310 The Sweet Potato 



mission merchants were unable to dispose of the potatoes 

 and wired the association that only negroes and dagoes 

 were buying them, and for very low prices. The sales 

 manager went immediately to Chicago and found that 

 the conditions were as represented. The car was finally 

 disposed of at 15 cents a bushel. In spite of this set- 

 back, the Association refused to change from the Nancy 

 Hall to the then more popular Jersey potato, but con- 

 tinued its efforts to get them introduced. The follow- 

 ing year a Chicago buyer on a search for Jerseys visited 

 the Association and asked them to send him fifty hamp- 

 ers of ISTancy Halls. These he distributed to the hotels, 

 to the better-class families and to the residences of the 

 city without charge, merely to introduce them. The 

 following week he wired for one hundred additional 

 hampers and these sold very quickly. During the re- 

 mainder of the season, twenty carloads of Nancy Hall 

 potatoes were sold in Chicago. In 191Y Chicago bought 

 forty carloads of Tennessee Nancy Halls and in 1918 

 nearly one hundred cars of the same variety from this 

 Association. Efforts are now being made all over the 

 South to build up a stronger trade in the northern and 

 western markets for southern " yam " varieties, and 

 progress has been made. 



Selling period. 



New Jersey and Delaware growers have built their 

 reputation on the production of a select high quality 

 potato on the extra early market of the North. Fancy 

 prices are received for this early crop which is selected 

 with the greatest care. Although it is expensive to 

 cater to these early market requirements, the growers 

 find it largely profitable. Alabama growers are endeav- 



