The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1914-02-28
YAM
POTATOES.
To the Editor of the Iberlan:

was very greatly Interested in
the article appearing in the Issue
of your excellent paper of date
February 81, under the caption,
"Marke,ing Produce. If Mr..
Pharr's enlightened example were
generally followed by the farmers
of the country better prices would
be obtained for farm produce and
greater prosperity would abound
throughout South west Louisiana.
Unfortunately for US, however,
MIR. Pharr Is only one among a
thousand who undertakes to seek
out markets for himself, and who
possesses the means to bear the
expense of doing so successfully.
For the masses we must have co
operative organizations to enable
members to buy seed and fertiliz-
er in bulk, to find markets for the
entire output and TO save freight
costs by shipping in car load lots
Mr.. Pharr's experience is in
structive, but | am sure you will
permit me to dissent from your
congratulations thereon, especially
TO part of the following state
meni:
"We could not have gone so far
in the writing of this story had
Mr.. Pharr harvested a crop of
mam'zelles, pumpkin.yams, or COW
potatoes They are not the kind
of goods that Will give the farmer
reputation thai the eater cares
to rememb ber'.
| am not familiar with the 10.
formation upon which your con
clusion is based, but beg to sub.
NIT some facts for your unbiased
consideration.
The Southwest Louisiana DeveI-
Opment Bureau Is urging each
farmer in Southwest Louisiana to
plant at least one acre Of sweet
potatoes for the early market.
1t urges them % plant, on this
acre intended for the early mar
ket, none but pumpkin yams- It's
reason for doing SO is based upon
the following facts:-
The pumpkin yam is one of the
very earliest maturing varieties of
sweet potatoes, and 10 order 10
obtain top prices for sweet pota
toes they must be ready for mar
ket early ia the season;
According to the testimony OF
Mr.. q. NJ. Porter, a potato grower
and potato dealer of many years
experience, the saccharine con
tent of the pumpkin yam Is great
or than that Of any other variety;
Ii is the sweet potato in most
demand by buyers of potatoes in
the market where our potatoes
are sold;
And finally, during the present
season they have brought better
prices, by an average approximat-
ing one hundred per cent, f. o. b.,
Lafayette, than has been obtained
tor any other variety of sweet po-
tatOes. AS matter Of fact, Mr..
Porter, who is now finishing up
the potato buying season here,
tells me that, while he has been
able to work off a few car loads
of other varieties by dint of much
persuatlon and at prices about tif-
ty per cent lower than he is get
tug for pumkin yams, he has not
received a single original order
FOR any other kind.
Now, Mr.. Editor, | have no
prejudice against any variety of
potatoes, nor would | discourge
any farmer from planting for gen
eral use as much as be may care
to plant Of his favoglte variety.
But / think the facts have sub
mitted above should be quite saffi
cient to convince the open minded
that the pumpkin yam is the vari
ty that the early markets want
and that, if he wishes to make
money growing potatoes, he
should strive 10 supply the mar
ket with tho variety for which it
Is willing to pay the most money