Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-06

potato raised 1t is these superior qualities,
added TO their marked value as seed pota-
toes, which gives them an extra price in all
markets. Besides getting better price, the
Maine potato growers get much more favor
able rates of freight than those in Vermont
and New Hampshire. Through competi-
tion between railroad and steamer, the
freight on bushel Of potatoes from Boston
10 Bangor is but eight cents
The "Market Gossip" writer goes on to
say "Many fine potatoes also reach the mar
ket from Vermont and they command good
prices, though not equal to the Iloulton
stock. In addition to liberal supplies Of
Early Rose and Prolifcs some fine lots Of
pure Snowflakes are received from that Sec
ton. Boston market used to depend very
largely upon the Vermont supply of potatoes
and while many carloads are now gathered
up along the Central and Passumpsic roads,
yet Maine and the Provinces have usurped
the place Of Vermont in the matter of Bos-
toms potato supply" Besides the supply
from northern New England large guam
tity of potatoes are taken to Boston from the
Provinces. Thousands of bushels of Che
nangoes, Rose and Prolifcs are imported by
vessels during the shipping season from
Prince Edward Island This shipment will
open up again during the early part of May.
At fifty-fve cents per bushel for Chenan-
goes delivered in Boston in May, Prince
Edward Island merchants would like to con-
tract for hundreds of thousands of bushels.
There is frequently a great deal of specu-
lation in potatoes. In remarking upon the
unusual southern demand this year which
has caused the marked advance in potatoes,
an elderly Quincy marketman related sim
liar experience as occurring about thirty
years ago, though on much larger scale.
At that time an unexpected and immense
demand from the south, and especially from
New Orleans, carried the price of potatoes
up from fifty cents to $500 per bushel in
Boston. A prominent potato buyer at that
time secured one hundred and thirty car
loads during the winter in the vicinity of
Montpelier, Vermont, alone. lie commenced
in the fall by paying twenty-five cents per
bushel in Vermont, and before spring he
paid for similar potatoes Sl.25 per bushel at
Montpelier. The freight to Boston in those
days was twelve cents per bushel Mr.
Curtis wealthy Boston marketman, who
controlled the New Orleans potato market
at that time, made profit in that one sea
son of upwards of $4,000 on the potatoes
he bought and sold.
The southern demand spoken of above il
as much for seed as for food consumption
The gossiper says in regard to this "South
ern planters never use as seed Irish potatoes
of their own growing, depending annually
upon fresh lots of northern or western seed
The first year that northern potatoes ar,
planted in the south the crop is early anc
good, comparing favorably in quality ant
appearance with the seed sown. The sec
ond and third years, however, the potato de
generates, or changes into white swee
potato known as yam, few of which ar
sent north, but are not in much demand.
This last statement is delicious exampl
of Boston Cultivator science. The changin
of a potato into a sweet potato, or yam, i
just as impossible as the changing of a
onion into parsnip, or of sheep into
, hog. The need of science teaching in ou
schools was never DeJter Illustrated.