210 Twenty-Second Annual Report of the 



presence of an excessive amount of the disease known as Mosaic, and the in- 

 clusion of other varieties of potatoes— principally Dakota Red or Michigan 

 Red. Bliss needs a very rich light warm soil, plenty of moisture, and con- 

 stant cultivation. So far as can be determined, there appears no reason 

 to doubt that healthy stock, by proper care and selection practices, can be 

 developed. Long Island at best is not suited to the needs of the variety. 

 The nearest approach to good growing conditions is found on the extreme 

 northeastern point known as Orient Point where a combination of good soil, 

 humidity, and good farmers, have attained the more favorable results. 



The experience with the combination of weaknesses referred to above has 

 so consistently resulted in poor yields on Long Island— not to speak of Ber- 

 muda — that many growers have to be exhorted to accept contracts for grow- 

 ing it. This discouragement extends to the commission men as well. Never- 

 theless the growers find that the potato brings in money at a time when 

 other things are growing, and that it can be dug early enough to allow the 

 ground to be replanted to another crop. If seed is available that will yield 

 reasonable returns no difficulty will be had in finding planters. 



The solution of the problem lies in first securing good seed for Long Island 

 growers. In this connection Mr. Wortley has arranged to have a field in 

 Maine rogued under the supervision of an inspector from the United States 

 Department of Agriculture. At the same time the contractors or distributors 

 in Brooklyn and New York have so profited by the results attained from that 

 seed selected last year that they are willing to pay an advance to obtain it. 

 What is most gratifying is the fact that all have agreed to purchase this 

 seed and are sincerely endeavoring to aid in improving conditions. 



After the matter of seed has been settled it is desirable to distribute it 

 among the better farms and the better growers, and this obviously must be 

 done through the medium of the commission merchants. 



It is to be noted that the law as provided by the Bermuda government can- 

 not, without the support of the commission merchant, accomplish its object. 

 The channels for double dealing are too many, and the better stock from 

 condemned fields could easily be included. Again, one commission man con- 

 trols the practices of twenty or thirty growers. 



The problem that our Department, in cooperation with that of the Ber- 

 muda Islands, is attempting, is the certainty of a continuous source of selected 

 Bliss Triumph potatoes for growers on Long Island; then the inspection and 

 classification of the growing fields, with the assurance that this stock so 

 classified will reach the Bermudian. 



Fortunately, in Cuba there is an outlet, with no apparent reduction in 

 price, for anything refused by Bermuda, so that the commission merchant is 

 willing to ship, without objection, the better stock to Bermuda and dispose 

 of the remainder through the Cuban trade. This, together with the fact that 

 the commission men were so few that each could be personally visited and 

 acquainted with the plan, considerably simplified matters for all concerned 

 and explains the rapid progress made. 



Mr. Worthley wrote to me under the date of August 13, 1915: 



The merchants are apparently carrying out their promises. The firm of A. Rosen- 

 blum, in particular, is going to a great deal of trouble and has kept the potatoes 

 from each farm separate and marked the barrels with the initials of the grower. 

 Tracing the results of the different lots will be very interesting. 



