The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-11-15
W0EID POTATO CROP IN 1923

With the 1923 potato crop of the Unit
States reported 10 per cent below that
Of last year and the European crop OF
the current year 90 per cent below last
pear, the eyes of the world are natur.
ally turning toward the potato bin
But the potato situation, says the
Trade Record OF The National City
Bank of New York, is not after all 81
serious because it happens that the 1922
crop with which we arc comparing th1
prospective outturn OF 1923 was abnor-
mally large and this shortage of 10 or
20 per cent in the outturn Of America
and Europe still leaves the 1923 croy
quite up to the average of recent years
In the case of the United States the
average crop in the decade ending with
1922 WAC SS.0O9,0O0 bushels, while the
estimate of the Department Of Agricul
ture is for 300,00,O00 in the calendar
year 1923. Our crop Of 1922, 100000.
600 bushels, was the biggest ever. IL
Europe, exclusive Of Russia for which,
10 figures are yet available the crop OF
1922. according TO figures of the Rom,
international Institute of Agriculture
was 4.GS2,GO0.OG0 bushels against littl,
less than 3.0O0,005,00O In 1921, and Will,
the partial reports from the principa-
European countries in 1923 show &
slight reduction, it is quite apparent
that the European total for 1923 will u,
materially greater than that of 1921
even though it should fall 20 per cen
below the abnormally high year 1922
The term "abrormallly high year" an
plies only to that section of Europe foi
which official figures arc available. TO,
the world IL still lacking informotio,
about the crop of Russia, which wa,
prior to the war very large produce,
OF pOtntCes.
Curlously, adds the Trade Record. Tn,
birthplace Of the potato South America
IL now one OF the worlds smallest pro
duceTs OF That important factor il
world food supply. Prior to the wat
the worlds biggest producers were. /,
the order Of magnitude Of production
Germany, Russia, France. Austria. nm,
inc United States and even Mt the pres
ent time despite the post war boundor,
changes In Europe. the relation os T,
the production of the respective conn
fries stands about the same. the Iotcs
hgnres putting the 1922 outturn OF Ger
many Mt 1,40L0OOOOO bushels. Poland
l22O'OOO,0OO, France 4GJ. 100000 IN,
United States 4j1,OOO,OOO, with no avniI
able figures for Russia for any yea
mtcr Than 1916. The big potato pro
duction OF northern Europe is due :,
tho fact that It supplies a larger nm
cunt OF food per acre than do when
or corn. The prc-war potato crop o
Europe was said to exceed iu botl
quantity and value the recorded when
crop of The entire world.
or course. the worlds potato Gro,
was materially reduced during the wa
IN view Of tho fact that the chief mill
tary activities occurred in the ereo
potato producing section OF Enron,
which supplied In normal times copsid
eraDiy more than tbrec-forths OF IN,
p0iatocs Of tho world. The worlds 70
cord Of potato outturu fell from $3.50
OOO,OCO bushels IN 1912 to less than 2
OVJCCO'CO during the most active Der
100 OF the war, but again crossed tn,
billion line In 1922, the total worl,
outturn Of that year exclusive o
Russia, having been 5H billion busbel
AGAINST ue worlds highest record. tho
OF hOA2 0OT9OO0OO0. Thu wOxld's b