Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1917-11-16
ADVOCATE STATE LAW
FOR GRADING SPUDS
panker-Farmer Convention Adopts
Resolution Providing for Inspec.
ton, Selection, Grading of
Seed Potatoes

be enacted by the next legislature of
the state of Washington laws pro-
yiding for field inspection, proper
selection, and grading of all potatoes
to be offered for sale as seed pota-
toes in the state of Washington, and
requiring the dispensers of seed DO
tatoes to sell under u state license. "
This resolution, adopted by the
banker-farmer convention at its clos
ing session, was the climax of a use
full and spirited discussion of the po-
tato problem.
The raising of seed potatoes as a
profitable industry on dry land
farms in Washington was proposed
by George J. Cannon of the Cannon
seed potato farm at Buckeye, who
pictured profits much larger than
those accruing from straight wheat
culture. Mr. Cannon, upon the re-
quest of j. A. Swalwell, president of
the Washington Bankers associa-
ton, boosted the proposed general
industry before the bankers and
farmers in attendance upon the an
nual banker-farmer convention, and
created much interest among the
delegates 'One of the greatest in
dustries open at the present time for
the farmers, and one that prom ises
to return a neat profit, is the rails
Ing of potatoes. If the farmers will
develop this industry with the care
that they have developed the wheat
industry, the live stock industry,
and other industries, they will Gre
ate a demand for their product that
will eliminate the wide fluctuation in
the market. In the irrigated dis
tricts the farmers can produce a crop
OF sufficient size to return a good
profit when sold for table consump-
ton. But the irrigation farmer can
not use his own seed successfully and
must look to other sources of seed
supply. That's where the dry land
farmer comes in. He can't raise as
large crop and can't afford to COM
pete with the irrigation farmer in
the sam market. But he can raise
that Will demand a price enough
higher in proportion to pay him a
good profit
The potato farmer, according to
Mr. Cannon. has been buying his
seed in the east and gets question
able stock, the disease which ID like
~ to accompany the seed going into
the ground with the potatoes. The
dry land farmer Of Washington can
provide better seed for the Washing
ton irrigation farmer because of eli
matte condition, and the cost of
transportation will be greatly re-
duced. Mr.. Cannon proposed rigid
state inspection of all seed potatoes
placed on the market, and suggested
the licensing of all seed potato
growers In the state under his plan.
This, he said, would privilege the
licensed farmer to sell his inspected
seed as state guaranteed stock.
Yakima Growers Short on Trans
pOrtation
That the potato growers Of the
Yakima valley will suffer great
losses unless provision for transpOr-
atlon to market of the $500 cars of
potatoes now on hand there Is made
soon, was the claim of Secretary
meyer OF the Yakima Valley Potato
eroWers association, who asked the
assistance of the convention In rem
eaying the existing transportation
faults. Fifty per cent of these po-
Atoes have already been sold, but
oan not be delivered because of lack
:" transportation facilities" said Mr..
meyer. Severe frosts In our section
frosted a large number of tubers
ciose to the surface of the ground
anu some Of these, of necessity,
'ouhd their way into the pits with
'ne good potatoes. We have not ade-
q"ate storage facilities and II these
po'atoes are permitted to remain in
.He pits with the good ones a great
'0ss' through rotting, will result"
me association represented by Mr.,
meyer according to other delegates
:" the convention. is a wonderful ex-
ample OF the efficiency of farmer or
eahi2ations when instituted for the
upper purpose, and not entirely for
ue purpose of competition with the
'udieman. The first and forem ost
oOlect OF the association is to gather
u distribute among its members
ormatlon concerning planting, cul-
'auon' and the innumerable other
'ooiems Of production, as we'll as
arkets and marketing conditions
me- aSS0piafinp 1o.I $780, -o..,IfaI in