POTATOES 387 



Average price to grower (old crop), January i, 1910, 56 cents per bushel. 

 Price of new crop (truck), June i, 1910, $1.50-^1.75 per barrel. 



It will be noted that the crop of 1908 was 278,985,000 bushels ; 

 the quantity of potatoes in the hands of growers on January i, 1909, 

 was 93,459,975 bushels, while the quantity in the hands of dealers 

 January i, 1909, was 31,525,305 bushels, making the total avail- 

 able supply of potatoes at that date 124,985,280 bushels. At that 

 time the price of potatoes to the grower was 72 cents; and on 

 June i, 1909, truck-crop potatoes were selling for from $3.25 to 

 $4.00 per barrel. Compare this with the conditions which prevailed 

 during the year 1909, when 376,537,000 bushels were produced. 



On January i, 1910, there were 151,367,874 bushels of potatoes 

 in the hands of growers and 36,524,089 bushels in the hands of 

 dealers, making the total available supply 187,891,963 bushels. 

 At this time growers were receiving 56 cents per bushel for their 

 potatoes, and on June i, 1910, truck-crop potatoes were selling 

 for from $1.50 to $1.75 per barrel. 



The range of prices received by the growers of truck-crop pota- 

 toes during the seasons of 1909 and 1910 clearly illustrates the 

 influence of the hold-over crop at the North on the prices received 

 by the growers at the South. The growers at the South should 

 make it their business to learn the quantity of potatoes in the hands 

 of growers and dealers not later than January I preceding their 

 planting season, and determine their acreage accordingly. If there 

 is a heavy hold-over crop, the acreage to be planted should be small ; 

 but if there is a light hold-over crop the acreage can be increased 

 with the probability of satisfactory returns. 



Development of new sorts. The number of varieties of potatoes 

 now available in the trade would appear to be sufficient to fill the 

 demands of all uses, soils, and climatic conditions. Varieties are 

 constantly changing in character, and new uses and fields of culture 

 are continually arising. To meet these conditions, and to satisfy 

 the demand for new sorts for their own sake, there is constant work 



