Milford chronicle., 1916-01-28
SWEET POTATO CROP IN SUSSEX


Some time ago the writer attended a
meeting IN southwestern Sussex County
at which the question was frequently
asked, What shall we do with our sweets
We have plenty TO sell, bu, the price ism I
right This is no new question. but il
needs answering just the same II the in
dustry is to grow, or even remain as il IS
No one who has travelled the roads Of
the potato sections OF the county needs to
be told that tins crop has brought pros
perity to many farmer who except for
il would have had a hard time to make
both ends meet. II permits the use Of
land that is not suitable for the best re-
suits with any other crop. This fact. and
the fact that many have made good
money III years past, 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 over production and because of
the carelessness that 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 from the standpoint
of the growers Of any one section may
mean any one of three things
1. II may mean that the locality is |
producing more of that crop than the 1
marketing facilities at the local shipping /
station, as represented by the buyers of
produce aud the transportation equipment /
can take care Of
?. II may mean that the large cities,
to which the bulk of distant shipments
90. are over supplied and congested with
the fsrnrN TfrTar r,~acarrf rr.tFsfs,rte chic
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.
). II NAV mean that the entire country
IS actually overstocked with the product
This came as near being true of the peach /,
crop last year as often happens with any :
crop, and is much less apt to be true of a =
crop less widely grown than the peach, !
one like the sweet potato, which demands
a warm climate and soil !
II is likely that local storage and ship
ping facilities will take care Of any rea-
sonable increase in production for an in
definite time. When we hear of a glut
in the sweet potato market we can be 2
pretty sure that it means glut on the !.
large city markets rather than in the ma
lions market, and that thousands, if not
of northern homes are paying .
nigh prices for sweets, regarding them as
! luxury rather than an article Of daily :,
Use. There is, therefore, no need to !.
yUrry of overproductiou of the sweet po- =,
alto crop as Ilong as there are hundreds y
4 markets yet untouched OF reached only n,
fter an indirect haul by railroad, and "
lways providing that steps are taken at
nee to reach those markets y
There is great need, in this connection, ~
{ a vigorous advertising campaign to in y y
rease the consumption Of sweet potatoes 70
! northern towns and cities. Northern q.
rs almost without exception are un- -
cquainted with the excellence of the ~
est varieties and know nothing of the " ~
any methods of cooking that are famil- ~
Z here. Grape fruit, oranges, and -,
mons are being widely advertised. Why ~,
not the sweet potato as deserving OF ~
iblicity2 th
An immediate danger that confronts ~ ~
'tato growers is that Of diseases destruc- ~
'e both in the field and in storage. III
eventatives for most Of these have been i's
and and are practicable when growers
a whole take up arms together aud Al
Int the common enemy. Purchasers of ~
" seed potatoes may be in the greatest y
niger, since they may with the wrong ,,i
a introduce diseases into clean ground -
every man must come to realize that aes w
condition of his crop, when it goes to III III
rket as a Delaware product, helps to az. So.
e that product its reputation, good or uas uas
!, and therefore influences the welfare AZ, 9Pe
his neighbOr as well as himself. ~ ~
Individuals can do little either in pre- a.. ~
lting over-production, stimulating con '.r sul'
1ption, or in effectively controlling sup
ease. The biggest need of sweet po- o,,e oS,e
growers is not higher price which OuS 4,
y, by increasing planting next year =.
ially lower the general trend Of prices ~ 1as,
he future, but definite, democratic, pLa. 10
operative organization whose works ieoe IeuO
j include the prevention of disease = !,
the selection of the best varieties, and ~ NJ y
ifs- greatest - I'll be to get new tbe lne
e. hrudreis and hold them w. W
White potato nioS,
uization and ~. II.
qnizstions raSr