Evening journal., 1919-02-05
FAIL TO agree ON
PRICE OF TOMATOES
Growers Hold Out for $50
Per Ton Tor Season S
Yield
SMALL ACREAGE is
URGED BY EX ERR

Efforts OF tomato growers and can
ners TO reach an agreement on tomato
prices for the canning season, failed al
conference under the auspices Of the
Tri-State Packers Association. in the
Hotel dupont yesterday afternoon. The
growers want $50 a ton-the price paid
during the war for their tomatoes, and
threaten to plant only a small acreage
II they don't get that price, which
they claim is necessary TO meet the
high cost OF fertilizers and labor and
leave a fair profit. On the other hand
The Gamers say price Of $50 ton for
tomatoes In peace times is out OF the
question, that they can't afford TO pay
IL, and the public would not pay the
retail price necessary TO warrant the
Gamers giving the growers $50 a ton
for the raw "tomats."
At the conference In the grill room OF
the Hotel dupont yesterday afternoon,
both sides were well represented by
speakers, who held the floor with argu-
ments for their respective factions. One
OF The speakers, In behalf OF the can
ners was Mrs. A. B. Harris. of Better
ton, Md, whose husband. incidentally,
was there to represent the growers.
Mrs Harris said she thought the prin-
cipal reason the farmers demand such
a big contract price for their crop this
season, as compared with the prices
western farmers are contracting for
their tomatoes, is the fact that the
yield, per acre. In the East Is not as
great as IL is in the West. This is due
10 the haphazard methods OF farming
In the East, In part, she asserted, and
the growers are trying to make the
Gamers pay for their mistakes and
losses due to poor methods in farming
She also stated that she though bad
seeds are responsible for much of the
low yield In the East and urged the
education OF farmers In how to select
seeds for their tomato crops.
Mrs. Harris reiterated the previously |
opinions Of many of the can
lers, who declared that the packers are |
Wiling TO pay a fair profit TO the far |
ners who use modern methods in pro- |
lucing a crop, and who got fair yield |
'er acre from their work, but that the /
anners would not pay In big contract |
'rices a large profit TO the grower who !
sed haphaZard methods and whose |
rop was gamble from start to fin
sh.
New Jersey Gamers at the conference
tated that they would not contract for
omatoes at figure higher than siS a
on One Of them declared that the far
ners, when they asked the high price
his year. they were trying 10 make the
Iackers and public pay for the fertil-
zers they have on hand from last sea-
on.
Professor ]. e. Simon, Of the Mary
and State Agricultural College, told
he gathering he thought the present
rice the consumer is being forced 10 I
ay Is the biggest proposition the joint
Meeting should consider. There is too
much difference between the price Of
he Gamer and the price TO the con-
umer. he, said. When the public gets
he goods at less profit TO the jobb-'
nd merchant, he asserted, the Gamer
an have a greater leeway In the price
e can offer the grower.
Professor Simon was optimistic about
he present situation, saying that he
Spected TO see ii cleared up to the mu-
lal satisfaction OF the two factions In
ie near future. He thought the acre
go should be decreased 50 per cent in
his years crop. This would have a ,
,ndeucy to make the farmers use mort
lodern methods and increase the yield !,
er acre. and at the same time would !
OF be likely 10 make as large a crop ,
; is normally produced. which is not !
anted this season because Of the large !
ock most Gamers now have in their
from last years pack. A big I
'op this year would flood the market :
'ep more than IL Is at the present time,
embers thought.