The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-22

Recent estimates tend to show de- crease in recent years of acreage in New Jersey. The south is organizing to cap ture all eastern markets with standard grades for sweet potatoes and vans"
 The above significant statement is found in recent news letter issued by the bu- reau of markets, New Jersey state de- partment of agriculture, in commenting upon the sweet potato crop of that state The reason for the reduction of potato acreage in New Jersey is a real and per tinent one. It is true that the south is organizing to capture all eastern mar kets" with it's candied yams' or sugar spuds''; in fact, it has already captured a b., trade in the east and central west. The popularity of the southern sweets Is broadening and tn, market possibilities of this splendid prod uc1 are yet without limit. Alabama early otatoes were shipped as far north as Winnipeg Canada, this summer and nun dreds of cars were shipped to Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati and other market centers of the country.
 Is it any wonder, then. that the pru- dent potato growers of the Jersey coast are ''evacuating' in the face of such competition and giving their attention to other crops? The superiority of the gouthern sweet potato over the eastern grown varieties is recognized in all sec tions of the country. 1t is much sweeter and richer in flavor and nutriment. There is nothing seductive about this choice tuber native of the sandy soils of the southland-it's s real food, just like it's next of kin, the white or Irish potato, ana the time is fast approaching when 1t Will rank next as the universal dish
 Another potent reason why the eastern growers are retiring from the sweet po- tato game is that they are not favored with the soil and climatic advantages Tn comnetition with the soNh It costs them vastly more per acre to grow ana mar ket the crop. It is perhaps the most cheaply cultivated crop Of the south. It If is nothing unusual for ordinary pon lands to produce from 2oO to 4oo pusreis per acre ,..
 Yes. indeed, the south is coming into us own in commercializing it's great tuoer cron. and is "organizing" to capture the markets of the east and all other sweet potato markets of the world Now that inc southern farmers have realized that there is no limit to their market Tor thls ffnderful food crop, they are entering into potato growing with new zest' lhey are standardizing their best varieties and a,aadiIv increasing acreage of this crop. r,,rtbermore. they are learning the other very necessary standards of commerciai bandling-that of grading their potatoes and shipping in uniform and attractiVe nackapes such as one bushel hampers and crates.
 Perhaps the most forward step toward .ba successfui preparation of the soutn- ern potato crop for wider commercla. demand is in the use of the kiln-dryng and storage process The sweet po,ato is very perishable product ana unless it is put through curing process, reinon large per cent of the moisture con .ns, if is unfit for food within very short nerlod of time. For this reason onIv small per cent of the earliest grown varieties in the most southeriy dis- ,ricts could reach the northern markets in good and satisfactory state or preser- yation until curing process was per fected by which the tubers could De maue immune from climatic conoiiohs. Hsen