Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1920-05-19
PEOPLE EATING
| SEED POTATOES
Farmers Are Selling Seed Potatoes
For Table Use Because Of the
High Prices Now Prevail
ing for Tubers
AMES GARDEN EXPERT
PLEADS FOR SANITY
Says Now is the Time to Prepare
Against Higher Prices Next
Winter by Planting Enough
for Home Use.

The urgent need of planting pota.
toes, if not for the market, at least
enough for home use, is set forth
in letter sent out by C. V. Halsing-
er, professor of vegetable gardening
and small fruits, at the state agri-
cultural college, Ames.
Professor Halsinger, deplores the
fact that many farmers. lured by the
present high prices paid for pota-
toes, are selling their seed crops,
saved thru the winter, and that thou
sands of bushels of selected seed are
thus finding their way into the mar
ket.
He predicts smaller acreage and
continued high prices unless people
at this time prepare for next season
by planting potatoes. His letter fol-
i6ws
At the present time the country
is facing potato famine to a great
or extent than ever before What the
conditions will be next fall is hard
to forecast. The crop last season
(1919) was below that of the pre-
ceding year with a market value of
two and one-half times that of last
year.
To plant an acre of potatoes this
season will require an outlay OF from
$50 to SIS per acre for the seed
alone. The rental value of the land
Plus the cost Of cultivation, will
mean that farmers will have an in
vestment of we'll up to 500 per acre.
From present indications many of
them are planning to plant to some
other crop. 1t certainly will require
a great deal of courage on the par.
Of farmers to plant very heavily un-
der the present conditions.
A grower recently reported that he
had been offered $4,000 more than
his seed cost him at the time the
seed was put away last fall. This
grower stated that he was disposed
to sell and plant to other crops this
season. If this stock of seed would
be planted by other people it would
not make L uch difference, but in
stead of this, the bulk of it will find
its way very shortly to the consum-
ers' table.
1t is reported that much of the
potato growing section in the north
is being coined by buyers from the
larger cities for potatoes, that had
teen saved for seed, to be used quite
largely as table stock. Because of
this situation it is feared that the
acreage planted this year will be
greatly reduced. Many farmers re-
member their experience the season
of 1917 when seed was nearly as
high as it is now Because Of the
war situation then they planted very
heavily. A great many farmers
actually lost money on the crop.
The part of wisdom now would in
dicate that every one should try to
grow potatoes in quantities for their
own use. The soil to receive the seed
should receive better preparation.
Seed should be more carefully cut
than formerly in order that the seed
may go farther in planting. Seed that
ordinarily should be discarded
should be used if coed seed is not
available.
One can ordinarily expect a ten
fold increase from seed that is
planted A planting of from one to
four bushels will not be hardship
on any one and those who do so will
find it worth while. Indications are
that the acreage will be reduced this
season and unless we are favored by
a bumper crop this fall the public
can look forward to another year
of extremely high prices.
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