June, 1926] 



CAN WE PRODUCE MORE OF WHAT WE EAT? 



9 



do not present a fair picture of the home market possibiUties for local 

 farmers. The amount of certain products coming into the state during 

 the season of the year when they can be supplied by local production with 

 ordinary methods is the important factor. This amount is shown in the 

 case of some crops under the heading ''Competing Season" in Table I. 

 The competing season may vary greatly from year to year, being affected 

 by the season and by the adoption of new cultural practices, by location 

 and soil. The separation of imports into amounts coming in during 

 competing and non-competing season is intended here only as a rough 

 approximation in order to more fully study the situation. 



The difference in amounts of total imports and of imports during the 

 local competing season illustrates the danger of encouraging local pro- 

 duction on the former basis. Care must also be taken in pointing to the 

 receipts of vegetables even during the competing season as a basis for 

 increased production. These receipts may be during the early part of the 

 harvest season; and since many vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers 

 and string beans do not reach their maximum production until a week or 

 more after harvesting begins, an increased acreage to supply the early 

 part of the season would mean an oversupply on the market later. 



* Competing season not clearly defined on these crops. 



