Norwich bulletin., 1917-09-22
URGE EARLY PURCHASE
 rr OF POTATO SUPPLY
Az Large Stock as Needed shoulc
 Be Laid In.


 The committee of food supply of the State Council of Defense Is urging that every householder make t 8 point to purchase his supply of potatoes at an early date The week beginning October 1 is designated as potato week" If the consumers will pur- chase their supply for the winter sometime during that week, 1t will do much toward stabilizing the market. They urge that during that week every housekeeper in the state lay in as large stock as may be needed of Connecticut-grow potatoes and that they buy thees potatoes direct from some farmer. THe farmers have been asked to put a placard in Front of their houses announcing what produce they have for, sale and to send in their names to the. local correspondent of the committee in each town. A gener- al response to this movement is look ed for and it is felt that it will TO- suit in advantage to al! concerned.
 To greatly increase the quantity of food stuffs customarflg grown in the farms and in. the gardens of Connec- ticut and to .complify the methods by which farm produce. at last finds it's way from the farm to- the dinner ta- ble of the ultimate consumer are fun damental problems which are engros5- ing the attention and efforts of the committee 'cfTfood supply of 1he State Council of Defenses These objects are not only a part of the work of the Hoover administration in helping to win the war, but it is hoped may re- suit in broader understanding and in the definite adoption of modified meth ods of distribution and marketing.
 In recent interview a member of the committee, in discussing the sub ject of potatoes. stated the views and eHortS Of the committee as follows:
 Connecticut is tan industrial state and in normal times imports chiefly from Maine, about so per cent. of the potatoes 1t annually consumes. This means that every consumer in Connec- tfcut who buys sack of, potatoes con- taining 2 34 bushels, gets 1-5 bush els of foreign grown potatoes on which he Is paying storage, transportation, and intermediate profits in addition to the price originally paid the grower. This is one reason why each person in Connecticut eats on an average of fcnly 1-2 bushels sof potatoes, while in European countries, which recog- nize the high food value of potatoes and enjoy simpler methods of market ing, the average annual consumption is fom z, to bushels for each per son. ., s--t
 There is the season when, experi-. enced buyers and dealers arrange for their winter supply and buy up the surplus potato crop from the farmers. The farmer sells because he has no facilities for marketing his crop dur ing the winter and early spring. There LOTS, pOLdLOeS arc cheapest Just now and higher. in the winter Last will ter they went: to s4 bushel and were hard to get at that. How much bet ter it would be if everyone. can possi- bly, do so would go out in the sur rounding country and buy his potatoes from some farmer. If he couldn't store his entire. winter supply, he could at any rate manage a sack or two to his profit. The less handling and knocking about that potatoes get the better they are and the longer they will keep. Here Is another advan- tage in getting freshly dug, home grown potatoes from the man who raised them.'
 Someone with no regard for the truth and with the evident desire to hamper the, activities of the govern r1ent by creating a feeling of distrust and suspicion among the people has been busily circulating rumors. to the effect that the government expects to confiscate the food stuffs canned and cried by the people for their own use.
 Such rHmors are without. foundation and absolutely untrue. The commit tee of food supply of the State Coun- cil of Defense and the Connecticut Az riculturaf college both wish to state "mphatically that such action is not considered by the government and that food stocks are in hand for winter are perfectly safe in the hands of their owners. Much to the contrary. of the reports circulated, it is the desire of the government to encourage the home canning ard drying of food.