Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-14
THE POTATO CROP.
Fair Statements "a Benefit 10 the Grower
Well Dealer

Toe APPEALS reports of the condition of
the potato market, and OF the estimated yield
this season. has attrsc!ed comfortable atten-
ton. Some have seen proper 10 question the
propriety Of publishing the statements, upon
the hypothesis the impoiicy of giving 10 the
markets abroad such facts a. would serve to
deprsss values We diffsr with our iriends
on this score particularly. Values are al
w4ys governed by supply and demand.
Wherever there il a seller Of commodity
there should be buyer as long as there is
demapd for the Srticle. When there is no
demand values become nominal. The traffic
10 cotton, the great sisple of the South, is a
good criterion for ali other products, and it
ha. been a closely observed rule to keep the
world posted in the progress of its prodHc-
tion from the momen. The planter makes up
his programme as to how many acres he will
devote 10 cotton until the last lock has been
plucked and the last bale IL placed in the
hands of the manufac Hrer. The same rules
govern in the traffic in cot;on-the consumer
is pleased with the low prices tn at result from
ain abundant Yield, while the producer would
be more plesssd to realize the high values re-
sulting from a short crop. Il Is tue same
way with every other article produced, aud
any effort to keep prices up by Withholding
the fact OF an abundant yield is doing busi
ness upon fictitious basis, which sooner or
later must come TO grief. Another point ad-
vanced is that our crop ia sold at a low value,
and 10 the winter when we have to buy we
pay al -lasst LOO per esnt-maEa far The -same
article TO those who purChased ours. That
is an unfortunate tact, but whose fault is il?
Why should We have to buy any article that
we can and do produce? The question can
be answered best by those who keep values
up By misrepreseDting, directly or indirec,lg,
the actual yield of the season. ave get good
prices" they ssy, land We kaoU that prices
will be lower in The fall, because of the
abundance Of the crop" These boasted good
prices are fatal to the pota,o-groWer. He
will pack up aud ship the LAST root
that can be found in his fur
row., never taking need of what his
necessities will be when pianting time comes
sgaiu--he forgels that the barrel he sold OF
bis own productions when his crop rjpened
will cost him double as much when he wants
| to plant again. This was the rule a (. "
years ago, but we are glad TO learn that few
Of our farmers dad and others tried TO make
provision g2insl this system last season, and
have pro6led by it. The improvidence oi
the Southern farmer is proverbial. He lV,
to-day, and lets tomorrow provide Tor itself
| He makes no substantial preparation to save
| up for rainy day-iu other words, be will
| give his time and attention TO the production
OF nothing that will not yield him ready cash
| The moment it strikes The market stalls, ane
| as long % there is "A demand for ME pro
| ducts be continues 10 rush them 10 msrket
until the las; seed hss slipped through hi
| fingers. He realizes his mistake oUly whef
he is getting resdy TO put in another crop
and he is forced 10 pay enormous prices FOL
seed to plant.