Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-05-13
PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE
ON The 1921 P0TAT0CR0P

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Loci5=
ana, Maryland, North Carolina. So.
Carolina. Texas and Virginia repors
l150,159 acres of potatoes planted in
1921 compared with 1872, 742 in 1922
and 136,39S in 1919. The average
Weld per acre in 1920 was III bush
Is compared with ia bushels in
1919 and a total production of 49,
ops carloads in 1920 compared with
25,697 cars in 1919. Under 10
year average conditions. the acreage
reported in 1921 should yield about
81 900 carloads. Apparently this
production will not flood the market
nor effect o a great extent the price
Of the later northern grown stocks.
Early potatoes from the southern
. atees ere now on markets and
quality is reported good.
Acreage Estimates-1921 North
Indications seem to be tnat states
north OF Kansas and east Of Nebras-
ka viii show a slight reduction in
{ pata acreage over 1920 aud If
/ this resu''t. the acreage Will be
lower than the ten year average for
these sections.
| CoLORADO-An apparent increase
in acreage planted is shown in Crop
I Report No. 23 showing 1913 percent
acreage of last year or about So
600 acres compare with 1889 acres
in 1920 and 92.500 acres in 1919.
Soil conditions excellent at pres
emit and we estimate 10 percent. Of
the farmers are planting better seed
this year than in1920.
KANSAS Indications are that
acreage will be about the same as
last year, running about sixty-eigh'
thousand acres. Planting partly
done by Nav 1st. Soil conditions
good. Seed used is generally be-
ter.
WYOMING Acreage will prob
ably show slight increase thi.
year over 1920 as reported by Coun-
ty Agricultural Agents and many
growers. Probable 10000 acres as
compared with $4,000 in 1920 am
$4,000 in 1919 Soil and moisture
condi ions generally good with for
| ward spring and planting probabl'
beginning a week to ten DAYS earlier
than average. More certified seed
4 and early varieties being planted
han in any previous year,
| MONTANA Potato planting star
tied about April 25th in some sec
| ions. VIII be week to two
weeks earlier over most of the state
Soil better shape than 1920 and
moisture conditions fair. Rain
needed. Acreage will be about SANE
as last year-forty-s thousanc
acres compared with forty-seyer
thousand in 1913. Better seed is
generally being used,
Shculdd Potsto Acreage be In
creased in the West 3
i is our opinion. based on sur
lyey or the potato situation. that TIM
total potato acreage in the western
s ates above mentioned could be in
creased to 10 percent. without dan
, ger or over-production. Unless
the United Ssa.es as a whole SHOULD
receive an exceptionally favorable
, wear and consequent large yielt
, per acre, the 1921 crop will be small
er than 1920. Based on a tel
year average acreage and average
produc ion. the 1921 potato crop will
be considerably less than the 1920
crop.
The farmer who makes money II
the production of potatoes Is TN
man who stays continuously in thu
game with the same average acreage
i and average PRODUCTION each year
The thousands of in" and out
farmers are the ones who usually
;. cause the fluctuations in production
land in price and rs percent. of M
time they are Gin" ruring the wrons
wear to make anything on their 20
tato crop.
Plant a normal acreage in 1921.
Provide a good storage cellar OF
the farm for at least 60 percent. nj
the crop and half Of the potato mar
keting and distribution problem D
the farmer and grower will b'
solved.
EARLE G. REED.
Agricultural agent
l
LOCAL NEWS.