New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-01-10
SPUD IN STOMACH
WORTH TWO IN. BIN
Potatoes Made to Eat Not AS
Ornaments for Cellar

WASHINGTON, Jan. lO.-The Amer
lean potato bin Is filled and over
flowing. Our spud supply has never
been so large. But the cook isn't using
the potatoes. A full potato bin is a
mighty fine thing-if the potatoes are
put to their proper use; that is, eaten
But there is occasion for some anxiety
over the slowness of the cook. The
full bin will be of no benefit if the
potatoes remain in the bin. They
must get to the kitchen and to the
table and be eaten. Otherwise the
bin might as we'll be empty.
The big potato crop has not been
moving into consumption this winter.
The bulk Of the supply is in storage
and is being marketed very slowly.
This is an abnormal condition, and a
very serious one-because it has
direct bearing upon the most serious
question in the world-the question Of
winning the war.
If the potato bin is emptied during
this winter and next spring it will
mean that by eating more potatoes we
eat less bread and therefore have
more wheat to send to the soldiers
who are fighting for our freedom. 1t
will also mean that the bin will have
room TO receive the new potato crop
next fall But if we fail to empty it
this winter-that is, if we do not, at
once, commence to eat more potatoes
than we have been eating, and COM
mence to market the potatoes that we
have been hoarding-the market may
by glutted when the new crop comes
next summer. If this happens, there
will be more potatoes than
ho hi hn1
supply will go to waste. In turn,
this would discourage producers and
possibly prevent the planting of a
liberal acreage, resulting in a short
ened potato supply a year from now,
at a time when food needs will be
even more urgent than they are now.
What can you do about it?
You can help empty the bin. You
can get more spuds and less bread.
Unless you do eat more potatoes than
you have been eating the bin will not
be emptied.
Market Steadily.
And if you are a farmer or mid
dleman now holding potatoes in stor-
age you can market them, get them
to moving, get them out of the bin
and into the kitchen. Responding to
this appeal will not mean the sacr1-
fee of your personal interests. All
you are asked to do is to market your
potato holdings gradually, steadily
during the winter and spring, so the
present surplus will have been eaten
before the. new crop begins to move
about the middle of next June.
Your prospect of loss-if you are
holding potatoes is not in COM
mencing to market now and con-
tinuing to sell slowly 1t is in failing
to do this that you stand to lose. For
if the bin is not emptied by spring
you may find a glutted market when
you do try to sell. If when the new
crop is in sight, there remains heavy
hangover of the old crop, and if
there is a scramble of the holdings to
one effect on prices.
now, Mr.. Holder.
And commence to- eat more pota-
toes now, Mr.. Consumer.
And prepare to plant another big
potato crop next year, Mr.. Farmer.
But the latter gentleman can not
reasonably be expected to heed the
request if he sees the present potato
supply going to waste. SO the stu
alton really hinges now upon two fac
tors, the consumer and the holder
| some farmers, Of course, being in
| Guided in the last category. If they
| will carry out their part of the po-
| tato program it will mean that we
| will have more food for the armies.