Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-25
DIR. SOULE URGES PEOPLE
TO EAT SWEET POTATOES

A statement urging 1.-THE hotels.
cafes and housewives Of Georgia to
use sweet potatoes in preference to
Irish potatoes, and urging the banks
to make advances to farmers who
have graded their potatoes and stor-
ed them in curing houses built on
approved plans, was issued Saturday
by DIR. A. M. Soule, president of the
State College of Agriculture.
The statement shows that only
one-half of the available potato
curing house capacity seems likely
to be used, for the reason that the
owners Of the houses cannot guy the
potatoes outright from the growers,
and the growers cannot lease the
storage space. This means that the
ing assistance.
Georgia this year has produced
IA 100000 bushels Of sweet potatoes,
the statement shows, and there is
need for Georgia people to eat sweet
potatoes in preference to Irish pota-
toes.
'They are more wholesome and
nutritious" the statement declares.
AeAG VI Statement
The text of the statement is as
follows:
I'm some ways it seems that the
sweet potato industry of the south
has now reached crucial point.
The production of sweet potatoes has
increased steadily from 100000
bushels in 1918 to 112, 100000 bushels
in 1920. On account of unfavorable
| weather, the crop outlook is not as
good at the present time as it was
October 1 was 106,000,000 bushels.
This cannot be considered an over
production, for, when we consider
| Of Anproper storage and take into
consideration the fact that from
| to 6 per cent of the crop must be
used as seed, it is apparent that the
per capita consumption of sweet
potatoes in the United States is lit
tie more than half bushel per
year.
"The average production of Irish
potatoes in the United States from
1915 to 1919 was 371 100000 bushels.
The production last year was 49,
| 100000 bushels. Deducting Is per
cent loss through shrinkage and de-
cay and allowing for seed-stock, it
| is apparent that we consume nearly
800, 100000 bushels of Irish potatoes
annually in this country. In other
| words, the consumption of white
| potatoes is three bushels per capita
or six times that of sweet potatoes
| This would seem to indicate that
the sweet potato has possibilities.
"Only recently, satisfactory sys'
tenn of storing sweet potatoes has
| been devised. The storage house
as recommended by the United
States department of agriculture
will keep sweet potatoes through the
winter with practically no loss. The
conservation of the crop by the use
Of these storage houses has been ad
vocated strongly by the county
agents and other extension workers
| throughout the south during the last
six years.
GAS a result, we have satisfactory
storage in the entire south for from
$4,000, 900 to 100000 bushels. In
the state of Georgia alone, the COM
bined capacity of our storage houses
will exceed 100000 bushels. How
ever. the indications now are that
not much more than so per cent. or
this capacity will be utilized. Th1s
is an unfortunate situation. Many
of the storage houses were built our
ing the period Of high-priced labor
and material. The owners or these
houses who purchased the crop last
wear at fairly good prices have found
it difficult to make any money. AT
this time, the farmers are in such
need of ready cash that they are
hardly able to lease the storage space
and carry their own potatoes
through the winter.
Shortage Hinted
"When we consider that the fore
cast for the sweet potato crop is g.
600 900 bushels short of the produc-
ton of last year and that the white
potato promises only 345, 000,O 900
bushels 83,000,000 bushels less than
the crop of last Year,, it would seem
a wise policy for our business men
and farmers to take due steps for
the conservation of all the sweet po-
tatoes our storage houses can accom-.
modate It is impossible to indicate
what the future price of any COM
modify will be, but the unusually
short crop Of white potatoes will
probably be fairIS well out Iof the
way before early spring, at which
time our stored sweet potatoes are
usually shipped to distant markets.
There is another significant point
The movement of sweet potatoes
during the first part of the harvest
season has been rs per cent greater
this year than ever before. This is
explained by the fact that our farm
ers have not as much cotton as for
merly for sale, and, therefore, they
are disposing of their sweet potatoes
in order to secure cash. This will
mean that smaller part Of the crop
will go into storage than heretofore
1--WE give the above facts for the
[ consideration Of our farmers and
business men. We can but believe
that when our bankers understand
this proposition fully they will glad
ly make advances to the farmers
who properly harvest, grade and