The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-11-23
LIGHT POTATO CROP
Government Report Indicates That
1916 Yield is the Lowest
Since the Year 1908.
Other News Notes of Interest tn Po-
tato Growers and Shippers
Car Shortage Continues.

9l.oO TO 9I.oo is being paid for all
varieties except Triumphs, which con-
tinue firm at $3.50 and $1.55 per
bushel. Receipts have been fairly
good, but there have been no ship
ments due to the shortage of cars.
At the present time there are thous-
ands of bushels Of spuds stored in the
warehouses Of Princeton-some of the
houses are just about full-as the
car shortage has retarded shipments
for weeks. Local buyers estimate
that the farmers have goodly hold
ings of potatoes yet.
The Chicago potato market adj
vanced from 10 to Is cents last week.
The first spell Of cold weather served
to put renewed snap into the market,
Scarcity of refrigerator cars and limit
ed holdings at loading stations have
kept the receipts light. Outside buy
ers have bought only after hand-to-
mouth fashion this fall, consequently
the approach of winter finds them
with only small proportion of the
stocks they usually have on hand at
this season of the year. From this
operators anticipate that the call will
be steady during December and JAN
uary- months that are rather quiet
ordinarily-from the fact that BUYERS
have usually laid in a sufficient SUD-
ply to run their trade during the holi-
day season.
The reports received by the bureau
Of crop estimates of the U. S. Depart
ment Of Agriculture show that the
month of October has not improved
the former poor crop outlook, and es-
pecially is this true of potatoes.
Potatoes, from the promise of 30o,-
100000 bushels on October 1, show,
according to yields reported on No.
vember !, production of only 1885,
964 ,o9o bushels. This is equal to only
F8O per cent of last years crop, which
was about equal to the average of
the preceding five years. This is the
smallest crop since 1908, being about
the average of crops produced Is
years ago. The shortage this year is
due principally to the extreme heat
and dryness of the season in most of
the heavy producing sections, with an
accompanying plague of insects. In
northern Maine, where conditions
were favorable, the crop was much
larger than last years short crop. The
yields in New York and Pennsylvania
are slightly below the poor crops of
last year. The crops in the eastern
states, taken altogether, are about the
same as last years production. The
great decrease occurred in the north
central states, shortages compared
with last year being shown in every
state except North Dakota, the decline
in these states alone amounting to
about 65,O00,000 bushels. While the
crop in Montana, Wyoming and Colo
RADIO is decidedly shorter than last
year, Utah and Nevada have about
the finest crops Of record there, and
the Pacific coast states show in
creases. The quality of the crop is re-
ported at Sc compared with 1873 last
year and a ten-year average of 1873.
In Maine, however, they are extra
good, SO per cent, against 80 last
year, and in New York 80 against 70
last year. The Virginia crop is ex-
cellent both in size and quality. The
Michigan crop is poor in quality, rs,
but this is vastly better than the con-
dition of 81 reported last year. While
the potatoes are generally small and
in many cases irregular in shape,
there is very little Of the blight and
rot that was so prevalent last year. A
small amount Of rot is reported in the
middle and north Atlantic states, but
not in northern Maine (Aroostook
county,. In number Of states the
tuber is somewhat immature from the
vine having been killed by frost be-
fore the growing season was COM
pleted.
Michigan potatoes growers are in
clined to hold their spuds, and although
they can get $1.35 per bushel prefer to
gamble on the bulk of their holdings.
The car shortage continues to be a
serious factor in the potato situation
and the California Potato Dealers As
ISOLATION has filed suit for damages
against the Southern Pacific railroad
in the sum Of $4,000. The association
charges bad management on the part
Of the carrier, and that refrigerator
cars have been sent out Of the state
and not returned.
Potatoes growers of the northwest