The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-09-11
HARD ON GROWERS
BUT FINE FOR CONSUMERS
Cheap Potatoes Will be I Great Ben
eft to The Millions of Families
Who Have Them To Buy-RcaSon-
able Price Will LillrI, he set.

Washington. Sept. "a peculiar
food situation nas been created in
the United States by the enormous
potato crop. After Government agen
cieS had fixed the price OF wheat 20
prevent the cost of bread going 100
high, potato producers throughout
the country began pounding Food
Administrator Hoover TO take steps
to prevent the price OF potatoes from
going 100 low.
The biggest potato crop in tn ehiS-
tory of the country is the cause OF
the trouble. The potato crop this
year is placed at 46 l,O00,Uut bush
els, which is just 100. 0.O0U,VV0 bush
els larger than the tivc-year average
for America and nearly 200, 900
bushels larger than last years crop.
This yield is in striking contrast to
the wheat crop, which is estimated TO
be 100.000,0o0 bushels under the
needs OIL America and its war allies.
Department of Agriculture experts
estimate the potato yield for 1917 at
461, ,909 900 bushels. Last year the
country produced 2S5. 5.U00.ou0 bush
els, and during the last five years
the average crop has been So ,O00,-
900.
During the last few days represen
tatives Of the leading potato produc-
ers in the United states nave been
in Washington Conferring with Mr.
Hoover. trying to ascertain If some
thing cannot be done to prevent the
potato market from going to pieces
when the big northern crops Of New
York, Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin
and Minnesota are placed on the
market. They told Nh. Hoover that
those States will raise this year more
than l 80. 900, 900 bushels, and when
dumped on the market the bottom
will drop out of the prices. y low
price for potatoes this year. they
pointed out, would result i'll farmers
not planting this crop next year,With
the result there will follow a big po-
tato shortage. Potatoes are now
quoted around $1.l1 a bushei The
potato producers want the price kept
around that figure, saying the farm
er will then make a profit and feel
encouraged to plant crop next year.
The remedy suggested by the pO-
tato producers is nationwide cam
paign, to be launched by the Food
Administration, TO increase the use
OF potatoes. They believed the right
kind of campaign could induce the
American to eat potatoes at every
meal. Such practice. they said,
would relieve the demand on other
food crops which are short.
Unless the consumption of pota-
toes is increased, the potato produc-
ers declared. there will be an enor-
nous amount of them left over for
next year, which will come into COM
petition with next years crop and
thereby inspire the farmer to raise
some other crop out of which he is
| assured a profit.
1t was pointed out that the excess
..potato yield cannot be absorbed by
Europe. England and Ireland have
enormous potato crops this year
more than they can eat-and their
surplus will be sent to France. where
the crop is not so heavy. This con-
dition, the producers declare, leaves
the excess potato crop in this coun-
| try no market where it can be placed
at a fair price.
The Food Administration has not
decided upon its course, but it is
! probable some steps will be taken to
insure the producer a fair price. Not
| tatoeS are selling in the cities far
| above the average retail price. Re-
| tailers in Washington during the
| last few days have advanced the
price