The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-05-18
RHODES is BACK
FROM HASTINGS
Says Eat Florida Potatoes First to Be
Patriotic

Commissioner L.. M. Rhodes OF the
State Marketing Bureau, is back from
visit to the Hastings potato district
and says there is a larger acreage
than last year, in which the urgent
request of the government was fully
met, and this is true of all sections,
paintings having been made where
never before attempted on a CONNER
cial scale. The yield in many in
stances was better than last season.
In face of this condition was that
OF larger hold over in the North,
greater than ever before, and regular
consumption was prevented during
the winter by long and excessive cold
weather, which prevented delivery by
train from the producing to consum-
ing centers. For this reason the spud
markets in the North are away off.
Maine stock, which brings top prices
in New England, sold last week at
S1.3O per 100; New York stock at from
81 to $1.10; Michigan, Wisconsin and
Minnesota stock as low as go cents.
Florida stock opened this year at
from $3.50 to Sc, as compared to SO.
and more at the same time last year;
hut prices now have dropped to cor
respond nearer the old stock. Resides
potatoes are now going North from
Georgia, Alabama and other Southern
States to falling market. Mr.. Rhodes
further said:
I'VE are unreservedly in favor of
doing all that can be done to consume
everything the farmers grow, if pos
sible, regardless of the region in
which it is grown, and at a fair price
But we fail to see why people should
be urged as matter of patriotism to
cat potatoes grown in one section of
the country, at any particular season,
and allow other potatoes, grown in
another section at another time of the
year, be left to decay in the fields,
bags or barrels. Yet such seems TO
he the case with the Florida potato
crop. Just as the potato crop of Flor
ida was beginning to go on the mar
ket the Food Administration put on
a campaign requesting everybody to
eat old potatoes, by observing a pota-
to week. Was this fair to the Flor
ida farmer, who had been urged to
grow food and had put from $50 to
$7o per acre in the ground in seed
and fertilizer, to say nothing of labor?
This unfortunate episode brought
hardships to Florida growers, in face
OF the fact that she has done her full
share and is willing to do more in
furnishing her quota to the army,
buying Thrift Stamps and Liberty
Bonds, and contributing freely to ev-
cry necessary fund. I am not In fav-
or OF an embargo on potatoes, or any
thing else from other States, for this
is no time to establish State lines.
We are all Americans.
"Rut we do believe that the people
OF Florida, who can use them, should
buy potatoes by the bag or barrel.
arrangements could be made for a
carload, or as many as may be needed
in any city or town, to be unloaded
Greet to consumers, at lower price
than by buying in dribs. They can be
bought of the dealer by the quantity
at reasonable cost, and they will keep
II properly handled, until family can
use them. Keep them in crates, ven.
tilated barrels or boxes, or set bag up
where the air can pass underneath
and all around. Never put potatoes in
a dark or damp place. They will keep
when spread out in dry place, un-
der a house or shed, so they are dry
and in the light and have ventilation.
Farmers at Hastings keep them for
months in this way. Buy a bag. Buy
one today and help Florida, her pro-
ducers, and yourself Patronize home
industry whenever it is possible"
concluded Mr.. Rhodes.