Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25
{. S. BRIGHAM IN WISCONSIN
State Convention Halls Ver-
mont Commissioner as Expert.
lie Tells Potato Growers That 70 stay
In the Business They Must study
Machinery, Methods and Mar
ketlng.

II. s. Brigham, vermonts commissioners
Of agriculture. led the discussions Of i'm
portant cultural problems at the State
potato growers convention held at Mar
inette. Wis, last week. The Eagle-Star
printed Mr.. Brigham's picture on it's front
page and said zone Of the most impor-
tant addresses of the convention was that
Of L. 8. Brigham OF Vermont. commits
soner Of agriculture. For many years he
has been associated with different phases
Of agricultural development in Vermont
and other sections OF the East. He Is
equipped on the basis Of this experience
with lust the information that Wiscon-
son potato growers need" Mr. Brigham
said in part:
The industry of potato growing has
been greatly changed In my memory by
three factors: Machinery, transportation
and science. By the invention of machin-
cry large areas Of adaptable soil may be
TILED with great reduction Of labor
cost, by the development OF cheap trans
portation potatoes may be shipped long
distances to more favorable markets, and
by the development OF scientific knowl-
edge regarding the plant and its enemies
we are able to do those things intelligently
which will encourage the growth of ono
and protect 1t from the ravages OF the
other. We may say therefore that these
three factors have made possible the COM
mercial potato industry as we know It to-
day.
1t is true that the potato is used as one
or the gambling crops Of the American
farmer in that many enter the business
through the attraction Of large prices
with no intention Of following what are
Calln6 ha no t -
ing, and 1t is true that such persons sue
coed occasionally. but the farmer who
gives the potato crop a definite place in
his rotation and who intends to stay in
the business year after year will find
the largest profits only by making use of
the most-up-to-date machinery a most
careful study of marketing conditions and
by summoning to his assistance all the
facts which have been learned about thi,
crop.
have referred to the fact that CHEAP
transportation has made II possible to
ahlp potatoes long distances to more IA
vorable markets. This has brought about
a kind OF reciprocity between different
sections or the country. The potato plant
attains It's greatest perfection when grown
In the cool climate Of the North. There.
fore, southern growers find 1t to their
advantage to purchase seed for their an
nual paintings in the North The reo,,,re.
ments of this market are that the seed
be free from mixtures Of other varieties.
that II be of small to medium size. and
free from those diseases which carry over
on or In the seed. The northern grower
! may sell first class certified seed in the
, fall or winter at an advanced above the
; common market price or he may contract
IN the spring Tor the next seasons crop
} at price which will average to yield him
l very good profit. Personally l incline
. toward the latter method
The great bulk of the potatoes grown
) must, however. be marketed as table
stock. Concentration of people in Iarpa
; cities has brought about changed meth
DDS OF distributing food products with
) which methods the American farmer has
not kept pace. There is too much of a
tendency on the farmers part to produce
simply for the local dealer without regard
to how the product Is handled by the diff
ferent men who transport II and distrib.
ute 1t to the consumer. No man can he
more interested in having the consumer
receive product In first class condition
, and at reasonable price than the pro.
: Queer, because thereupon hinges the de.
, mand which will take care Of the great
volume Of that product which exists in
, the country. When viewed from this
, standpoint. how Is our potato crop han.
, died? The majority of people who live in
large cities have no storage facilities and
must buy their supplies from day to day.
have seen potatoes exposed to the light
on stands and in retail stores In our
large cities until they were turned green
ana almost unit for human consumption
"hen potatoes were SO low In the coun-
try that the producer was receiving "a
cents per bushel for them the consumer
IN the city who must buy In small ouan.
titles was paying four cents per pound or
81 40 per hushel for potatoes which only
an appetite Inherited from some potato
: eating ancestor would induce him to eat.
! The potato grower has a product which
; is used every day by almost every Amer.
lean family. IT Is nutritious. health.
tul food when properly handled and cook.
, ed Middlemen are necessary In handlinp
} this product and they should be we'll
paid for their services. but they should
DO made the servant OF the producer and
| not his master, The accomplishment Of
THIS like the solution OF most agricultur.
! a. problems Is beyond the power of tho
individual. 1t is, however, possible for
group OF individuals working through an
association like this. l believe the potato
growing industry Of Wisconsin may be
revolutionized by this association II its
! members will subscribe money enough 50
r that thorough study may be made Of
marketing conditions. 80 that experiments
, may be conducted in grading your stock,
9 IN putting II up In attractive cartons and
by seeing that dealers are educated to
handle your crop properly and made to
! sell 1t at a reasonable price This is the
day OF the standard package, the stand
Q ardlzed product and the brand which
1 stands for quality. Prosperity will wait
9 upon your industry II you take the lead In
$ doing for the potato what has been done
( successfully for so many products
, MORE MAkING-UP HISTORY.
; (FrOm the Pittsburg Chronicle Telesranh