The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-29


TIE rapid increase in prices of vegetable
products, potatoes, onions, cabbage, and
other things of L like nature, the farmers
would have made much more money by
raising potatoes than they would by plant.
ing wheat and receiving IL dollar a bushel
for it. Within the past Few weeks house
wives all over the city nave noticed the
rapidity with which the price of potatoes
has risen. Last year this staple article
of food could have heen bought for 80
cents II bushel, and now they are bring.
ing from 80 cents to $l25.
The rise in price has been caused by
the shortness Of the crop and the fact
that there will be n foreign demand, and
it is expected by the commission mer-
chants OF the city that thousands of bush
els wi be shipped to Ireland and to other
European countries. The crop in New
York is almost total failure, while that
in Virginia and Maryland is not as large
as last year. One year ago the farmers
of the neighboring States were feeding
potatoes to their stock, because the price
was so low that it did not pay them to
ship them. Now they are digging up
even the small, st and sending them to
market, where they get from so to 60
cents a Eushel. On an acre of good land
from 300 to 325 bushels of potatoes can
be raised. while the same soil will not
produce more than twenty bushels of
wheat Many of the farmers and truck.
ers did not plant so many potatoes this
year as last, because they figured that
the price would be even lower. Those
who di" plant are now congratulating
themselves, besides lifting mortgages and
buying agricultural implements
Dealers expect that the prices will rise
even higher before the coming of Christ
Scotland ncnot1,,
to this country, but this year there is n
market in Ireland for all they can pro
duce and consequently none will arrive
from the lana Of "Bobby" Burns.
This increase in cost is not alone no
ticeable in potatoes, but in all other
products. Apples, which last year were
selling for 10 cents and 81 n barrel now
bring 1925 and $3.50. The price on
onions has doubled. and now they are
worth $1.75 and 81 bushei. Celery
from Michigan and Ohio has kept pace
with the increase in other food products
and is now worth so and 70 cents a dozen
stalks, rs against 25 cents last wear.
The celery crop is also short and the
prices may get so high that many a
Thanksgiving dinner will be eaten with
cut it, Even the plebeian cabbage may
become delicacy. The price now is 81
hundred, as against 81 and Slid last
year.
The luscious tomato, although it's reg
ular season has nearly closed, is right i'm
line with the advance in price The sup
ply last year WAS such that they had to
be sold for almost nothing, while this
gear they, too, are bringing in hand.
some profit both to the producer and re-
taller.
With the advance in grain several
months ago the price of beef went up,
and there is little or no probability of it's
falling. Maryland and Virginia farmers
are realizing handsome profit now in
selling calves and.porll products During
the summer little or no advance was
made in the price of pork, owing to the
small demand for it. but with the coming
OF cooler weather the little shoat will
bring nearly as much as did the prize
porker last winter.
Dealers in fertilizer and agricultural
implements say that they have received
little or no benefit from the high prices
paid for farm produces. In the opinion
OF the dealers of these goods. the farm
ers are using the most os the money real
lzed during the past summer in paying
OFT their old debts and are not contract
ing new ones. Others have allowed
themselves and their families to enjoy
vacations at the various State fairs and
other places of interest.