Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-03
BUMPER POTATO CROP.
Expert Declares 3JO.OOO,OOO Bushels
,N&ilI lie Hryested,

VIII lie Invested.
Eugene H. Grub, author of "rhe Po-
.ato." eats, sleeps, lives and grows pota-
toes on 100 acre potato patch at Car
bondae col, when he is not studying the
potato problem abroad, says the New
York Sun.
The potato professors chief reason in
waxing eloquent about the tuber was
to explain the purpose Of the proclama-
zion issued by the department of asricul-
IRE prohibiting the importation of the
common or garden variety of white po-
tato from England. Scotland. Ireland.
Wales. Germany, Austria, Hungary. New
'oundland and the islands of st. Pierre
nd Midueon.
The governmental quarantine OF pota-
oes followed the enactment into law or
measure which Senator Guggenheim IN
reduced ut the request OF the potato pro-
.essor two years ago as rider TO the
Simmons bill. giving American fruit
growers protection against the invasion ot
vegetable diseases from foreign LANDS
Mr.. Grubb's rider provided that pota-
oes from those countries where II was
inown that the potato scab or Wart eN-
sted should be kept off American soil
Mr. Grubb made a study of the potato
md its infrmities in Europe for Secretary
Of Agriculture Wilson and his report. be-
ing too vouminous for government
pamphlet, was put into book.
This country can depend on a potato
,rop of SfO,oOOW bushels this year. he
,aid This will he sufficient to supply the
rants of all without any ilnr"rtation'
We had a potato famine in 1911 and actu-
ally raised only 2do.o0ocpo bushels of the
2ss, 900 bushels reported by the govern
ment.
1--WE imported 3o,coo.oOo bushels last
YEAR. but we do not know whether any
of them were infected. In 1910 New York
alone imported 100000 bushels. The
great potato shortage Of 1911 was due to
disease In the West and lack OF moisture
N the East
'~The quarantine which the government
has established cannot be hardship to
Treat Britain this year because she has
no potatoes to export and our crop is
above the normal. There may he some
criticism because II might increase the
cost Of living. but the increase If any will
not come this year.
1.-The object Of the bill was not to reduce
the supply, but to protect our crops IL
the black wart should get into THIS coun-
try there Is no telling what the result
might be. The American potato grower
knows that he has stable market lie
knows that the potato produces bigger
return, considering labor and capital re-
CURED. than any other food crop
'He wants to save the potato from the
ravages of the dreaded fungus disease
that attacks the eye of the potato and
gradually enters and destroys 1t. You
can't detect 1t in its inclpient stages eX-
cept by microscopical examination and it
can't be cured by any kind of spraying.
The object of the bill is to Protect our
future supply.
IF the disease once got into the soil
we would never be any more free from
/. than we are OF the coddling moth,
which has lost for us much of our apple
crop: the boil weevil. which attacks cot
ton, or the San Jose scale. which came
from the north of China and has destroy
ed entire orchards along the Niagara
river
THE chestnut bark disease. which came
from the Nile country. will result in a
total loss of the chestnut tree In America.
and this destruction is all due to the for
mer lax methods of this country in failing
10 afford required protection by law
1T has been estimated that II costs the
American people annually sl.G0o.0ooOO0 as
the result of the damage done by the i'm
2ortation OF pests from foreign countries
n the loss of crops
Il consider the Simmons bill giving
American fruit growers and farmers pro-
lection against an invasion OF pests from
,oreign lands the most important piece of
legislation since the passage OF the Nor
ill bill in 1862. giving government aid In
building MP agricultural colleges or the
homestead act, allowing citizens to take
Up 100 acres OF land in the West. ! can't
conceive of any legislation so valuable to
the country as one which will protect it's
future food supply"
Mr.. Grub raises between 10000 and
io,000 bushels of potatoes year. He and
bis neighbors largely supply the Pullman
Palace car service. He has found time
"hen not exalting the potato to run for
,lficc. being defeated for State senator
~ the narrow margin of II votes
incidentally he Is Il Mormon elder. he
says, and just now is enjoying himself
hugely seeing the sights in New York,
which. he says, Is some potato