The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-01-17
Irish Potatoes.

this section; but generally the effort
only met with temporary success.
However, the subject is still an impor
tant one, and the conditions for the
development Of the potato crop are
much more favorable.
OF course. almost every family that
has garden and almost every farmer
in the country, raises little patch of
Irish potatoes; but generally these
patches are hardly sufficient to supply
the table needs during few weeks of
the summer, and it is only an occa-
sional individual.herc and there who
ever thinks Of raising potatoes for the
market. In fact it is safe to say that
20 per cent. of the potatoes raised in
this country arc dug and consumed be-
fore they are fully maturcd, and not
tive potato raiscrs out of Il hundred
are able to put home raised potatoes
on his table two months after the
plowing of his patch.
That potatoes may be raised ano
saved in this section there is no oues-
ton. tits we'll established that any
gardner who understands even the
rudimcntary principles Of his business,
can easily raise two crops a year; and
with less attention than is demanded
by corn crop, he can raise as many
hu holc Of ,,ototooo a. tLo ,u. - r
almost any other crop known. n OF
only this, if the proper means be used.
both first and second crop potatoes
may be kept from one season to an
other. Of course, potatoes cannot be
kept with as little trouble or expense
as can corn, oats or wheat; but the
trouble and expense are very little
greater than is required for these
crops, and usually not only the mar
kct value, but the profit to the grower,
is much greater
Ut one time last fall Irish potatoes
rctailcd in, Yorkvillc at 20 cents a
peek or SLIGO bushr!, and at this
writing they are retailing at % cents
peck. Of course, the local crop last
year was particular failure, and that
may have had something to do with
the high prices, especially just before
the northern crop was harvested: hut
at these prices potato ra's rs co I'D
have made money even off the crop.
and there would be big margin Of
profit for the producer at this time.
For instance, a local dealer told tho
reporter the other day that he alone
had sold as many as so bushels or po-
tatoes in week, and while this dealer
is probably the largest in York Vile. il
would seem safe to put the local con-
sumption at not less than IS bushels
week, valued at So, 72O a year.
That the consumption of potatoes is
steadily growing in this section is also
q settled fact. While hominy is still
the great food basis in this section and
throughout the South generally, the
number of potato consumers is con-
stantly increasing. The consumption
of potatatoes is not confined to anv
class. The hotels are bound to have
themiall the time-almost as regularly
as bread-hundreds of private families
use them daily, and the demand in the
cotton mill settlements can hardly be
supplied. If it we're practicable right
now to give the total sum that York
county is each year sending away for
the single item of Irish potatoes, which
can be raised as cheaply and as per-
fcctly here at home as anywhere on |
earth, the figures would be startling.
If every farmer in the country
should put forth all his effort raising
potatoes, there is no doubt Of the fact
that the local market would be 81 utted
so that the price would hardly be
sufficient to pay the price of hauling
TO the towns. But still every farmer
can undertake to raise few potatoes
without any such danger. Properly
cultivated and intclligently handled
after harvesting, potatoes would have
On the farm value similar to that of
,orn, oats and wheat. They can be
used not only for the table; but also
FOR feeding all manner of stock. If
the worst comes to the worst, they
can be converted without loss into
horse powder, into pork fat, into
chicken feed or into milk and butter.
So, under these circumstances, potato
raising is safe proposition on any
and every farm. Each farmer who
gives his attention to the industry on |!
4 small scale, or as large one as he
may sec fit, will be in position to |
protect himself against loss and at the
same time have many opportunities
during the year to convert a bushcl of