The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-05
POTATO FIGURES
AND THEIR LESSON
Storage Supplies From Northern
Fields vs.. Southern Truckers
Extra Early Tubers.
LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND
Reduced Potato Acreage Seems
to Be Called For by the
Present Conditions.

The Bureau OF Plant Industry OF the
United states Department OF Agricul-
ture furnishes me with some very
timely information on the potato sub
ject. end this, with accompanying
hints, viii be Of value &c the Virginia
and Carolina truckers just at this sea
SON
The commercial production OF po-
itatoes III the United States presents
/ a most interesting; economic study,
because we nave two large areas pro
dncins this crop at different seasons
Of the year At the North there IS an
immense autumn crop. a part Of which
goes Into storage each year, both in
the hands OF growers and dealers.
The Quantity OF this hold.over crop
In the hands of growers and dealers
determines to very great extent the
prices which may be obtained for tho
early truck crop potatoes grown in
virginia, North Carolina and other
South Atlantic States, which come into
the Northern markets during April
May and June. When these Northern
potatoes are abundant and have been
we'll kept they are usually offered Dur
Ing the months OF May and June In
The markets OF the Northern States at
sery low prices The truck crop po-
:atoes, which naturally come into com
petition with these at this season of
the Year. suffer in consequence Of this
abundant hold-ovcr crop In seasons
"hen the late crop is normal or Slight
y below the normal. pr'ccs for the
truck crop will then be better
Facts and Figures.
From an interesting table of fgures
sent me by the Bureau of Plant In
dustry 1 Gull the following facts and
statistics and reach the conclusions
below: The crop of 1905 was PTS
$4,000 bushels the quantity Of po-
tatocs in the hands of growers on
January /. 1909. was a3,i59o75 bushels.
while the quantity in the hands Of
dealers January l, 1909, was 31.525,3O5
bushels, making .hc total available
supply of potatoes on January /. 1909
l2i,9So,2s0 bushels. At this time-Jan-
uary |, l90o-the price OF potatoes
the grwer was ~ cents per bushel.
and in June following Virginia truck
ers got from 1925 to 81 per barrel for
the new crop. The conditions which
prevailed during the following year,
1903. when 31s, $4,000 bushels Of po-
tatoes We're produced We're as fol-
lows: On January |, 1910, 151,367,-
81 bushels we're in the hands Of grow
ers, and 36,52i0S9 bushels in the hands
OF dealers, making the total available
supply OF potatoes 1s7,s9i.9e3 bushels
ers were receiving So cents per busheI
ior their potatoes. and in June the
virginia truckers realized $3.50 to S1.75
The crop Of 1910 was 3sS,S11,0o
bushels The quantity in the hands OF the
growers January l,l9ll. has meen esti-
quantity in the hands Of dealers Jan
nary |, 1911, 36,S52,777 bushels. making
the total available supply 17l.53S,366
bushels The average price OF potatoes
throughout the United States on Jan
nary !, 1911, was 81 cents TO the grow
ers per bushc.
1t VIII be seen by comparing the
total available quantity of potatoes in
the hands of growers and dealers for
January !, 1870 and January l. 1911,
that there is only about 100000 900
bushels difference in the two years.
and only . cents difference in the
price.
The Natural Conclusions.
In order that there may be a rccur-
renee Of such prices as prevailed dur
ing the season OF 1909 for truck crop
potatoes. it will be necessary that the
available supply of potatoes on jan
uary ! approach the figures of Jan
uary |, 1909, which. as stated above,
was 12t,9s5,2S0 bushels
Making all due allowance for In
creased consumption, the outlook for
thc carly truck crop potatoes during
the season OF 1911 is not more promis-
ms than 1t was during 1910 1t is
doubtful if the smaller available sup
ply on hand January J. 1911 will ma
terially increase the price Of potatoes
between this time and July 81, and
since the greater portion OF tho truck
crop must be harvested and marketed
during this period. growers should not
expect to obtain greater net returns
per barrel for their crops than we're
available last year. unless the acreage
is very materially reduced.
This is purely an economic problem
lone Of supply and dcmand--and not
one OF personal preferences. and Will
be governed during the period from
January l 1911. TO July OF this year,
the same as 1t has In years past,