POTATOES 373 



one of the oldest and largest early-potato-producing sections of 

 North America. Besides this belt of country devoted to this indus- 

 try, there are isolated regions along the Gulf coast and in northern 

 Texas, Kentucky, and Missouri where potato growing has been 

 established and has proved quite profitable. 



Variations of the crops. It is impossible to give accurate statis- 

 tics in regard to this crop, for it changes annually according to the 

 markets of the preceding year, those who engage in the industry 

 being greatly influenced by the previous year's return. This is an 

 exceedingly unfortunate condition, as the growers should determine 

 their planting, not by their previous year's experience, but by the 

 condition of the crop at the North. The crop of so-called winter 

 potatoes produced at the North has more influence upon the price 

 that will be received for the early crop than any other single 

 factor. The truck farmer should therefore keep a careful record 

 of the crop at the North the year preceding his planting. The 

 quantity, quality, and price of the held-over Northern crop are 

 factors which influence decidedly the price of the new crop when 

 it reaches the market. A market which is well stocked with old 

 potatoes that have been kept in fairly good condition means a 

 very low price for the early crop when it comes in competition 

 with such stock. As this new crop cannot be retained long in 

 the soil at the extreme South without rapid deterioration, neglect 

 on the part of the grower to determine the quantity of old po- 

 tatoes in sight at planting season, as compared with a normal 

 supply, may mean a very meager profit, if any, or a very heavy 

 loss if the crop cannot be moved at the proper season and at a 

 satisfactory price. 



Soil. The character of soil best adapted to the production of 

 early potatoes is a light, sandy loam (what the truck growers 

 call a quick soil) rather than a heavy, retentive one one that 

 is thoroughly well drained and comes into condition very quickly 

 in the season. Late, retentive soils are not desirable for potato 

 growing, particularly for early markets. It is considered more 

 advantageous to add heavy dressings of fertilizer to the soil than 

 to ust heavy, rich, and retentive soils. Earliness of the crop is of 

 more importance than rich soil. In order to produce early potatoes 

 it is necessary to make use of every factor that will stimulate rapid 



