore not making a dent soinowiioro. .i. s. 
T he cliiqiing was taken from our old friend, tbe 
Itocliester Jlcrald of Septembei' (5. No doubt 
.1. S. must stand for tlie “observant lluii .<yui]»a- 
tliiziM-” numtioued. At any rale, tbe ltocliest(‘r flrr- 
«/(/ eaniiot po.se as any symiiatbetic friend of Ibe 
fariiH'r. Il(‘re is tlie article: 
THE nia.rnEn rukai.ite 
IMty tile poor, downtrodden farmer those days. ()iio 
day last week a farmer named II. M. Met'oy, wlio lives 
near Wilmington, O.. needed a little change, .«o he In rd- 
(‘d togellier lUitj liead of hogs that were loafing around 
ill a (i«dd. lie drove the hogs to town and in 10 iiiiii- 
nt«?s had a check for .Sll.-lOO. The liogs avtu-aged l!."iO 
jii.iiiids per head. 'I'liis is the life I - Luke .McLiike in 
Cincinnati J'Jiuiuircr. 
.Mlsier McLiike is due to receive a shock when an oh- 
strv.Tiit Hun sympathizer seiid.s a cliiiidng of tliis ap¬ 
parently innocent iiaragraph to 'I'liK Iti.UAJ, New- 
Voi:x):i!. as In* surely will do. For the great agricultural 
aidiiority which basks in the white lights of Holliaiii 
will gi\(' Mr. McCo.v of Wilmington. ()., the “once o\’ei','’ 
as ilic lioys say. and convince him that liis UOO licad of 
hogs cost him iinicli more than lie la'ceived for them. 
'I'lic farmer is buying automobiles and Libm-ty lioiiils. 
and no doubt imagiiie.s that he is iirospering, hut if In? 
does any boasting about his prosjierity The It. .\'.-Y. 
gels after liim and jioints out where he is in error. 
'I'bc policy of tbe liocbester Herald is too iiiucli for 
us. B.v speiidiiig six c<.'uts it could easily vt'rify sticb 
staieim'iits. and thus avoid an exjiosure of miilisli ig¬ 
norance. Iiisti'ad of doing tbis. tbe Jlrrald is so 
ea.ger to show that faruu^rs are jacking uji all kinds 
of iiioiiey and tlieii lioai’diug it that it rusbes every 
extravagant stor.v into jiriiit without any investiga- 
tioii. 
The It. lias a number of readers iu Wilming¬ 
ton, ()., aud we wrote .several of them about Ibis in¬ 
cident. We do not iireteud to be much of an author¬ 
ity oil “the wliite lights of Cotliam,” but our readers 
know wliat there is to be told about farming, llei-c 
is one samjile rejiort about this liog case: 
Your letter of the !)th receivi'd iu regard to a Imiich 
of hogs S(dd by Mr. II. M. McCoy, in which you stateil 
the Rochester 7/crrdd claims him a net profit of .fll.-IOtl. 
1 am more tlmii glad to have tin* ojiiiortunity of drop¬ 
ping yell th(‘se f(‘w lines, as I liapiiened by cliance to 
run across Mr. McCoy this noon. After showing liiiii 
your letter I merely a.sked him if he would give me an 
outline of this hiiueli of hogs, as you an* doing ujl bi 
your power to exjdaiii to the peojile that hog raising 
is not all profit, as has been falsely slated by sevmml 
editors who have been trying to class the fannm-s as 
proliteers. 
/ lliiiil,' it ironld he <i flood time for .some of these 
kitoic-it-iill. fcUoii\s la net huHn rdisiiif/ hof/s for thiete 
Sum. (iiid net rich ut the. .some time. 
You will hud herewith statement wliich Mr. McCoy 
gave me to-day. 
''J''he.s(“ hogs were bought from Mr. Homer C. I’idgeoii. 
a hog hri'eder and raiser. 
■Jld! hogs cost . .'S.")..”»:{().OP 
.'boot) liuslnds corn . ti.OOO.OO 
.'il 1 ..TlO.tKJ 
You can figure his jirohr; corn is selling for .'^2 and 
is hard to obtain at that juice. 
Hojiiiig this is the information yon desired. :nid yon 
see no jirotit for the grass and lab'jr with the exeejuioii 
of the niamire, I am. ver.v trtil.i’. EAim t. iiexxktt. 
Wilmington, <) 
All of wliicli is resjiectfully submitted to tlu‘ editor 
of tbe Rochester Ih ruld.’ Mr. McCoy lost .SHU on tlie 
.leal aud threw in bis labor aml tbe use of liis jias- 
tui'C ill exeluuige for the manure. Tbe “Deluded 
R u ra 1 ite’ < ‘(u-ta i 11 1 y I 
ZTAc RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Storing the Sweet Potato Crop 
ONDITJDNS REQCIRKI).—The swtvt jiotato is 
one of our imjiortaut garden vegetables that is 
in sea.sou uetirly tlie whole year around; in fact, 
sweet jiotatoes of fine (juality can be had from har¬ 
vest time in tlie Fall almost until the new crop 
comes iu the following Fall. The sweet potato can 
be stored successfully in any liomo where a supply 
bas been grown for Winter use, if tbe correct stor¬ 
age conditions are ju-ovided. It must be understood, 
fii'st. that the sweet potato reipiin's conditions just 
Ibe (ijijiosite of most other vegetables. A rather 
warm room with dry atmosphere and free ventila¬ 
tion is want(‘d instead of tlie usual cool aud moist 
conditions for storing otlier vcgetable.s. 
DIHCINC.—Cenerally, sw('et jiotatoes should be 
dug aud stored before frost, but iu Northern sections 
it is necessary to let sw(‘(4. jiotatoes grow just as 
long as jiossibb'. Wlieii tbe sweet jiotato vines liave 
Ikh'ii uiijjM'd lu'avily by frost, tlu'.v sliould hi? cut 
awa.v to jireveiit Ibe frozen saji of tlie vines from 
entering tbe tubers, wliieli- causes them to I’ot. As 
(Hd-Funhioned Sweet Fotnto Snuh'ft. fJn.‘iatiiff(tetor!i 
IJiU'ii ill the. Soiilji. Fin. djo 
•stioii as possibbi lli(* polntoes sboubi be barv(>sted. 
Iiirniug IIkuu out wiili a turning jdow. or. if only a 
r('w. digging out u illi a sjiadiug fork. 'I'be N irgiiiia 
growers have a sjun-ial oiie-borse cuttm’ wbieb is 
run between tlu' rows, so a.s to remove Hu* vines aud 
make jibiwiiig out <‘as.\'. 'Flie tubers should be* shaken 
out aud exjiosed to suii for a eoujile of liours befoj*e 
gatberiiig;, tlu*ii Ibe jiotatoes may be gatberi'd uji iu 
crat(‘s or baskets of any .soi't. Digging slmuld be 
(lone on a warm, sunny da.v. 'I'wo jioiiits to ri'iiiem- 
lH*r lu're arc*. fii*st, do not siiaji off tlu* littb* "tails" 
( 11 * terminal roots of tbe tubers, and, s(*eoiul. iiaiidle 
tlu* lul)(*rs as carefully as you would eggs or d(*li- ' 
cate fiaiit. Do not jiileli them roughly into Ibe 
crates, or roll them around or dumji from one ri*- 
cejitacle into another. Ibulded baskets are useful 
for gatlu*riug tlie jiotatoc's. Tlie r(*a.soii for tbis eau- 
tioii is that most of Hie fungi wliieli (*ause sweet 
jiotatoi's to rot in storage are able to enter tbe tubers 
only Hirougb bruised or broken tissue'. If (‘arefully 
ling am! gatlu'ia’d. there will be no bruises tbrougli 
Direlliiin-ffouse Iteuiodeled for Sweet Fotiito 
Storufie. Fill, d'di 
w'liicb Hu* rots can enter tbe tubers. .Mon* failures 
to kei’j) sw(“et jiotatoes are due to rough baiulliug 
and bruising the tubers at liarvest Him* Hiaii.all 
other causes combined, tbougli this fact bas not bci'ii 
gi'iicrally recognized by gardeners. I f a few rotten 
potaliH's app(*ai; soon after jilaciug in storage, do not 
attempt: to cull tlu*iii out. for tbe di*cay will sjiread 
far more by tbe baiulliug tbau by leaving a f(*w 
d(*cayed tubers. 
t’l'RINH.—'I'o k(*(')) swei't jiotatoes they must lie 
"cured” by drying out .soinewliat Just after llu-y have 
been dug. If a small room or outbouse is available, 
tlie crates or baskets of jiotatoi's can lx* jilacc'il in 
it and the temjierature run uji to ■''<» or .S.") degrees 
Fabreiibeir by uu*aus of an oil or some other sort of 
stove. Tbis sboubi last IP days or two weeks, and 
tbe room is to be frixfiy ventilated during tbis time, 
.so tliat Hu* iiioisiuiv can be driven out of the tubers. 
Even if a little shriveling of the suia!l(*r tubers aji- 
September 28, 191S 
pears, no barm will be done. This curing or drying 
process imjiroves tbe (juality and fits the potatoes 
for prolouged storage, by changing a jiart of tbe 
starch to sugar aud driving off a jiortioii of Hie 
moisture. It also ]u*als uji cut surfaces on Hie 
tubers, so that decay cannot outer. In case a warm 
room cannot be si'cured for tbis work, the crates of 
Jiotatoes may bo jilacixl in a dry and airy shed for a 
week or two, wlioro Hie sanu* pri)C(*ss takes place, 
but much more .sluwly than wlu'ii artificial beat is 
supjili('d. After curing tbe tubers kei'ji best if 
stor(*d at 50 tq 55 d(‘grees Fabr(*ulu*il. nr about tlu* 
same as cool liviiig-rmim conditions. .V room iu Mu* 
lioiise, a warm, dry c(*llar. nr tlu* furnace room will 
do, but the tubei’s must never be allowed to be 
frozen, for that causes jiromjit deca.v. 'I'liorefon*, iu 
cold weatber it may be iiecesaiy to sujijdy (‘xfra 
beat to the sweet jiotato storage jiiace. to kceji Hu* 
temjierature well almvi* fr(*eziug. If imt baiulled ex- 
cessivi'l.v, ami not allow(*d to become frosH'd, sweet 
Jiotatoes will k(*ej) iu Ibis way for six to eight 
moiiHis in j)erf(*ct coiidiHou. .V conveuieiit uu'Hiod 
to take care of tbe Imme sujijily is to build suim* 
sli(*lv(*s iu the cellar ii(*ar the furiiaci*. aud jila<*t' tbe 
Jiotatoes iu boxes on these shelves. 
I’RliSDTIVE STOLWHE.—Tbe (dd and rather 
jirimitivo way of storing swe(*t jiotatoes ou tlu* lanii 
is make a pde ou tbe ground, covi'r it with dry straw 
to a d('|iHi of a foot or iiiori*. ami b(*l'oi-(> fr(*eziug 
weallu'r apjil.v a Imav.v la.ver of (*artb. vciji is 
usuall.v l(*ft ojieu at. the toji of tlu* bank with a rough 
cbimimy ruiiiiiiig down into Hu* pib* of tubers to 
admit air aud jiass off moisture from Hu* tub{*rs. 
Some (*as,v-k(‘(*juug varieties, as Hu* SoutIu*ni (jueeii. 
are soim‘tiim*s kepf in fair comlilioii iu Ibis maiiimr 
ill tlu* SouHi. but n'sults are uiici'rlaiii at best, ami 
often a v<*ry lai-ge jirojiorHou of Hu* tuli(*rs d(*ca.v: 
if is akso iuconv(*uieuf to get into oiu* of Hu*s(* banks 
to obtain a (piaiilily of lub(*rs for kitclieii us(*. Avitii- 
oiit exposing tlu* remaiml(*r to cobl ami iv<*l, wbib* 
tbe jiotato(*s iu wai-m .storage indoors are always 
(*asily accessilib*. Storing swei't jiotatoes iu jiits is 
uotbiiig like* as ellicu*ut and coina'iiieiit as in warm 
indoor storage*. 
'I'lIE .MilJHiltN .MllTIKiD. Tlu* iiioderu uud.bod 
of storing sweet i)()taf()(*s in large* ipiaiilities is to 
jilace Ibem iu bins in sji(*ciall.v const rm-te'd frost- 
1 ,roof bouses. These storage bouses must have iiisu- 
late'd walls, with amjile jiruvision for ventilation b.v 
Hues tbrougli tbe roof, ami v(*uts iu Hu* floor or iu 
Ibe walls near Hu* ground. .\ll V(*uls sluiuld be tit- 
■■ ted with close-litfiiig covers, Avbicb are* kcjd on most, 
e)f tbe time during tbe cold si*ason. 'I’lu* v(*iits 
sboubi be cover(*(l with tine wire* screens to kec-ji out 
rats ami mice, wbieb are vt*r.v fond of swe(,*t jio- 
tatoes. Ill Hie South an old out building can be e'asil.v 
collvcrle'd into an e\(*(‘ll(‘ut swe*(*l jiotalei storage, b.v 
making tlu* fioor and walls sung, and providing ven¬ 
tilators. Tlu; walls should be* lined wifli lieaA'.v 
liuildjiig jiape'i* or f(‘ll. Furlber mii-Hi. doulile-wallod 
fraim* buildin.g or brick construction is lu'ces.sary. 
Ill Missouri a steii’age wliicli give*s e*xcelU*ut results 
vceiusists of a long narrow lii*ick building willi small 
doors along the* side Hirougb which to till the bins 
with i)(itaIo(*s. Tlu* whole* is cov(*i-(*d witli a large 
wooele'ii slu*d. which prol(*cts Hu* storage jilace from 
tiuctuatiiig t(*uip(*ra1 urcs and Hu* cooling (*ffect <if 
Wiiil(*r winds. 'I’lu* sjiace b(*tw(*('ii Hu* brick storage* 
ami Hie sb(>d is used f<ir general storage*, tools, etc. 
'I'lic iut(*rior of tlu; brick cbauib(*r is ('epiipiied Avilli 
a double* row of bins about live; b.v (*iglil feet iu size*, 
iu wbicii Hu* “sw('(‘ts” are jiileel four to six feet de(*p. 
'I’lu* liiiis are* const ruct(*d of l.xl-iucli lath or 2x-l-iucb 
studdiugs. 'I’liere is an air sjiace of four inches on 
ail sides of each bin. wbieb gives (‘xcelleiit a(;ratiou 
for Hu* jiili; of jiotatoes. In mi jilace* are* Hu* iiiim 
m‘ar('r tbau two fe*et to tbe brick wall, 'riu; same* 
Iirim*ipl(*s ajijily to tbe construction of bins for sw(*cr 
jiotatoe's ill any ofbei* tyjie of storage* lioii.se. If is 
(*s|)(‘ciall.v iu*C(*.ssar.v not to iiiake Hu* bins too large, 
".ilaii.v sloi’age bouses are; Iu*at(*d with oil slov(;s, but 
wood or coal stoves are* more* satisfacIoi'.\' for largi* 
bou.ses, especially in Hu* Norlli. wln-re* lu*at has to be 
suiiplie'd coutiiimiusiy for sev(*ral iiiontlis. 
BASKE'P S'l'tlR.VHE.—Some of Ibe Eastcru grow¬ 
ers are liiidiiig it more* coiivenieul to store* sw(*i*l po¬ 
tatoes iu Hie baske'ts or bam]i(*rs in wliicli tlu;.v are* 
j ickecl uj) at harvest, ratlu;'* Ilian diiiiijiiiig Hu*m into 
liiiis. 'I'be advaiita.ge is Hiat Hu* extra liamiliug or 
two of tin* Jiotatoes is avoid(*(I. so (bat tliey will lie* 
less Inaiised ami will ke‘(*ii beitter. If clean, lu'w pack- 
age;.s are used, tlu* jiotatoes can ,go to market direct 
from .storage without rejiackiug. .'Storage coiiditious 
fur sweet jiotatoes also are more* favorable* in b.-im- 
jiers or baskets bolding about one busliel I ban Avlieii 
tubers are jilaccd iu bulk in large* bins. 
Mi-;^ouri. -i. T. ROSA, JR. 
