The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-10-18
INCREASED ACREAGE
In Irish Potatoes will be Excellent
Policy for Marion County
Agriculturists

The farmers of Marion county now
have an opportunity, if they will
only grasp it, of growing a crop that
will bring them immediate returns,
and is one that our lands and condi-
tions are most favorable to.
Through the industrial department
of the Seaboard Air Line railway the
question of increased acreage in
Irish potatoes is being canvassed and
our people shown what an opportun-
ity we have before US. Mr.. A. P.
FAINT, assistant industrial agent OF
this line was here today in con-
ference with the secretary of our
Board of Trade to get in line with
our farmers that want to get i'm touch
with these facts and learn why there
exists this great demand for this
crop. Mr.. FAINT is thoroughly ac-
quainted with this subject and dur
ing his stay set forth the following
''The last report of the United
States department of agriculture
shows that the Irish potato is one of
the few general crops that has shown
decline, equal to about 10 per cent
Last years crop was estimated at
406, 100000 bushels, while the crop
for the preceding five years has been
356, 100000 bushels. The crop is re-
ported affected with blight and rot
and the keeping qualities poor, and
this will mean there is a large supply
of old potatoes. New potatoes uni
formly bring good prices, I think
therefore we ought to urge our peo-
Pile in adapted sections to increase
their acreage in Irish potatoes"
One of the strong points brought
out in this interview was that in in
ducing our farmers to plant this in,
creased acreage to Irish potatoes, is
their willingness to cooperate along
all the lines of information that
will help each one to succeed, such
as what crop best to precede the po,
tatoes, selection of seed, and the best
and strongest point, by securing 6
large acreage bring right to each anc
every grower the buyer that will take
care of the crop grown. This is along
lines of proper encouragement anG
development, and the Seaboard is tt
be congratulated for inauguratine
this idea, and it is hoped the farmer.
of our county will at once get il
touch with either Mr.. FAINT or oul
secretary as they are working to
gether for the best interests of oul
people. He will be here this weel
for several days and will make the
Board of Trade his headquarters anC
wishes to meet all of our farmer!
and growers that are interested
When you begin to investigate thi!
question, and realize the vast number
of bushels we have been importing
each year, but now on account of tht
European war, conditions will be jus
reversed. and we will be exporting
millions of bushels and with tht
crop of old potatoes as he states af
fected with blight and rot, gives t.
Florida such an opportunity as ha'
never been presented to our people
1t is hoped the farmers of Marion
will grasp this and meet with Mr.
FAINT, learn all they can and place
him in the position when he has beer
able to learn just as to the acreage
that may be expected to be planted
here, can definitely assure us of th'
marketing conditions and that th'
buyers viii be here to take care o.
the product.