Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-05
THE OUTLOOK FOR
POTATO PRICES
Careful Grading One Of the Most I'm
portant Factors to Boost Prices
and Increase Consumption.
Do Your Full Share.

The crop of potatoes in the United
States this year is estimated at over
$50, 900, 600 bushels or 1T, 900, 900 BUSH
els above a normal crop. That is some
potatoes and when it IS remembered
that the annual consumption per capita
Is 2.6 bushels, it will be seen our 100.-
0O0, 900 population has a large supply
tor this year.
In the face of wheat prices fixed at
minimum of So. 20 for this year, 1t is
plain that corn prices will be high in
sympathy. That should mean that po-
tatoes will sell readily at not less than
ST. bushel for the producer.
Herbert Hoover, the head of the food
conservation board, has taken care to
select men to assist him who are best
qualified in their particular lines. As
one of is aids he has selected Lou d.
Sweet, of Colorado, Ewho is recognized
as the highest authority or the potato.
He it was that secured the approval OF
the Federal Reserve Board to use
stored potatoes as a basis tor bank
loans as cotton and wheat are.
FAILURE IN WEST.
In several of the western states the
potato crop was decided failure be-
cause of drouth. Those states must
buy their potato supply. 1t has been
pointed out that careful graciaS Of po-
tatoes will do mich to keep up the
price for prime stock OF any kind is
awlays more sought after ana con-
sumed IN larger quantities than when
the crop goes on the market in poor
condition. Every person IN this county
who has potatoes to sell can do his
part toward keeping up the price by
seeing that the potatoes ne sells are in
prime condition. Better teed a few
bushels to he hogs or cows-for grain
will be very high-rather than to try
10 force inferior potatoes on the mark
1t and thus work IN the direction of
over prices.
OUR PRODUCTION LOW.
1t is an admitted fact that the per
lcre production IN the United States
8 the lowest of any of the leading ma
ions. Our consumption per capita Is
Ilso the lowest. In Germany the per
apita consumption is 9.4, England 8.3,
france TT. Because of the war it IS
all the countries named will
se more than usual. 1t Is not yet
nown if there will be foreign de-
1and for potatoes, but it is we'll UNDER
TODD that large quantities will be used
t the sixteen cantonments where SOL
iers are tt, be trained for the war. At
uch places there is sure to be large
mount of waste and that means that
lore potatoes will be used than would
e consumed by the people if our boys
ere at home. 1t Is also understood
1at the potatoes furnished fer these {
antonments must be Of the best quail 8
y, therefore, If we, of this section.
re to get into tho market with our DO. &
.toes, we must grade them well and
,e that nothing but prime stock IS +
fered. Our people cannot be too t
lreful on that point. Il
PRICE NOT KNOWN c
1t now seems no one is prepared to
ame price on potatoes at digging II
me, which is near at hand, but so far
the writer has heard any expressions a
belief as to prices nothing less than v
dollar bushel has been suggested.
INTERESTING STATEMENT. S
Mr.. Sweet has an article IN one OF q q
9 leading magazines Of the country a
OH which we CLEAN the following in "
resting facts and figures: !,
IAN acre measures 2l0 feet square. b
tates rows three feet apart are in d
mber seventy to the acre; If the :, :,
lis are three feet apart the total 81
mber of hills will be 1900. And tt
tn our average soil that 10 about as Il
avily as they can be planted. ~
In Maine. where the growers aver n
. something like one ton Of artificial d,