The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-20
SWEET POTATOES ABROAD
Reports On Experimental Ship
ments to London and Paris.
Twenty Barrels Forwarded by the
Department of Agriculture in
March Arrive in Poor Condition,
But the TuBers Find Ready Sale.
Good Prospects for Future Trade.

The Secretary of Agriculture has receiv-
ed from DR.. D. E. Salmon, Chief of the
Bureau of Animal Industry a report on a
trial shipment of sweet potatoes to Lon
don, England and Paris. France, MAIDS
last March, by direction of the Secretary,
for the purpose of securing some facts as
to the possibility of introducing this
American product into European markets.
The middle of last March, twenty bar
rels Of sweet potatoes were purchased in
scGthcrn New Jersey, to be exportd in two
lots of ten barrels each, to London and
Paris. Special care was taken both, in
the selection and packing of the potatoes
| The barrels were lined with tar paper to
keep out moisture, and each potato was
wrapped in lightweight parchment paper,
The potatoes were selected and instruc-
| lions for shipment were given by Mr.. D.
| NJ Nesbit. Secretary Of the Evansville Farm
ers Club of Maryland, which club has
given much attention to-the cultivation
/ and marketing Of sweet potatoes.
The lot was shipped by the Red Star
! steamship Kensington which sailed for
| Southampton March q, ana special re-
! quest was made that the shipment be
! placed in a cool and dry part of the vessel
I At Southampton ten barrels were sent
1 to DR.. " Fl. WTay, Inspector of the Bu-
| reau at London, and the remaining ten
! barrels were forwarded to William A. Tay-
| lor. Assistant Pomologist of the Depart
ment then in Paris, in charge of the
/ United States Horticultural exhibit at the
t Exposition.
! The ten barrels arrived in London April
.. Seven barrels were sent to four differ
! ent stores and three distributed, in small
4 TO families 10
ment being made by the department was
! explained and an expression as TO how
the potatoes were liked was requested.
Some dealers were invited to give opinions
/ as to the advisablity Of making regular
I shipments.
In reporting the results of the expert
ment based or personal observation and
replies to the requests sent with the pota-
/ toes, Dr. Wray states that the potatoes
were beautifully packed, but il was late
/ IN the season for them. and in two OF the
barrels which he saw opened were quite
! a number of rotten ones
Many persons with whom he talked had
never before eaten American sweet pota-
/ toes. and the first impression of them was
not favorable; but after q second and
/ third trial they were voted very palatable.
Dr. Wray is strongly OF the opinion that
. If sweet potatoes are introduced through
the proper channels they viii find a con-
siderable sale in the English market. He
I says 10 Introduce them it viii be neces-
I sary to educate the Britisher up to them,
and that it would be advisable to have
( printed small circular giving the va
I Tious recipes for cooking and serving.
I He recommends that shipments Of, say,
I six barrels per week be made. and. il the
demand warrants. this number can easily
/ be increased by cable. There are many
/ American families residing permanently
/ In England, and by advertising the fact
that sweet potatoes were obtaiuable q
considerable sale would be ensured from
/ the start.
The potatoes were retaiIed at different
! stores at Id 80. and I'd per pound. They
were readily bought UP. mostly by Ameri-
cans. who would probably have paid dou-
bic those prices for the few obtainable.
DIT. Wray strongly urges the depart
meut to continue the experiment, and be-
/ lieyes that a remunerative trade in sweet
! potatoes can be built Up il England.
! Several dealers have expressed wish for
further supplies. and il has been suggest
ed that holes be made in the barrels for
ventilation
/ William \ Taylor, Assistant Pomologist,
reports that the ten barrels of sweet pc
! tatoes shipped to him were discharged
at Southampton and after being held there
some days he was notified by the forward
ing agent at Southampton that the French
customs officer at Havre refused to per-
nit the shipment to enter his port on the
ground that all potatoes from America
were prohibited entry TO France by an Of
fetal decree. Directions were then given
! TO forward the Consi gnmenj as vans,
which are not prohibited entry. The goods
reached the Exposition April %.
Upon opening the barrels the contents
of most of them were found TO be in bad
condition. With the exception OF two bar
rels, the potatoes had apparently been
chilled, and in some at least one-third OF
the specimens were rotten.
About five barrels OF the best stock were
displayed April y, and Mr.. Taylor request
ed jury consideration, but this was not
granted. because the exhibit was received
after the jury had completed its work for
the horticultural ompetition
The exhibit aroused much interest, as
was evidenced by enquiries of persons who
viewed it, few of whom recognized the
articles shown. Some of the leading deal
ers expressed the opinion that a trade
could be built up, provided it could be dem
| onstrated that shipments would reach the
market in sound condition To do this Mr.
Taylor thinks it will be necessary to pro-
vide warm storage on shipboard, wrap the
individual potatoes with paper. and to give
| some ventilation through the sides of the
barrel.
General distribution of specimens for
| testing was impracticable. because like
other exhibits, they were in bond, and tbs ir
distribution prohibited By the customs au-
thorities. The quality had besn so mucch
injured by chilling that Mr.. Taylor con-
sidered it unwise to attempt to secure re-
movaI of this prohibition, for the dfstribu-
ton Of specimens in such condition would
have been unfair to the quality OF Americ an
sweet potatoes in general.
So long as the present prohibition o.
American potatoes continues they can be
only be imported as vans" Vans are
dutiable ar francs per leo kilograms.
which is equal to about 20 cents per 100
pounds. The cost OF transportation from
New York to Paris would be about 50 per
barrell. and the price that could be OBJ
| tanned for sound stock in limited quantity
would be about or 10 cents per pound
The Paris market for novelties in fruits
and vegetables is excellent, and prizes pal
are very high. Hr. Taylor thinks it quite
probable that if small shipments of choice
sweet potatoes could be made regular V
under conditions that would ensure their
delivery in sound condition, a trade CT cen
siderable proportions could be built Up.
New West Virginia Charters.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Aug. 2e.-Char-
| tiers have been issued to the Piatsburp