Category Archives: 1911-12 December

The Breeze – December 7, 1911 – Page 6

Storing the Sweet Potato Crop
By C. K. McQuarrie

How to store the sweet potato crop in such a manner as to ensure against loss by decay, is a matter that seriously concerns the farmers of the state. A considerable loss occurs in this crop every winter from preventable causes. The methods of harvesting the crop are responsible for a large amount of this loss, and the methods of storing for most of the balance.

Digging Sweet Potatoes
The bulk of this crop is not generally harvested until the first frost occurs. The field should then be gone over and the vines cut from the crown of the hills by means of a sharp hoe or sickle. This operation prevents the decay in the frosted vines from being communicated to the potatoes, and so causing rot which shoes itself soon after the potatoes are dug. If we follow this method the potatoes can ripen in the ground before we dig them, and their deeping qualities will be improved.

In the digging operation, care should be exercised to prevent injury to the tubers by cuts, scratches, or bruiises, which are another source of soft rot. Where a considerable acreage is to be harvested, it will be a point of economy to use a regular potato digger. This works better and quicker, avoids injury, and insures the getting of all the crop from the ground.

After digging, the crop should be allowed to lie on the ground in rows for three or four days, so as to get thoroughly dried and cured by the sun. It is as necessary to cure potatoes both Irish and sweet, as it is to cure hay or forage.

Storing Sweet Potatoes
I have seldom, if ever, seen a successful sweet-potato house made by digging a hole in the ground and roofing in, or by imitating a smoke house; because both of these lack ventilation. A common practice is to make small conical piles about ten bushels each, and to cover them with soil and bark. As far as my observation goes, this method is frequently a failure, because the contents of these piles are not properly secured against rain, and are improperly ventilated. In my own practice I have found it best to store sweet potatoes in banks on top of the ground conveniently near to the barn or dwelling house. A piece of ground running north and south of the desired length, and about four feet wide, is levelled by means of a hoe or rake, and the potatoes are piled on this about five feet deep, tapering to a sharp ridge. This makes a long V-shaped bank, and care is taken to have the sides with a smooth and uniform slope. After all the potatoes are piled in the bank, a good plan is to allow them to have a few days’ exposure to the sun so as to become thoroughly dry, covering at night with sacks or hay to keep off the dew. Then the whole bank is covered two or three inches deep with some kind of hay and over the hay a couple of inches of soil are thrown. The hay absorbs the moisture that is given off by the potatoes during the sweating that occurs soon after the bank is entirely covered. The soil keeps the hay in place and protects against cold. The bank should be made water-tight by means of boards laid lengthwise, with lapping edges to shed rain; or a temporary frame of scantlings can be made over the bank, and shingles or tap-paper used to keep the potatoes dry.

If the crop is stored in this way, it is less likely to rot than with ordinary methods, and it can be held until late spring, when prices run high.

[Contributed by Michael Strickland]

The Breeze – December 28, 1911 – Page 4

J. E. WOOD Obituary Notice
Hon. W. N. Sheats, who was succeeded by the present state superintendent, has announced his candidacy for the position again. J. E. Wood, a former in the Normal College here, who was a candidate for this position, died at his home in Live Oak last week, but with Sheats Holloway and Russel in the running, there will be some thing doing in the race for that office. By the way, Sheats comes out squarely against free test books which is the big timber in Russel’s platform.

 

Contributed by Michael Strickland

The Breeze – December 28, 1911 – Pages 1, 2, & 5

GENERAL NEWS

UNDER THE INFLUENCE (p. 1)
Andrew Price was brought to town Monday charged with threatening to kill his wife and mother-in-law on Saturday while under the influence of liquor.

PRETTY BADLY BURNED (p. 1)
Little Mary Burke was pretty badly burned on Christmas morning by a fire cracker that exploded in her face. One of her eyes was pretty badly burned and it was feared at first that the sight was destroyed.

UNCLE BULLIE CAWTHON, 82, VISITS (p. 1)
Uncle Bullie Cawthon, healthy and hearty in spite of his 82 years, came down from his home near Florala to spend the Christmas time with his children here. He has known DeFuniak from its babyhood, digging with his own hands the first grave in the cemetary here, but always expresses surprise at its growth. No man in the county stands higher with his friends and neighbors than he, no man possesses a broader charity than this grand ol’ man and there is none other whose life of sobriety affords a better exam.

OUT OF THE GINGER JAR (p. 2)

  • How much can the pullet?
  • The tomato can but will it?
  • A rat in the trap is worth two in the hair.
  • At any rate the clam knows enough to shut up.
  • It is useless to advise the aviator not to “go up in the air,” for that is his business.
  • Home-made things are often the best. Especially is this true of the home-made man.
  • The man with his all invested in mining stock is seldom in a position to rest on his ore.
  • Many a woman sits up late at night before Christmas making a hem for him.
  • Too often the profits of farming are less than the prophets of farming: more’s the pity.
  • If, as alleged, the main business of life is making money, it is amazing the number of people who make a failure at it.
  • The farmers of this country are fast reaching the conclusion that the parcels post is a good post to hitch to.
  • The ostrich is only partly responsible for the big millinery bills. He does not part with his feathers willingly.
  • It is reported that in some sections last summer the robins roosted on the ground in order to reduce the high cost of living.
  • Speaking of aids to agriculture, there is a cut worm who volunteers to cut the farmer’s corn long before he is ready to have it done.
  • The genius is the man who thinks of something that immediately sets all other men to wondering why they had not thought of it before.
  • Before you kick the fellow for not bringing home the borrowed maul, look behind the barn door and see if his borrowed axe is not there.
  • Things are not always what they seem. When Johnnie at the door is told to “wipe his feet,” what is really meant is that he must clean his shoes.

–From January Farm Journal

JAIL MINISTRY (p. 5)
Big-hearted Harry Murray was responsible for the prisoners in the county jail having a treat of oranges and nuts on Christmas, and others provided some cigars and tobacco, while Sheriff Bell gave them a big dinner. As one of them expressed it, they fared better in jail than they would if they had been out.

[Contributed by Michael Strickland]