7ht RURAL NEW-YORKER 
221 
What About the Danish Potatoes? 
W E have had many questions about the recent 
imports of Danish potatoes into this country. 
In order to answer them intelligently we have made 
a study of the situation. A picture of one of these 
potatoes is shown at Fig. ??? They seem to he quite 
badly mixed as to varieties. The majority of them 
seem to be of about the type here shown, though a 
small proportion are of the general shape of the 
Rural New-Yorker variety. As will be seen, there 
is some evidence of scab on this potato. We sent 
samples to Washington, where the disease was iden¬ 
tified as common scab (Actinomyces scabies) and 
black scab (Rhizoctinia solani). Both of these 
diseases occur in this country, and are not excluded 
h\ Federal quarantine unless the potatoes are badly 
infected. One shipment of 5,000 sacks of these 
Danish potatoes which showed scab to excess was 
recently refused admittance. 
Contrary to general belief, these Danish potatoes 
are of good quality. We have cooked them in various 
ways, and they compare favorably with our own 
crop for boiling or frying. They seem to be largely 
used by a certain class of restaurants for salads and 
what is known as “French fried.’’ For these pur¬ 
poses they give good satisfaction. The other day, 
when the weather was cold, we saw a group of 
children playing on the street. Their mother called 
them in and gave each one a hot boiled potato. The 
children came running out. eating these tubers as 
they would apples. These were Danish potatoes, 
evidently bought at a low price. Farmers who com¬ 
plain of the low price here must remember that our 
prices have forced many city people to change their 
eating habits. The high price charged for potatoes 
drove many families to rice and cornmeal. They 
formed the habit of eating such food, and now that 
potatoes are cheaper they are slow to come back to 
that down. We do not know of any further shipments 
being made, and rather doubt if they can afford to ship 
to this market and have their potatoes sell at these 
prices. 
There is no doubt that these imports have had 
considerable effect in forcing down the market for 
American potatoes, it is not so much the actual 
quantity imported as the fear and uncertainty re¬ 
garding future imports. Tt is always possible for 
A Danish Potato, Natural Size. Fig. 91. 
to this time it is very doubtful if the importers o: 
these potatoes have made any money. The stock is 
not popular here. ..ml with present conditions these 
imports are not likely to affect the potato trade. At 
present that trade is in poor shape, with l>ut little 
indication of improvement. 
Homemade Burned Oyster Shell Lime 
VALUABLE MATERIAL.—There is no finer 
grade of lime for any purpose on the farm than 
tbal made by burning oyster shells with a ..I fire. 
Many farmers can secure free considerable quantifies 
of oyster shells from their local stores, hotels ami 
restaurants. The shells, when placed in the fire, 
begin to give off combustible gases which add t.. the 
heat, and soon reduce the shells to a fine, fluffy 
material, practically pure burned lime, with th * 
exception of a small quantity of wood ashes from 
the wood used. However, wood ashes contain about 
30 pei cent of the finest kind of lime and about <’• per 
cent of potash. Therefore tin* wood ashes actually 
improve the value of the lime produced. 
METHOD OF BFRNINO.—When preparing to 
burn the oyster shells precaution must he taken to 
provide an abundant tire under the shells. A very 
common and efficient method is to lay up a square 
made up of small logs about 8 ft. long. When nearly 
a foot from the ground a cross-section of logs is laid 
quite close together. Light wood and perhaps a 
little brush is spread over the “floor beams." Then 
more logs are racked up around the four sides, ’•he 
shells may then be poured into the inclosure. It is 
well to continue mixing a little wood with the shells. 
About every 3 ft. it is well to put in extra cross¬ 
pieces, as they not only help hold up the weight, 
but provide for a draft. good-si/.ed opening 
the old habit of eating them freely. 
In the trade here opinion varies as to the effect 
of these Danish potatoes upon the market for the 
American crop. One dealer of long experience says: 
Up to the-time that some of the dealers were prose¬ 
cuted for profiteering in Danish potatoes, they made 
little difference in the disposition of the domestic crops, 
as they were being sold at domestic market prices. Since 
that time, however, they have been sold on an economical 
basis, and that price was considerably lower than the 
domestic potatoes: consequently we have 
felt to considerable extent the effect of 
the Danish potatoes on this market, 
especially during this season. As they 
are mature potatoes, they conflict only 
with the mature potatoes in the domestic 
crops. In this respect they are consider¬ 
ably different from the Bermuda pota¬ 
toes. which are a new crop, and the first 
m w crop, but do not interfere with any 
local or domestic crop. 
Another expert gives the following 
opini >n : 
It is impossible to tell how serious a 
competiti u might be between Danish 
potatoes and our domestic crops. While 
naturally having the benefit of very low 
transportation rates from Denmark, cheap 
labor and other facilities that will enable 
them to place their potatoes profitably on 
this market at lower prices thau our 
domestic crops can be marketed, they do 
compete, but the probability of the ser¬ 
iousness of this competition will depend 
upon the size of their shipments and how 
long these shipments will last, about 
which at this time we have no positive 
information. As for size and quality, 
there are different reports, some Denmark 
potatoes being said to be very good qual¬ 
ify and size, others said to 'be grown on 
darker soil and of a very rough appear¬ 
ance. and in consequence of the latter 
predominating, while Maine. Pennsyl¬ 
vania and Jersey round potatoes in 165- 
lb. bags sell wholesale around $2.75 to 
$3.25. the Danish, according to quality, 
sell, same weight, from $1.50 to $2.25. 
Danish very slow sellers on a market 
more or less quiet, however, on all grades. 
Another o-union from perhaps the 
highest commercial authority is given 
below : 
We Jo not see how it is possible for 
the dealers it Denmark to continue to 
ship | otatoes to this market, as the three 
cargoes which have already arrived have 
sold at such very moderate prices. We 
think they must have received very little, 
if anything, for their trouble. t<> say 
nothing of the cost of the potatoes. There 
have been three cargoes of these potatoes 
here lately, two of which arrived in very 
fair condition, and quality of potatoes 
was very good, bur a little small in size. 
They sold at from $2 to $2.25 per bag of 
105 lbs. They moved out very slowly, 
even at these prices. The third cargo 
consisted of about 1ft.000 bags, and w<* 
understand arrived in very badly heated 
and poor condition, the best of which sold 
at $1.50 per bag T»f- fft.x lbs., and frori- ' 
buyers and dealers to depress the market l>y large 
stories about imports and fresh supplies. Probably 
the talk about “floods of Danish potatoes" has had 
some effect upon prices. As it stands at present, 
there are not enough of these potato, s here yet to 
affect the market to any great extent. In case the 
imports increased greatly the effect would tn joubr- 
edly be to cut down prices for American stocl. Up 
Crib of Lugs for Burning Oyster Shells. Fig. 92. 
(oven) is provided on the lie of the prevailing 
winds (west) and below the « -called “floor beams." 
There the fire is started, and gradually it begins to 
eat its way into the interim of the pile. When it 
gets going well it becomes a regular furnace of 
smoke and fumes. The framework of light logs hold 
•he shells in a compact mass and help to make a 
more complete job. 
HOW APPLIED.—The product obtained is about 
twice as strong as ground limestone, 
and it acts promptly. A favorite place 
to apply it is on the seed bed*, where 
the cabbage plants and celery plants 
are to be grown. Furthermore, it is 
particularly beneficial for such crops 
as beets, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, 
cucumbers, lettuce, muskmelous. 
onions, rhubarb, etc. The lime should 
never he mixed with manure nor come 
into contact with fertilizer containing 
ammonia, such as sulphate of ammonia. 
The -lime would cause the ammonia to 
turn to a gas and escape. The favorite 
way to use lime is to spread it broad¬ 
cast on the plowed ground and harrow 
it in. Light applications give better 
returns for the money expended than 
heavy applications do. However, by 
securing the shells free and burning 
then: at home, lime is obtained without 
cash outlay. That of itself may be an 
inducement, but what is more import¬ 
ant is the fact that many will see such 
splendid results from using the little 
lime, that they will learn about its 
Usefulness. r. w. de rai n. 
■> "V , 
. • .. 
I- 
% 
Water System Arrangement. Fig. 9-t 
Limestone on Pasture; Linseed 
Oil for Cattle Lice 
I have a few acres of pasturing land 
tint is very difficult to plow. ! would 
like to lime and fertilize. In what pro¬ 
portion should 1 mix to get best results, 
and when apply? What effect has 
lime and fertilizer on pasture land that 
cannot be drained? Can raw linseed oil 
be used for lice on cattle in Winter? If 
so, please state how to use. 
Ground limestone will help most pas¬ 
ture by starting up tin* better grasses and 
clovers. Such pasture lands are usually 
sour, and thus the grass and Cover do 
not thrive. The limestone gives them ;i 
better chance. The limestone alone will 
not answer fully. Such pastures need 
phosphorus and nitrogen. Nitrate of 
s<*da and acid phosphate in the propor¬ 
tion of one to four will help. Do uot 
