Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-01-31
The Potato Market.

The Potato Market.
A Boston exchange gives the following
interesting facts and figures in relation to
the potato trade of Boston and New York
Three years ago the ravages of the potato
bug began to influence the early harvests in
the Eastern and Middle States, and gave the
markets of Boston. New York and Phila-
delphis considerable, irregularity The
following year the anticipations of the Gen.
tennlal consumption induced an unusually
large and early planting in Virginia and
Maryland. The Philadelphia market be-
csmo over-stocked and the other leading
markets short. As the season wore along
the Philadelphia losses, the good prices
elsewhere and the exaggerated bug reports
turned into the potato markets host of
Spectators, who bought and stored large
quantities in Eastern Maine and in Nova
Scotia. running the prices there up from Is
and 20 cents a bushel to 30 ard 40 cents.
10 that Winter Of 1867, those who had
stocks in the leading cities averaged S
DuSDtl, plOul vi CCuL-s NhiAO III
January and February of 1877 the prices
averaged 10 to 90 cents further advance.
10 March tho SPECTATORS stock from down
East began to arrive, and early arrivals OF
Bermudas, together with tho pressure of
the outsiders to unload, completely broke
the market in April. Last Winter. the
business was left to the control of the regu
lar trade, and prices maintained notice
abs uniformity very Close to so cents
bushel. There was considerable stock at
the opening OF navigation, which had been
held by farmers. on which a good deal of
money was lost.
Cargo after cargo was seut to Philadel-
phia and New York which did not return
money enough to pay freight, the current
price in June being twenty to twenty-five
cents bushel. while several were sold at
fifteen cents bushel, and July 4, cargo
of ) 900 bushels was thrown overheard in
Philadelphia, because of the condition OF
the market The influences of a good year
in prices on the farmers il usually potent
enough to carry them three or four
years into constantly extended crop plant
ipgs. The potato plant last Spring IN
Maine and the Provinces. was the largest
ever known. The impression that the low
prices prevailing last Spring would lnhu-
cnce u small acreage, was what eacn farm
or thought OF his neighbor. while each
individual put into the ground all the seed
he could handle When the harvest was
ready it was found that the dry and very
hot summer followed by copious rains IN
the autumn, had caused the crop to rot, and
farms and towns are known both In the
Middle States and at the East where the
potato fields were ploughed under, as the
Weld would not pay to dig. This knOwl-
edge brought back t. the potato market a
host of spectators, and a. the Southern
ports were closed on account Of the yellow
fever, the shippers in the Northwest turned
in October, to shipping to the Atlantic
coast, and in one week 400 potato cars ar
rived IN Baltimore, breaking that market
from one dollar per bushel to fOrty cents
Tor Eastern early rose, and from ninety 10
twenty-five cents for Western stock. OF
course the other cities broke in quick success
sion, but Boston having less OF the Western
stuff than tho other places did not drop
below thirty-tye cents. There were cars
of potatoes on this market from Kansas, on
which the freight was $50, and as they
held only 355 bushels, OF course did not
realize enough to pay the freight.
While this Generalization was alive In
the cities anxious buyers had bought Nova
Scotia clean at from % to % cents
bushel, and had reached Prince Edward
Island in force. The second week in Novem
Der there were on that island 40 Boston
BUYERS, over 80 from New York and As rep
resenting other cities; in all over l5U
potato buyers, for the United States mark
cts who rode horseback twenty and thirty
miles into the interior to engage potatoes,
and lett the Island in an unusual ferment
over the convictions of potato famine IN
the States.
OF course the receipts from the Provinces
continued long after the Western stocks
ceased to come. but they were so heavy and
the loss on each cargo 40 large that the
outside spectators have been forced 70 sell,
and no cargo yielded within Is cents
bushel of cost.
The stock in Boston il about 100000
bushels, of which not more than Ii, 900 IS
Early Rose ard 90 900 Jscksons. There
are several large lots held in Maine and
Nova Scotia for Boston account,-probably
not over 10000 bushels. One provision
dealer holds about 10000 bushels. Just
what is now held in the Provinces Is in
doubt. Prince Edward Island alone
sent 200, 900 bushels, while Cape Breton
stock is yet to be run across on the
ice into Sherbrook or nearer points for early
spring export. Dealers do not agree as to
the amount Of stock that can be shipped.
but they do agree in tho statement that
Prince Edward Island farmers will have to
buy seed in the spring. as the high prices
had induced them to sell more than their
surplus.
A summary of the Boston market presents
the following facts: The Early Rose held
here cos. So rs barrel; will be wanted
for seed and is asking 50 50@S 81 90 barrel
for deliveries in May. The Jscksons and
Prolifics are needed for the consuming trade
and dealers are confident they can sustain
Sl.l0 to ST 20 a bushel during January.
The Western stock is unstable here. These
potatoes run to the extremes large and
small, are full of worm and borer holes,
and no carloads would be taken within Is
to 20 cents OF the prices on the other cheap
er grades. The costs OF storing potatoes
per bushel are, carriage, . cents; labor
cents shrinksge and rot, cents, and
storage, cent; total per month. ii cents.
There is fair demand for export, every
Havana steamer from New York taking
from 500 to 1000 barrels that bring in
Cuba Sli Spanish Currency. There have
been several shipments from Boston to
Africa, the last lot, 500 barrels, going out
with cargo Of ice.