New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-30
THE POTATO CROP.
. cnnnr WELD IN THIS COUNTRY.

The Department of Agriculture recently issued
report estimating the potato crop of the United
States this year to be only about two.thirds OF the
average annual yield This news was unwecome,
of course to almost everyone and especially to poor
people. who find in the potato one of the cheapest
and most wholesome articles of food. ~ short
| potato crop in the country as whole, however
does not necessarily mean that the supply Tor
New-York City will be equally limited, as the sec
tons which supply New-YOrk with potatoes may
have a good potato crop when other parts OF tle
country suffer from short yield Moreover Tue
British provinces produce usually large surplus Oh
potatoes and as a large share Of these come to TINS
city, this source of supply has to be taken INTO ac-
count.
a TRIBUNE reporter had talks with several proinl-
nent potato dealers and commission merchants
recently in regard to the potato market and us III
ture prospects. From these it appears that While
the supply of potatoes will undoubtedly be Hghtr
than usual yet the fact of there being good crop
in of the Provinces with little probability oil
any export to England. indicates that the price oil
the popular vegetable will not rise unusually hlgh
i'll the coming winter. When potatoes get 10 ne
worth So 30 TO - barrel, poor people use less OF
them, and more of -four, beans, oatmeal ana such
provisions. The shOrtuosS of the apple crop, sweet
potato crop. and bean crop, however, Will tenn TO
keep the price of potatoes mp; so that there Is n
probability that the best stock viii sell nj from %
to ~ barrel during most of the season.
ACREAGE AND YIELD.
A member of the firm of Heard Brothers said
when questioned about potatoes "The acreage
planted in New-York State is greater than last year.
but the yield has been lighter and the tuoers are
generally small sized. There is fair crop along
the Erie Railway, but it is Icing largely bought mp
for the Eastern market. The prices paid have
ranged from 80 to 90 cents bushe There has
never been such demand for potatoes to ship to
the West. The States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri Kansas and Kentucky have only about
one-half the usual crop. The demand from South
ern port, has also been very heavy, rs they nave
becr used To drawing on the West for supply, ana
now have 60 look elsewhere. Michigan and WIS
consin rsi,o a large quantity of potatoes, and in
some parts The yield is said 10 be fair An idea al
the Western demand may De- had from tile fact that
some Baltimore dealers recently bought 800 carloads
in Western Ncw-Yark IN one day for the Western
market. Another Speculation on the Ire rnau S',
cured 5000 bushels ut 80 cents. The Long lsiahu
crop Of pOta' Oes maturrd before the drouth had
damaged 1t much. The potatoes were OF a me
nualitv selling nj 81 - aud ~. Large quantities
were bought IN the eastern end ol the island Nv
spectators At low prices In the state oil Maine tle
acreage planted tins year ~ cloW the aNcI1g'' nul
with plenty OF rain the crop has grown we'll anu =
OF fine quality. Ny letters from Ne" -Brunswlrk
say there will not lee over half crop 81 potatoes
there In Nova Scotia AMI Prince Edwards Island
fair crop is reported not rs heavy Is la, year ana
the ubrrs of smaller size. \ few good Nova Sc0ila
- -. while white potatoes brought - %. Canada,
| hear. has a fair crop of potatoes. The market
cannot fail 10 he good. with the shipping ueinauu
Wesl and South. together with the local coisump-
ton, which Is estimated at 1000 barrels "A day LOT
this city alone. The main check on the maj kets
rising is that England. Ireland and Germany nave
large potato crops, anu instead OF drawing on MS
this year. may send some of their surplus I" TINS
country Their potatoes are not as good ms ours
anu 50 would not sci rs high; otherwise is WuuId
now be very profitable t. import them.
SUPPLY AND DEHASD.
II. NJ. Edwards said to the reporter: There Is
great deal of excitement among potato buyers on
account of the short crop and there is much spccu-
latIon. Spectators should remember however,
that this Is big country, and where on locality
fails another will yield WELL also that when
farmers are marketing their potato crop very close.
and consumers are careful not to waste unueccs-
sarily. and the export demand is lc,-cucd two
thirds of a crop bo made to go almost as far ms
a full crop when less economy l. practised.
Another demand shut on 10y the present prices is
that OF the starch factories. which cannot paw much
over ~ to = cents bushcl for POTATOES and make
profit. The prjai0 beng very "aieIy w'H only
Weld about ouc-unth Of l's weight ~ starch Last
year one starch factory used 10000 bushels of 30
tatocs you ste TIN, Is "a considerable item.
Washington County keeps M her od prestige tins
year by having the largest crop of any county m
the State. Tie acreage was large and the quality
generally good The Western trade is already
drawing on the crop There. and many ears have
been shipped 10 ONO and Baltimore from Granville
they do not require the farmers 10 sort the stock, |
and 81 IL has t. be sold eventually below price.
Rensselaer, and Clinton Counties also have good
potato crops. especially the latter. which seems 10
have been favored with rain. good many canal
boats Will doubtless be- loaded nj Troy, along the
canal aud Lake ChaWplItn, ana also NJ Montreal. |
The State of Vermont La, fair crop pro ably. !
Maine has probably good crop ~ some parts, and
gs usual the potatoes " i. be of superior quality !
One correspondent, however wrote that rot WAS |
feared On account of this wet weather. In Prince |
Edward, Island hear the crop ison ~ fair, and The
potatoes not - large rs usual The season |
there has been wet and cold, ard there l. conSe.
qucntly probability that the potatoes are Affected
wi disease. In Nova Scotia there Is probably o !
good yield but IN New brunswick the crop n much
below the average. The State of Michigan has n |
surplus. hut no other Western State and the West
generally larks ull supply.
Early Rose continues the popular variety, and |
Peerless next, though Burbanas Seedlings and |
SnOwilakes are planted also. The trade opened at |
the Twenty -ninth-st. yard about the middle Of |
August Prices have gradually risen from ~ - TO |
~ - per barrel. The potatoes coming TO this |
depot arrive in sacks, and are sold by the sack. The
sack u supposed 10 contain 10 or $50 pounds |
equal 10 full barrel but some of the shippers I'LL |
them scantily that they weigh only 100 To 40 |
pounds Nothing il gained by this as these have TO
be sold below the best price. The arrivals at this |
depot have averaged about twenty-five ears day,
all OF which come over the Ncw-lOrk Central and |
Hudson River Railroad. The receipt, 10y the Troy |
and Albany steamers run from 800 to 600 barrels
a day. Here. too the measure IL APT to be- deficient
Eastern potatoes are arriving quite freely by TIE |
Metropolitan and Cromwell lines 81 steamers. bul
il is early yet TO look Tor the potato schooner.
W. II. Wright when asked about the potato cop
replied lacOnicaly: You SAY tlli thc yield .-
good east of the Hudson kiycI &C.,. poor W the |
country west Of the Hudson
NEW POTATO HtEEIi.
The potato market was moved on October . from !
the block bounded by Ninth nud Icuth.uy,s., |
Twenty ninth and Thrticth-s,., TO the site of the
burned Manhattan Market The railway company
has erected on this site, along Thirty fourth aud |
Thirty-fft-sts., Of brick sOrehOuscs 80 by Is
feet which the potato dealers 30 occupy and
instead Of serg directly from the formerly |
As the rear walls of the only capboarrd
and the floor is only one thickness of plank. with
m conference.-the n viii he In |