Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-10
Facts Concerning Potatoes.

| The Vermont experiment station has
taken note OF the yields VI potatoes dug at
varying dates. Such trials are of great
practical value to those potato growers
who sell early potatoes. II by the sals
before maturity the total yield Is less this
must be considered In the relative profit
of carly sales. The les.ened yield result
ing from early digging Is not the worst
loss In fastening the harvesting Of carly
potatoes, for 1t is evident that the ratio Of
small potatms will be greater when early
dug. The data submitted by the Vermont
station will enable growers Of potatoes to
calculate the excess price that they must
secure to make it an object to market at
an early date.
On August 2 the yield per acre was IS
bushels, the tubers averaging 1.6 ounors
each. On August ~ the yield was lG5
bushels and the weight of the tubers
ounces each. On August 90 the yield
was $50 bushels and 1T marketable pota-
toes 1863 bushels, weighing to each potato
81 ounces. On September 1 the yield
was 3O4 bushels, 23i bushels being mar
ketsble, the average potato weighing 4 4
ounces. On September ~ tho yield was
1856 bushels, 800 bushels being marketable,
the tubers weighing 52 ounces On Sep.
TENDER 22 the yield was $40 bushels, 80
bushels being suitable for market. the tn.
bers weighing 81 ounces each 1t will be
seen that there was progressive increase
OF the ratio of marketable potatoes as we'll
AS Of yield down to September %, beyond
which date the experiment did not extend.
The potatoes dug on August should
probably have brought nearly eight times
as much us those dug on September 90 to
have given the same profit per acre
Farmers have come to under stand that
stored potatoes lose weight In the course of
the winter and that they shrink In vol
ume so that Il class Of potatoes fit for the
market in the fall are Of too small a size
in the spring, The Michigan experiment
station has tested tho loss of weight Of p,-
tatoes in order to ascertain the increased
price that must be secured In the spring to
balance this loss. One hundred and eighty
pounds Of potatoes st rod In a barrel In
September weighed March rs, 17G DAYS
from storing, l7lh lbs. They had lost
about per cent, or when potatoes are 40
cents per bushel, 2 cents on the bushel.
On May the shrinkags from September
had II achcd liz per cent After this
date they shrank rapidly and became soft
and flabby and the record was not kept.
A shrinksgc of IL = per cent would mean
in round numbers Il loss of u little less
than cents on bushel To this loss
must be added interest risk. rotting, and
the decreased proportion that will be able
to enter the market It will be safe to say
that the Increase of price will have to be
in the Deighborhood of 20 per cent. to
bridge the loss due to storing and above
90 per cent If any gain is no accrue from
storing. AT this rate potatoes worth 40
cents In the fall would have to sell for so
cents In the spring to balance the account.
A credit would occur in the value of the
small potatoes for stock food and the de.
creased cost of drawing to market, together
forming small gain that would make
the 30 cent sale fair one In comparative
sense.