The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-22
Potatoes Soaring
 To $2 Per Bushe|
Retail Price Today Is S1.6O
 And Is Still Going Up

Potatoes at S2 bushei is the pre- diction of several men engaged in the commission and grocery business in this city today. They fear that the supply from Northern New England will be so depleted before new pota- toes get into market that the price, already high, may get up to '$2.
 Potatoes in the retail markets to- day are bringing s1,50 and s1.60. Bridgeport is dependent almost who'll iy upon the potato supply from North crn New England. Prime potatoes from this section are quoted today at s1.40 wholesale. Retail prices range from $1.50 to $1.60.
 Dealers said they did not expect a potato famine, for they believe the high price will cut down the use of potatoes to such an extent that there will be enough to supply the demand at the advanced price, until the new stock arrives. During the cold weather dealers in Northern New England refused to ship potatoes. Even with heat in the cars, the trans Ter. of potatoes to the cars or from them on reaching their destination in the intense cold resulted in great loss.
 A few weeks ago there was literally not a potato to be had in the city of Waterbury. This was due principally
 
 and northern dealers wouldn't take a chance on shipments. Bermuda pota- toes are bringing 70 cents a peck in the retail markets today. The price of native potatoes is about twice that of the same time last year.
 The drouth of last summer, which had disastrous effect on all vegeta- bteS. had a telling one on the potato crQp in all the Eastern country and particularly in Maine and New York. whica1 are the great potato producing States of the East. In the West the potato crop was not affected as badly as in the East In some of the States in the West the yield was up to the average but in some of the others 1t was not The statisticians have fig- ured that the potato yield throughout this country last year was 80, GOO, 900 bushels below the average.
 The potato growers in Ireland are reaping the benefit of the scarcity in this country. It is not aItoge her new to have potatoes shipped to tlnfs coun- try from Ireland, but it is a good many years nov since as many have been shipped as are being imported at the present time. The potatoes come Tn sacks of two bushels and three recks in a sack and advices from New fork commission men yesterday said that 1t was expected that 10000 sacks Of potatoes from Ireland would be re- ceived in New York this week. In ad- dition to the potatoes from Ireland they are also being shipped to this country from Scotland and England, ard commission men are asking them selves the question as to how many potatoes there are on the other side. If the shipments can continue the ex- tent of the threatened famine may be Rhated but commission merchants have no hopes that there are sufficient po- tatoes in Ireland, Scotland and Eng land to supply this country when the local grown ones in storage and bins are exhausted.
 The Irish potatoes shipped to this country are sold on the other side by the ton. They net the grower be- tween $16 and $20 a ton and at $20 ton. the grower gets at the rate of 60 cents for a bushel of sixty pounds. There is a government tax of 25 cents d bushel on all of the potatoes brought i into this country. One man, who said he knew what he was talking about, said that in Ireland potatoes will run from 800 to 1000 bushels an acre, which is a much larger yield than any of the potato growing States in this country can boast. The Irish potatoes run in good sizes and it was said that they taste we'll and the tendency is for Jhem to cook quicker than potatoes grown in this country. They are somewhat darker skinned than pota- toes grown here. but the potato is white and as hard as bullets.