Markets, Marketing and Storage 257 



The principal factor which will detennine the advisa- 

 bility of storage is the probable winter and spring price ; 

 others are the soundness of the tubers at digging time; 

 relative ease of getting them on the market in the winter ; 

 their use for table stock or seed purposes and so forth. 



Ordinarily a low-price season, resulting from overpro- 

 duction, will be followed by a season of high prices. The 

 grower should be carefully informed concerning the 

 acreage of the whole county during the growing season and 

 the reported condition of the crop from different sections. 

 An extensive acreage and a favorable season results in 

 low prices. 



The average consiunption per capita in the United 

 States is from 3J to 4 bushels. If the acreage and weather 

 conditions over the whole coimtry are likely to produce 

 a crop of over 400 million bushels, low prices may be 

 looked for. The population of the United States is ap- 

 proximately 100 millions. At the rate of consumption of 

 3J bushels for each person, the total consumption will be 

 350 million bushels. 



The United States Department of Agricultuxe issues a 

 crop reporter each month which gives the condition of the 

 potato and other crops from all over the country. It is 

 issued free to all and arrives about the 20th of each month. 



The amount of importation of potatoes into the United 

 States is regulated by the price here and elsewhere, which is 

 in turn largely determined by the quantity of production. 

 The protective tariff on potatoes is 10 cents a bushel. 



The basis for storage must take into account American 

 production and the probable price and the foreign pro- 

 duction and price. When home prices reach a high level, 

 foreign potatoes are sure to become a price-determining 

 factor. 



