Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-11-19

| POTATOES IN THE UNITED STATES
The crop is not only large, but by far
the largest ever grown. The acreage
was suddenly increased out Of all pro-
portion TO demands for consumption, In
response to ill-advised suggestions from
high official sources, coupled with a
natural desire To replace wheat in the
northwest with some paying crop. The
result is what might have been expected,
crop furnishing heavy surplus above
food requirements. and this surplus,
especially in the northwest, having no
adequate outlet at present, has crushed
prices 10 level below cost of production
In some sections. In fact, In many
districts, In the northwest especially,
growers have abandoned the results of
their years work, and will not dig their
crop, prices not paying the cost of dig
ging and hauling. But for the enor-
nous increase In that section, the total
crop OF the country would not be ex-
cessive, but the surplus here pressing
for market is felt BY growers all over
the country. This journal was the first
authority TO poiut out the heavy increase
in acreage this year. Its July estimate
OF area Was subsequently confirmed by
all other public and private reports.
Trained local ODE vers have now
furnished estimates of WELD per acre In
every county where extensively grown,
and the first definite statement Of the
size OF the years crop is presented.
We place the cropst 2S2, liS, 900 BUSH
els, a very conservative estimate OF the
average rate of yield being - bushels
This Il three bushels below the rate in
lSs3, showing that the crushing crop this
year results from an enormous acreage,
rather than phenomenal rate OF yield.
The variation in yield in different states
is more marked than usual. New Eng
land returns only fair average. while
New York shows good yield In spite
of local damage 10 the early crop from
drouth. In the Ohio valley the season
for early potatoes was marked by severe
drouth, which lasted late enough 10
damage the first growth of late paintings.
This condition cut short the early crop,
aud robbed late fields of the vigor of
vine necessary TO full yield. The re-
suit Is comparatively small yield.
The increased acreage in New England
ilNlttAtu~ Ntm~
mer, was followed by such a general at
tack of blight aud rot, that the crop was
ultimately cut down materially. In
Aroosiook, Maine, the world-fsm0us
potato county, loss In this direction has
been serious, but yield Is still large on
area - per cent larger than last year.
and starch factories are working up
large quantities at IA 10 20 cents per
bushel.
In the southern states the crop of
white potatoes has been good, furnish
ing full supply for domestic wants,
and limited quantities In excess for
shipment. The yield Of sweet potatoes
in both south and north, while large In
the aggregate, IL uneven and not espe-
cially well distributed. A promising
outlook in late summer has been follow
cd by considerable impairment In
number OF states, owing To lack OF rain
when most needed. The New Jersey
crop has been called upon 10 supply
many OF the western markets, where
there was deficiency in home grown,
and growers are placing in cold storage
a considerable proportion OF the best
stock. sending the poorer grades 10
market. The increased area and yield
In Colorado and on the Pacific coast has
given the Rocky Mountain states sur
plus.-New England Homestead.