Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-10-26
TALK ABOUT Vt. POTATOES
Grand Islanders Hear Potato
Tourists" on the Rutland.
Speakers of state College of Anricui-
ture, and Extension service aud
II. s. Brigham sound
Tuber's Praises.

The potato production Gcmonstrat'o1
tour arranged over the Rutland railroad
lines under the auspices of the tnivcr-
sty of Vermont extension service, the
state commissioner of agriculture and the
railroad was begun Monday, stops be
ing made at South Hero, Alburg ana
North Hero, The largest attendance was
at Nouh Hero, where a considerable
number of men and several women assem-
bled to listen to addresses and to exam
inc the exhibits A significant illustration
of changing agricultural conditions was
the fact that most of the farmers came
In automobiles. a passenger coach was
used TO accommodate those who listened
10 the addresses and combination pas.
Senger and baggage car was used for the
exhibits These cars were attached I"
regular trains and were taken from point
10 point where demonstrations were held.
remaining two OF three hours in place.
j. A. Proctor of the Rutland railroad a.
companied the party.
Dean j. l.. Hills of the college Of agri-
culture, University of Vermont, spoke on
Soils ami Fertilizers" He said the sols
OF Grand Isle county were we'll adapted TO
potato growing. Any soil that will grow
good apples or good alfalfa will grow good
pota toes \ good rotation is oats, corn
or grass and potatoes or oats, clover gr ASS
and potatoes. \ deep and mellow 50
bed is needed. Deep ploughing and the
use OF a disc or spring tooth harrow were
recomkmended If the crop is not fed +. is
not likely to feed us. The director Of the
Maine experiment station said recently
that potash had not been missed serious V
this year in that State. The speaker
thought this condition might be due to the
fact that a considerable amount of potash
~ lpf N tbn Snil H.
as a rule potash should be used in grow
ing potatoes. Until the German supply
again is available barnyard manure
must be used as source of potash Re
suggested, however, that the manu-, @
should he applied in the fall before tn,
crop was planted. unless 1t was well rot
| ted
state Commissioner Of Agriculture
f.. S. Brigham spoke on THE Marketing
! of Potatoes" He said that potatoes NAV
be called one of the greatest gambling
crops and predicted that the price Of
this years crop would reach 81 so or s.
per bushel Although potatoes sometimes
| sell for low price, the grower must
stick to the crop year after year in order
to be successful Germany's usual potato
crop is 1000 10000 bushels, compa red with
an average crop of 400, 900, 900 bushels in
! the United States. Potatoes may be sold
either for table stock or for seed There
| is need of some form Of potato storage
and he told of Names potato storehouses
Potatoes should be carefully graded II
Nermonters desire to sell seed potatoes
the State department of agriculture will
send an inspector to see if there is any
mixture of seed. and again to note the
condition of the vines. If the crop is
| found to be At for seed a certificate 10
that effect will he issued. If all condi-
tions are not compiled with cerification
will he refused thereafter. One Rutland
county dealer last year raised $500
worth of seed potatoes. 1t pays southern
growers 10 buy northern seed and there
is an annual market for 1900. 900 bushels
of seed potatoes. medium sized potato
is more saleable than large tuber. The
grower should keep in touch with mar
ket conditions. Lantern slides were
shown with comments by Mr.. Brigham
Potatoes grown in Vermont may appear
entirely different from the same variet,
grown in the Dakotas or Colorado. Mr.
Brigham has seen potato blossoms il
Maine as large a mans two fists
Potatoes once were grown as flowers il
Holland