Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1916-02-02

have helped increase the acreage
rapidly in all parts of the county.
A rapid increase in the acreage Of
any crop is dangerous. both because
of possible reproduction AMI be-
cause Of the carelessness and often
results when quantity rather than
quality is the end sought. Over
production and the spread of potato
diseases are two enemies that now
confront the potato growers of this
county.
Over-production a Danger
Over production from the stand
point of the growers of any one Sec
ton may mean any one of three
things:
I II may mean that the locality
is producing more of that crop than
the marketing facilities at the local
shipping station. as represented by
the buyers Of produce and the trans
portation equipment can take care of.
2. 1t may mean that the large
cities, to which the bulk of distant |
shipments go. are over supplied and |
congested with the crop Under pre-
sent conditions this situation may
give rise to the belief that the whole |
country is overstocked. when in reality |
many sections may be greatly in need
of the given product.
8. II may mean that the entire
country is actually OverstOcke1 with
the product This came as near be-
ing trua Of the peach crop last year
as often happens with any crop, and
il much less apt to he true of crop
less widely grown than the peach.
one like the sweet potato. which de-
mands a warm climate and soil.
No Occasion For Growers to Worry
1t is likely that local storage ana
shipping facilities will take care of
any reasonable increase in production
for an indefinite time. When we hear
of a glut in the sweet potato market
we can be pretty sure that il means
a glut on the large city markets
rather than in the nations market.
and that thousand if not millions,
Of northern homes are paying high
prices for sweets. regarding them
as a luxury rather than an article
Of daily use. There is. therefore.
no need to worry of ovarproduction of
the sweet potato crnp as long as there
are hundreds of markets yet IN
touched or reached only after an in
direct haul by railroad. and always
providing that steps are taken at
once to reach those markets.
There is great need. in this cOnnec-
ton. of vigorous advertising cam
paign to increase thu consumption Of
sweet potatoes in Northern towns anC
cities. Northerners almost without
exception are unacquainted with thu
excellence of the best varieties ant
know nothing of the many method
Of cooking that are familiar here
Grape fruit. oranges. and lemons ar
being widely advertised. Why i
not the sweet potato as deserving o
publicity?
Growers Need to Combat With Diseas
An immediate danger that con
fronts potato growers is that Of dis
eases destructive both in the field an
in storage. Preventatives for mos
of these have been found and are praC
ticable when growers as a whole TAX
up arms together and fight the com
mon enemy. Purchasers Of new see
potatoes may be in the creates
danger, since they may with the wron
seed introduce diseases into clea
ground. but every man must come
realize that the condition Of his croT
when It goes to market as q Delawai
product, helps to gise that prOdu'
its reputation. good or bad and Their
fore influences the welfare OF b
neighbor as we'll as himself. il
dividuals can do little either in pr
venting reproduction. stimulatir
consumption. or in effectively ontrOl
ing disease. The biggest need
sweet potato growers is n',t a high
price, which may, by increasing plan
ing next year actually lower the &c
eral trend of prices in the future. b
a definite. democratic. cooperative Q
ganization whose works shall inelu
4 the prosecution of disease lind the $
\ lection Of the best varietieih and who
l greatest jch she'll be ~ oct ~