The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-21
ABOUT THE POTATO CROP.
Some of the Why's and wherefores
of Reigning Prices.

This is chiefly about Solanum Tuber-
osam or bisarum Pcruvanum, which
ever people may choose to call II. III
they don't choose they can say SIM
ply plain potato. 1t Is n subject
which is vitality interesting to a great
many just now. queer, too, now
potatoes food value Is mostly in starch,
Of which 1t contains from 10 to 20
per cent. Now everybody knows that
starch is bad for the largest propor-
tion of human kind and yet when po-
tatoeS go up to So bushel the voice
of lamentation is heard in the land.
They are deficient in albuminoids and
phosphates, and yet when potatoes go
up past 20 cents a peck there is sor-
row.
A Tribune representative yesterday
started out to settle this question and
find out what's the matter. A Lacka-
wanna county dealer divulged the se-
cret
All this trouble is because the early
crop which comes from the South has
been absorbed by the heat and hungry
people. They were little potatoes and
few in hill and now they are "all
any more" TO quote Lancaster county
high. Yesterday they were being sold
at wholesale from 81 TO Sl.25 a bushel,
the retailer getting 80 cents to 40
cents a peck People are buying by
quarts now. In the course of about
two weeks they will take a tumble in
price. Sll0 cents probably at whole
sale and a little later they will come
down to % cents peck to the retail
buyer. There is little hope that this
left-handcd staff of life will be any
less the present year and before new
potatoes come next season. The west
ern crop is a balm to our woe, and
Michigan potatoes are considered fine.
They aren't here yet. They are busy
swelling themselves up to the degree
of Importance represented.
Ten years ago the agricultural dis
trcts hereabouts supplied our potatoes,
but the farmers have taken to raising
milk (and some customers have their
opinion of that CROP so the potatoes
come from farther and farther away
and there Is even a hint that we've
got to get them from Ireland. How
! ever the people OF Scranton need not
worry, potatoes will be cheaper in a
| fortnight.
| But this isn't the worst Of it.
| Apples are very scarce this year.
| There is only 80 per cent.
| crop in New York state and 40
| per cent. in Pennsylvania. They
will be very high. The man who was
| in this office yesterday with some
beautiful big red apples left over from
last years crop, ought to make a
| fortune if he has enough apples, He
didn't leave any to eat here. SO as he
calls them the Missing Link the name
is very appropriate.
The wholesale dealer yesterday con-
| flded the fact that the housekeeper
| who didn't secure her peaches for do
ing up" this week or next, is going
| to regret it everlastinGly. They are
| wholesaling at 6j cents to 81 40 now
| the fine yellow Crawfords and Reeves
| but they have come in such a rush
| that the crop will be soon exhausted
| There is only one-fourth to third
] crop any way because of the recent
rains.
| The New Jersey and Michigan
| peaches will come later, but they vii
also come higher, They will run from
s1.50 TO $3.50 a bushel. which isn't So
| kets are one-half bushel size, but tht
price given is the wholesale rates.
One bright spot CLEANS through th,
gloom. If this section, of the earth il
to be an appleless Eden we shall hav,
oranges galore. There will be a grea
crop and the price will be low.