Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-30
THE POTATO. KING OF TUBERs

THE POTA1Os KING OF TUBERS
We formerly chanted the words. Bread
is the staff of life" The world war dem
onstrated that the humble but milti-eyed
potato is really the king pin Of life. when
it comes to a near famine. 1t can grow
under more unfavorable conditions as to
heat and cold. moisture and aridity. than
any other farm crop and you can put it to
more varied uses for man and beast than
almost any other product of the soil Tu-
bers are numerous. but most Of them you
merely enjoy looking at through their
periscopes in the form Of beautiful bios
SONS. The potato has been we'll called
the king of tubers
This is an age Of specializing, on the
farm as well as in other directions. The
people Of Vermont are justly proud of the
way in which Commissioner of Agricul-
ture e. S. Brigham has put the Green
Mountain State on the map as a producer
of high priced seed potatoes. He has re-
duced the science of potato growing
to fine art. He has more acres
devoted to this crop than most
tlllers Of the soil have in their
than most tillers of the soil have in their
entire farms He enjoys an income from
the sale of seed potatoes that would make
many victim of Wall Streets bulls"
and bears" several shades Of Green
Mountain green with envy He has made
the nation his field, and wherever he
goes he plants the flag of Vermont.
Few Of us have stopped to think how
the potato figures in our farm totals. Ac-
cording to government statistics Vermont
farm values for 1918 were: Corn, 81, 9o7. 900:
oats. A23.o0O: rye. 5000; wheat. s9l5 900:
barley, $759, 800; buckwheat. $4,000; pota-
toes. S. 900; hay, s21. O43. 900; apples. ST.
4O2 500 total. s3641S,0O0. Add the dairy
products OF s2O,OOO.Ooo. the poultry and
miscellaneous products makes a total Of
around $57,OO0,OOO.
| In other words the potato stands next
to the COW as the most profitable factor
in Vermont's farming operations. 1t Is a
lamentable fact, however, that most of
us. whether In urban garden or rural field,
are content to raise scrub potatoes. just
as host of our people are slip-shod
enough to raise scrub cows and horses
when it would be just as cheap and far
more profitable to produce thoroughbreds.
.l.l{,, NJ I,oc nj 4
wide celebrity as a potato region. Ship
ments Of potatoes from Franklin county
fix the prices for wide territory. 1t
may be helpful to farmers elsewhere to
read how organized effort by potato pro-
ducers there has paid. The Malone Tele-
gram says:
is becoming quite an extensive branch of
farming in Franklin county. the product
finding a ready sale among the potato
growers Of the South and East. In 1916
six cars of certified seed were shipped to
the Franklin County Potato association
at that time having just been organized
In 1917 twenty-one cars of seed were dis
posed of at an approximate VALUE Of $2S'-
900. The 1918 crop Of certified seed viii
amount to about fifteen carloads worth
approximately $4,000. The growing OF
certified seed potatoes here Is directly
traceable to the good work OF the farm
bureau In first advocating the projec
and perfecting II through organization"
The Malone Farmer furnishes interest
ing and valuable details In addition as fol
lows;
1.-THE results accomplished by tn
Franklin County Potato association dur
ing the brief years of it's existence Is
matter In which not only the member
but every farmer and business maj
should take pride and satisfaction. b.
careful study and seed selection the
have not only greatly increased the yiel
but produce a good many carloads OF Ger
tilted seed that finds ready and profit
able market far beyond the borders Of GU
own State. To have secured price o
S2@ bushel when regular stock Is sell
Ing locally for a dollar or less Ii certainl
a fne recommendation for the associatio
t and the quality Of the product. II he VIII
. makes two blades Of grass grow wher
only one grew before is a benefactor. 1
: what class should the members Of this as
: ISOLATION be placed7
n | '"Ths orpanization emhracaa thtrt