164 THE POTATO 



beginning to assume a normal tone. The mar- 

 ket price determines to a great extent whether or 

 not potatoes grown in states near Chicago will be 

 shipped here for marketing. When the Chicago 

 price is not sufficient to allow a fair return for the 

 product and the New York price is higher, the 

 shipper does not hesitate to send his potatoes to 

 New York. And the same is true of potatoes 

 grown in the East. 



"But the United States nowhere near equals 

 foreign countries in the growing of potatoes. 

 There are three or four times as many potatoes 

 grown per acre in Europe as in this country. 

 Regular shipments of European potatoes arrive in 

 New York and occasionally reach the Chicago mar- 

 ket. In 1908, when there was a shortage of po- 

 tatoes throughout the country and the prices were 

 high, a large proportion of potatoes sold in the 

 Chicago and Missouri River markets were grown 

 in Europe. Potatoes ordinarily are cheaper in 

 October than any other month. October is the 

 month for harvesting the great crops from the 

 Northern States, although it is true that new 

 potatoes begin to arrive as early as September 1st. 

 It is, however, possible to secure new potatoes in 

 Chicago the year round. Bermuda furnishes 

 potatoes in January and February. Florida 

 furnishes them a little later. Potatoes in the 

 spring come from Texas, and following northward, 

 the market is supplied with a certain number of 

 new potatoes in all seasons, but those which come 

 from the Bermudas and Texas command fancy 

 prices and go only on the tables of the wealthy or 

 of the high-class restaurants. 



"People of the laboring class eat more potatoes 

 than those in other walks of life, and potatoes are 



