The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-02-25
Potato Growers in Session

: A meeting of Burlington county pc
tato growers was held at the cour
house yesterday to learn facts and dis
cuss questions of mutual interest fol
the coming season.
The principal discussion seemed to
center on the subject of second crop,
immature potatoes for seed purposes
This discussion was brought out by
the first speaker, Frank w. Powell, of
the Giant Potato Growers Association
of Monmouth county, who stated that
his organization had contracted with
Virginia growers to raise $500 baskets
of second crop seed for planting in the
spring of 1920.
This brought out statement from
George L. Ried, former county demon
strator, to the effect that this seed
should be grown in Burlington county.
He believes, from experiments made,
that this seed can be raised here sue
cessfully. 1t should be inspected and
certified. The growers of Monmouth
and other nearby counties who desire
seed, would have an opportunity Of
viewing the crop during the growing
season and learn from personal obser-
walton what they were getting. This
cannot readily be done when the seed
is bought in distant states.
Prof. Melvin j. Cook, plant patholo
gist at the State Agricultural College,
spoke on the second crop potato seed
proposition. His observation has been
that it is to be recommended for several
reasons: first, there is less disease. in
the homegrown than in northern seed,
particularly black leg; and late blight
and rot are materially reduced. Second,
getting immature seed is assured,
which is necessary. Third, the seed is
truer to variety; mixtures are elimin-
ated
Prof Cook stated that size of seed is
unimportant. The small seed is as
good, oftimes better, than large. The
principal point is to get the seed from
vigorous, healthy plants. The seed
here should do as well and be as good
as that raised in Virginia.
Certified seed, he said, is advantageous
as has been proven in Maine and New
York. Steps are being taken to have
state inspection and certifcation in
New Jersey. At a recent meeting of
the State Potato Growers Association
a committee was appointed to formu
late rules for certification in this state,
and no doubt the system will be adopt
ed here.
A. l.. Clark, chief Of the state bureau
of markets, told the farmers that they
must get together and decide upon
uniform plan for what they want.
The state agents are ready to do their
utmost to improve conditions in agri
culture, but there first must be an
agreement among farmers as to what
is needed. At present there is too
much diversity of opinion among pro-
ducers. Every industry, he said, that
is organized, is thriving none others
are.
He favored the enactment of a law
to establish a uniform system of grad
ing farm products. At present there
is no standard system and every farm
er can grade as he pleases, which leads
to confusion and is of little value IN
marketing.
Harry Brick spoke briefly about the
tomato situation. He had attended
meetings of growers in South Jersey,
Maryland ond Delaware. He said the
present demand for canned tomatoes is
slack, market conditions are not good
In Delaware and Maryland he found
the growers insistent upon price of
$50 per ton from Gamers. South Jer-
sey counties are also firm for that
amount. Burlington county farmers
seem to be least insistent for that
price.
Mr.. Brick said the Campbell Com
panys contracts are being mailed. He
had not yet learned the terms. He re-
quested all the farmers not to make
contracts until after tho next meeting
of the county Tomato Growers Associ-
alton.