Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-08
CKEAPERPOTATOES,
HOUSEWIVES URGE
Officials Warn of Higher Prices
Next Fall if Surplus Be
Allowed to Rot.

With 10000 900 bushels more pota-
toes in the United States than at this
time last year and producers threat
ened with loss by rot if they are not
marketed, there is general opinion
among housewives. If consumption Is
to be popularized, that the retail price
is still excessive at 2 cents pound and
30 cents a peck.
The wholesale potato market is re-
ported weak by the bureau Of markets
of the Department Of Agriculture,
which is urging the potato-eating cam
paign. Wholesale potato prices are
ranging at from s1.10 to $1.36 hun
dredweight in the shipping sections of
New York and Maine. With trans
portation charges and handling to be
figured in, 2 cents a pound does not
seem other than d fair price, according
to officials.
Now Is the Time; 'Now."
"If you will not eat potatoes now,
when they are cheap and plentiful,
the food administration cautions the
public, land when the grower is in
danger of actual loss on his crop, what
right will you have to complain of po-
tato prices next year, when the grower
turns to some other crop in order to
make up his losses?'
| 1t is too early to measure results of the
potato campaign. says the food admin
istration, but it is plain that the railroads
have made extraordinary efforts to move
potatoes; dealers have co-operated, han
ding them in many instances without
profit, and the opportunity has been seized
both in the household and public eating
places to relieve the wheat situation by
putting potatoes on the table in various
forms
Potatoes have been moving freely from
states that had large stocks three weeks
ago Many markets have been cleared OF
surplus.
1T was serious emergency and an
energetic response has been given to the
appeal to relieve it," says the food adj
, mnistration. Thirty million bushels were
likely TO spoil unless consumption could
be practically doubled
Two Reasons for Eating Them, Too.
The significance Of the potato cam
paign, it is pointed out, is twofold. 1t
promotes consumption of stocks that
were in danger of spelling. which is
true conservation. 1t eases the tension
on the wheat supply. which is at this
moment the most serious condition in
the whole food situation.
AS the old stock is disposed of, a new
campaign Of education will develop as
fast as the new crop comes to market.
This educational campaign will hold at
least till the next harvest of grain,
urging the use of potatoes as freely as
possible to make our stock Of wheat
sufficient for its double duty.
in telling of ways to use potatoes in
varied food forms, the food administers
ton sets forth that experienced chefs
have demonstrated that potatoes twice
boiled can easily be worked up as a
wheat substitute in bread, some report
| ing that good results have been at
tanned with as much as 30 per cent adj
mixture. Many OF our grandmothers
used to mix potatoes with their white
bread
Fried Potatoes Not Best Form.
In urging the sale of potatoes through
hotels and restaurants the food admins
| tration is advising against the sale of
| fried Dota toes The reason is that the
| frying Of potatoes consumes too much fat
in the process. and also fried potatoes is
/ the least wholesome form in which they
may be prepared.
| Impressed with the need to conserve
sugar by curtalment and of potatoes by
extension of consumption, II Texas maker
of candy tried an experiment in candy
making. Samples given to the state food
administration had more the taste of CO.
| coanut than Of anything else recognizable.
| The interior of the candy has crystalline
quality of a delicate and brittle consist