Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-27
Newdick Reports on
Southern Seed 80
i2s4.
Potato Marketing :

"The only question is to cut out
the unnecessary steps between grow
er and consumer and to see that the
necessary overhead expense is in
volved and no more" asserted E. L.
Newdick. chief Of the division OF
plant industry, Department Of Ag-
riculture. on Friday in his report on
the manner in which Maine grow
ers may best market their seed pota-
toes in the Southern states.
Mr.. Newdick returned recently
from a several weeks trip in the
South, where he made investigation
in the interest of the Maine potato
dealers and his observations are set
forth in the following report on mar
keting possibilities for Maine seed
in the South:
THAT Maine has a real problem
no one can doubt, for this situation
exists. A man in Hastings, Florida.
says that our stock shipped last year
was not up to standard and yet a
careful analysis of the government
figures will show that this seed came
from the highest per acre yield that
was ever grown in the country. I'M
mediately the suestion arises, What
was the difficulty and in reply it is
said that Maine has a big crop in
spite of having some potato diseases.
which are of minor importance at
home but of vast importance to our
southern grower. The answer then
is for Maine to grow just what our
market demands for seed and moth
ing else.
"Those familiar with the seed stu
alton blame our growers for having
rested too long On their laurels be-
fore becoming awakened to the fact
that we must grow a good article
and merchandise it as it should be.
The entry of so many new states into
the potato game is automatically
cutting out the speculative condi-
tons which existed for so many
years This should force the grower
into raising better product and ad-
vertisinS extensively to the trade
just what Maine is doing.
"Criticisms or discussion is use
less without some thought of rem
edy. 1t occurs to those interested
that our growers must forget the
speculative factor and gather all the
information they can relative to the
growing plant and its trouble. rails
Ills Sccu iOIIl OIiN tHooS pIohto liie~I
arc healthy during the entire period
of their growth.
LAS for marketing. there are GER
tain definite principles involved.
which we can never get away from
and a certain amount of machinery
necessary. The only question is to
cut out the unnecessary steps be-
tween grower and consumer and to
see that the necessary overhead ex-
pense is involved and no more.
Can't an organization merely man.
age, grade it's goods and get better
price at less expense than an indivi-
dual? 1t is my humble opinion that
it can. And further than this. such
an organization can draw very
sharp line between table stock and
seed stock as we'll as punish the
member who does wrong.
conditions are no different In
Maine than in the whole northern
tier of seed producing states. We
have an advantage in our large av-
erage yield. The only thing left to
do is admit our mistakes of the past,
get into line with the best growers
now selling seed stock. and we will.
in a few years. be furnishing nearly
all of the seed used in the southern
and eastern states"