Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-01-12

tation of potatoes in any single yeai
occurred in the fiscal year 1912, wher
the total quantity imported was 49,.
100000 bushels, the next largest being
in 1909 $685. 1893 bushels and in 1902, T..
666.666 bushels. The total quantity i'm.
ported since 1900 is practically $1,000
600 bushels and the quantity exported
in the same period, 1900, 900 bushels
the total production in the United
States during that period having beer
over 1000, 900 bushels. or an average OF
approximately 300.000,o00 bushels per
annum.
The largest impo4tatio of potatoes
naturally occur in years of short crops
in the United States. The high record
importation, that of the fiscal year OF
1912, IS, 10000 bushels, followed a short
crop in the calendar year 1911, when
the total production was only a93, ,0W
bushels. against $40, 100000 bushels In
the year Immediately preceding; that
of 1912, 1s.750,o00 bushels, followed
short crop of 279.000,000 bushels in 1908.
against 2es.O00,0O0 in the year immedi-
ately preceding, and that of the fiscal
year of 1902, 7,666,666 bushels, followed
a crop of but 1sS,0000 bushels in the
calendar year 1901, against 211.eo0.000 In
1900 There have been been five occa-
sions since 1900 on which the imports
of potatoes exceeded 100000 bushels
per annum. those of 1911 and 1913 ex-
ceeding 100000 bushels.
The average import price of the po-
tatoes imported has ranged from Al
cents per bushel in 1902 to s1.09 in 1907.
and s1.0S in 1911; the average price in
1912, the year of the largest importa-
ton, being So cents per bushel, and In
1918. 93 cents per bushel. The average
export price has ranged from "a cents
per busheI to s1.14. the average farm
price, according to the figures OF the
department of agriculture, having
ranged from 4s cents in 1900 to 80 cents
in 1911. and SO cents in 1918.
England, Scotland and Ireland are
the chief sources of supply of the
potatoes imported. OF the 13,T5o,ooc
bushels imported in 1912. 4.666,666
came from Scotland. 100000 from
Ireland and 3,S33,s33 from England.
The other principal countries from
which potatoes were imported In 1914
| were: Belgium, $4,000 bushels;
France, 243.Ooo; Canada, $4,000; Ber-
muda, $4,000 and Netherlands 10000.
Potatoes exported go chiefly to Cuba,
Canada, Panama, Mexico, Colombia
and Venezuela. OF the 1,250,000 bush.
els exported in the fiscal year 1912.
| ia, 600 went to Panama, $4,000 to Mex
leo. 1900 to Colombia and 1900 to
Venezuela.
Potato production in the United
States is small compared with certain
ntria a smaller
area and much less population. The
product of Germany in 1911 was 1853
600. 900 bushels Austria, 426,000,000:
France, 424.000,00O, and the United
States, in the year in question, $685.
600. 900 bushels. The production of the
United Kingdom, from which our
chief importations are drawn. is ssa1-
siderably less than that Of the Unit
ed States, having been 2s1,00o,000
| bushels in 1911, of which 13S,000.000
were produced in Ireland, 100,000.U00
in England and 100000 in Scotland.
The farm value of the potato crop
of the United States in 1918 is stated
by the department of agriculture at
| S228,000,000, larger total than that
| for any earlier year except 1911, which
was $234,000,000. The United States
crop of 1913 supplied an average Of
| 3la bushels per capita, while that Of
| 1912. the high record year in produc-
ton, gave an average Of 13 BUSH
| els per capita. The production of
| 1918, 332,000,000 bushels, was larger
than in any other years except 1912,
| which showed a total Of 100000
bushels; 1910, 349.000.ooO 1909, s77,-
000, 900; and 1904, 333,000,000.