The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-06-11
POTATO PROSPECTS,
The DrOughts and Floods Are Caus-
ing Great Damage to the Po-
tato and Other Crops.
The Outlook is Good for High Prices
for Potatoes in the Famed
minnesota Belt.

Unless all signs fail the potato crop
OF the country is going to be light next
fall and both drought and continued
wet weather and disastrous floods are
the destroyers of the crops in many
sections of the country. In the east
and all through the New England
states the country is parched and un-
less rains come in very short time
there will be no crops at all in some
places. All through the New England
states and New York, New jersey and
portions of Pennsylvania as we'll as in
Michigan there has been a severe
drought and agricultural prospects are
not very bright. In the west and
southwest wet weather and floods have
devastated many sections, the terrible
floods of the last two weeks being the
climax. AS a result of the floods the
entire Kaw Valley section tributary to
St. Joseph and Kansas City, and the
'American BOttoms," the rich early
potato section below St. Louis have
been devastated and the potato crops
badly damaged and absolutely ruined
in many sections of those lowlands that
supply the markets of the country with
early potatoes.
Texas, Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory are the first sections to supply the
markets with the early potatoes, and
as the crops of these places become ex-
hausted the American Bottom and
kaw Valley potatoes are nearly ready
for market, and close behind the
potato crop of these great potato fields
comes the northern crop of early
potatoes. Last year the southern Sec
lions had big crops Of early potatoes.
and the Minnesota ''early' fell way be-
hind the fabulous price of the year be-
fore, but prospects are that the price of
the early potatoes of this season will
be good enough to net the farmer a
VERY handsome profit. \ -
S. H. Hall, the big potato merchant
of Minneapolis, is advising the farmers
who live tributary to potato markets,
and who have not been able to plant
corn or small grain to plant potatoes,
but Mr.. Hall does not need to give some
farmers in this section any such point
ers as there was nothing left for many
to do but plant potatoes after small
grain and corn were made impossible
because of the wet weather. This
many farmers have done and they did
it in ignorance of any market condi-
tons, so that the wet weather may
possibly prove a blessing in disguise,
as it looks as if the markets of the
country could take all the potatoes
raised in the Minnesota potato belt
this year and at very good prices. The
UNION advised farmers last week to
plant an increased acreage of potatoes
as prospects looked favorable and one
farmer used the Rural 'phone one
day when he was planting and asked
for the opinion of the potato editor on
the prospects. The inquiring farmer
was informed that the outlook was
very good and was advised to increase
his acreage which he did,
Farmers are certainly justified in
planting more potatoes than they did
last year as in the face of prospects
prices will certainly be good enough to
net potato raisers a good profit.
Local reports are that farmers are as
rule planting a larger acreage to
potatoes than last year. In many
places there will be an increased acre
age of fifty per cent while in the
wooded sections and where clay pre-
dominates and farmers were unable to
SOW grain or corn the acreage will be
mostly to potatoes. Farmers have done
this because it was Hobson's choice.
Early predictions must be discounted
some, however, as copious showers in
the east may save part of the crops,
while the southern and southwest crop
may not be damaged to the extent
stated. General indications, however,
point to a very material reduction in
the potato crop of the country which
will be great deal lighter than last
year when the general average of the
potato crop was given by the govern
ment reports at from IS to 90 per cent.
Last year the local potato market
opened at Is and Is cents, but the
prospects are good for the market
starting in at much higher price and
fifty-cent potatoes early in the season
may not be a dream.
Germany Vanquished.