The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-01-19
SpudS Increase In
The United States
Statistics Show That Few Are Be
Ing Imported to Feed Americans
During Last Few Years

large quantities OF potatoes are
being imported into the United
States leades interest 10 state
ment prepared by the Bureau of
Statistics, Department Of Com
merce and Labor. showing the i'm
ports and exports of potatoes
during term Of years. While the
production of potatoes in the
United States is usually sufficient
to meet the requirements of its
population, there have been a
number Of occasions following
short crops in the United States
on which considerable quantities
were imported. On other oc-
casions, when there were shortages
abroad and large crops in the
United States, considerable quati-
ties we're exported. The total im-
ports of potatoes into the United
States in the last ten years ag-
gregated 2,s45, ,634 bushels, valued
at $40, 1856, 40, or about 48 cents
per bushel. this valuation being
based upon the wholesale market
price in the countries from which
imported and does not, therefore,
include the cost of transportation
or duties paid, the rate of duty
being 25' cents per bushel of go
pounds both under the present law
and its immediate predecessor.
The exports OF potatoes from the
United Estates during the same
decade amounted to lO,900,566
bushels, valued at $S,4l3,675. an
average of " cents per bushel.
Potatoes imported into the
limited States come chiefly from
Canada, Mexico and Bermuda in
America. and Scotland, England,
Ireland. Germany. and France in
Europe, while in recent years
small quantities have also been
brought from China. Australia,
and the Canary Islands. The po-
tatoes exported go chiefly to the
West Indies, Central America and
canada. the largest quantities
usually to Cuba, Canada, and
Panama and lesser quantities to
other Central American States aud
the West Indian Islands. Small
quantities have also. been sent in
recent years to China. Rongcong,
!; British Guiana, the Philippine
Ialahds, French Oceania, and Ger
tain Of the South American
countries. but practically none to
Europe. although a large consumer
Of potatoes, is also large pro-
,tlucer.
The worlds crop, so fer as it can
be measured statistically. runs be-
tween land 81 hi | Ian bushels per
snnu m, but these figures do not
include the production Of China,
North Africa, and most Of South
America, the origional home Of the
potato, which was found under
cultivation in South America by
! the Spanish discoverers and trans.
planted 10 Spain and thence to.
other purts If Europe Germany
Ais by far the largest single pro-
ducer of potatoes, her total crop
for,e l909, the latest available
figures, being 1. 7l6 million bush
als, against l.l73 million in En-
4 fopean Rnssiia, bl:! million 4 ii III
/ m moe 4sO mill lion il Austria, 1a41
million in Great Brittian, I'D
million il ireland, 50 million sin.
Canada and 377 million il the.
United States.
New d y ork the larg gestS potato
prod ucing state Is the United5
States, her Lrodnct 10 l91O being
mil lion bushels s,ainst 355
niliion ia Mic chig g mill ion IL.
Maine, Is mill lion III psnsyl lvania;
nil lion III y oasin, . million!
Sin Ohio "a nil lion il Illinois,
l24 MI ion il m ow,., ], and bout 10
mil lion b,ishe 10 ssoh ina 4 innesota