POTATOES AS A PROFITABLE CROP. 23 



rarely been lower than those of this season, or higher than 

 those of 1903-4. On the last Monday in 1903 the range 

 of prices in London, taking the quotations of three mar- 

 kets, was 75s. to 130s. per ton; and on the corresponding 

 day of 1904 it was 50s. to 80s. Prices in both seasons, of 

 course, were much lower on farms, and particularly in 

 parts of the country distant from the great markets. For 

 example, at Crieff, an important Scottish market for pota- 

 toes, British Queens were quoted early in 1904 at 75s. 

 to 80s. per ton; while this year at about the same period 

 they were only 32s. 6d. to 35s. Up-to-Dates were sold at 

 about the same prices as British Queens in each season. 

 Again, in the planting season of 1904 one of the most ex- 

 tensive Lincolnshire dealers in seed potatoes quoted 

 102s. 6d. per ton for British Queens, and sold a large 

 quantity at that price; while this year he has offered the 

 same variety at 65s. The most complete statistics of 

 prices for early potatoes are those of Jersey, the quotations 

 representing prices at the port of St. Heliers. In 1904 the 

 start in shipments other than the small lots from hothouses 

 was a low one, and the average for May 2-14 was 28 12s. 

 per ton. No doubt some hothouse produce was included. 

 By the first week of June the price had fallen to 6 Is. 4d., 

 and before the end of the month there was a drop to 

 2 5s. 6d., which was followed by a rise to 3 9s. 4d., at 

 which the season ended, on July 23. The starting price 

 is usually 30 to 32, and in one year, on May 5, it was 

 45 per ton for 25 tons. There is always a great drop in 

 the course of a few weeks, but prices have seldom been 

 as low as those of 1904. In Ayrshire, where raising usually 

 begins from the middle to the end of June, the crops are 

 mostly sold by the acre to dealers, who raise and market 

 them. Very early pieces sometimes make 35 to 40 per 

 acre, but 26 to 32 are more nearly average rates. 



Expenses and Returns. The cost of growing an 

 acre of potatoes varies enormously, with rent, wages, 

 manuring, aud methods of raising. Here is an account 



