498 



THE POTATO 



3 francs per 100 kilos (about 16 cents per bushel) 

 if imported during the remaining nine months of 

 the year. Potatoes from Great Britain, Belgium, 

 Germany, Austria, and other nations which enjoy 

 the minimum duty rates with France pay 3 francs 

 duty per 100 kilos (16 cents per bushel) from 

 March 1st to June 1st, and only 40 centimes per 100 

 kilos (or 2 cents per bushel) during the remainder 

 of the year. 



*'As nearly all potatoes are imported here be- 

 tween June 1st and March 1st, the American prod- 

 uct will have to meet this discrimination — an 

 excess of nearly 14 cents duty per bushel above that 

 paid on potatoes from European countries except 

 Portugal. 



"Among the offers which have been received 

 here recently is one from an American shipper 

 in Maine who quotes potatoes of high quality 

 grown in that state at $1.75 per sack containing 

 165 pounds, delivered at an American seaport on 

 the Atlantic coast. This, converted into French 

 equivalents, would be about 11 francs per 100 

 kilos. Adding the estimated freight charges and 

 import duty, cartage and handling, would bring 

 the cost of the potatoes, delivered in Paris, up to 

 about 14.50 fraucs (or $2.80) per 100 kilos. As 

 already stated, potatoes at wholesale in the Paris 

 market range from 12 to 20 francs per 100 kilos, 

 according to quality. 



"The only apparent chance, therefore, is for 

 American exporters to offer potatoes of the highest 

 grades, clean and free from leaves and stems, such 

 as sell here now for from 17 to 20 francs per 100 

 kilos, and will undoubtedly be still dearer in late 

 January and February. On account of the change 

 of duty from March 1st, potatoes for France should 



