The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-15
AMONG THE POTATO

Rv. invitation of the Eastern ShoTe
of Virginia Produce Exchange L at
tended a farmers meeting GOWN near
the tip end Of Cape Charles on March
rs. Though l was born in the az,
Joining county of Accomac, | had
never been down TO that lower end
before. The meeting was at cape
vile, eight miles south OF cape
! Charles City. the terminus OF the n.
Y. p. & n. Railroad. They now nave
a short line of railroad running down
to the end OF the Cape, but / was
taken to Capeville in an automobile,
and it seemed that every n OF the
prosperous truck growers there mas
his motor car. I was surprised al
the beautiful section below Cape
Charles City: the we'll cultivated farnas
and the beautiful farm homes every
where were indications of prosperity.
And this prosperity has been largely
due to their cooperative method OF
selling their produce. Tha section
seems to be almost entirely devoted
to early Irish potatoes, and nothlng
like as large an area to sweet potatoes
as just above them in Accomac. In
fact, in riding through the country
it looked as though all the land is
planted in potatoes. And they grow
great crops Of them, too. The one
station at Cape Charles City shipped
last year nearly half a million bar
rels of Irish potatoes, and though ]
have not the figures for the long list
of stations on the road north of there,
/ know that the shipment from all
| was immense, for, living near the
road, / can see in the shipping season
train after train, as close as they dare
run them on the double-tracke rail-
road, passing day and night.
There were about 500 thrifty-look-
ing growers gathered at Capeville, and
4 fhn have xaO hf1
oyster roast and the finest oysters in
the world. Our Western friends who
get the skeletons of the oysters soak
ed in ice water have very little con-
ception of the oyster taken from his
shell after roasting on a hot fire.
They kindly gave me the first ad-
dress, and ] tried to show them that
even with their recent prosperity with
potatoes. there was a great deal OF
risk in devOting their land almost ex-
clusively t. the one crop which is SO
liable TO slump on the market at
times, and that a greater diversity
and more culture and the
use of glass in their sunny climate
would nable them to beat the AXE
Shore region because Of cheaper pro-
duction. There where the finest Of
lettuce can be grown in simple old
frames and where it is easy to get
early tomatoes on the market while
the AXE Shore people are still sell
in" forced ones they would bring
greater returns thar such exclusive
devotion to the early Irish potato.
Spring is opening early down there
! and the potatoes are already peep
3 ing above ground, in March, and field
\ after field was being narrowed over
8 preparatory to the regular cultivation,
I while my potatoes are yet under
ground.
/ The principal address was made
by Mr.. Westcott, one of the leading
spirit in h Produce Exchange, an6
his statistics were very interesting
: These men were wise in getting a.
= manager of the most experienced
: and successful produce men in the
country. and they pay Mfr. Burton SIS,
. zoe a year, and would have great diff
ficuIty to find his equal.
The produce they ship is all SOLE
, in advance by the carload under thei
. guarantee. a big red star. Their trav
{ cling statesmen get the order in al
the cities North and in Canada. an,
e the know before a car leaves the sta
ton what it is sold for. At ever
see that the produce bought up t.
the mark before putting the red sta
90 on it.
lg Then if the consignee makes a com
I'd plaint is just he adjusts the differ
] carload shipped To him. a traveie
&c goes there at once and if the com
he plant is just he adjusts the differ
ence at once, for the brand must b
maintained. The mere matter of te
st egramS often amounts to $4,000 j
m a season. The Exchange is a stoc
,e, organization, not for the &.
making money for itself, out for tt
growers. The charge 5 per cent fl
re selling and a grower can always e,
of his money down as soon as his pr
An oOco IS on the car. less the commi
sion n freight.
TIL Last eason the Exchange sold So
10000 worth Of produce. All Il
money made over express is divided
of half. one-half going to the surplus full
lot and the other half Is divided amor
all the shipping in propO
ley ton to heir shipments. The capt.
tl. stock is but $4Q 600 and Surnlus In,