26 THE POTATO, 



ware is picked up separately and carted direct from field 

 to station, while the seed and chats are clamped, and after- 

 wards sifted, the seed being re-clamped or stored in a 

 building. The expense of rail carriage is not added, as 

 it varies greatly with distance. Nor is the salesman's 

 commission charged. It is 10s. per ton for potatoes raised 

 somewhat early and consigned in sieves (bushel skips) or 

 barrels supplied by the salesman. In London the commis- 

 sion is reduced to 5s. per ton when potatoes are sent in 

 bags. With such fanning as is indicated by the account, 

 a crop of 8 tons one season with another should be grown, 

 and it is clear that, unless an average of over 3 per ton 

 be made of all sizes together, no less a crop than that will 

 be fairly profitable. Where the potatoes are carted un- 

 sorted to clamps, to be dealt with later on for marketing, 

 the cost of raising the crop is much less; but then the 

 prices obtained for the ware are lower as a rule, and an 

 average of 3 per ton for all sizes would not be obtained 

 on the farm in most seasons. From 15 to 30 per acre 

 may be regarded as the range of expensas in Great Britain. 

 In Jersey the growers put their expenses at 35 to 40 per 

 acre, as they often pay 10 per acre for rent, and even 

 up to 15 for choice bits of land sloping towards the south. 

 Then they spend up to 15 for manure, and labour 

 amounts to a good deal. They do not consider a return of 

 less than 40 per acre fairly remunerative, as they have 

 to get a living off a few acres. Those who pay 15 an acre 

 for very fine spots for the earliest production need 50 

 per acre to afford them a moderate profit. It is true that 

 they grow roots or some other forage crop after potatoes in 

 the same season, and that they make some profit on their 

 cows ; but the potato crop is their mainstay. Their return 

 in 1904 was almost ruinous. Assuming that their acreage 

 was about the same as in 1903, the return for the potatoes 

 shipped was not much over 29 per acre, and the extra 

 money received for potatoes consumed in their island 

 would not be much. In 1903 the " record " return of 60 

 per acre was made, and it has been over 50 in a few 



