Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1923-07-28
Trucking On The Eastern
Shore OF Virginia
Continued from Page 81

O~-.o---~~D~~ ~-O-~~ =
busy financing operations. The potato
"pickers," if efficient, should not be a
nondescript lot Of laborers, but should
have definite technical knowledge of
grade and quality of potatoes. That
is absolutely necessary as certain
standards must be maintained, even
improved. This can be done only by
yearly practice, under intelligent su-
pervision. The general intelligence,
too, Of Eastern Shore of Virginia
growers is easily noticeable.
Abiding to the car holdup, perhaps
it would be better to say that every
day an even flow Of potatoes is held
up by some generally unknown cause,
economically disturbing, locally, new
ertheless. The local railroad has an
unusual throw of inbound and out
bound tonnage to care for, at that
busy time to further complicate. It
can be observed, too, from the cur
rent press that business is @picking
up" everywhere. There is, then,
a greater demand for cars for load
ing purposes, yet some sources re-
port no new cars will be available for
use until October. At least, the rail-
road presidents are so reported as
saying
It serves no wise purpose to advise
growers of potatoes to stop digging
for few days, until the local condi-
tions can clear up. Growers that
have July potatoes simply cannot af-
ford to stop digging. That potato
area is planted to corn as rotation
crop; potato tops have "given up"
grass is taking charge" under influ-
ence Of the July sun, and usual show
ers and the fertilizer used in the
spring to make and mature the pota-
to crop. The grass should be 'kill-
3D." corn cultivated, and any fertilizer
not used up be scattered among the
corn roots if the corn crop is to be
saved. At such a late stage the grow
ers cannot stop harvesting.
Car shortage usually is acutely felt
north of Exmore. Laymen cannot Of
fer any suggestions for it's relief
The old law Of cause and effect comes
up. Along that line it will finally be
worked out; or should be-, i.
Government reports indicate that
the Eastern Shore Of Virginia annu-
ally produces near three per cent of
the white potatoes grown in the U. S.
However, it may be remembered that
it is believed by many informed men
that Northampton and Accomac
counties supply sixty-fve per cent Of
the summer tonnage Of white pota-
toes, that is to say, for the months of
June and July. They practically have
q monopoly over the consuming and
congested centegs east Of the Missis-
sippi river, also west of it occasion
ally. They have, even begun, in a
limited way, to spply certain tropical
and South American markets as well
It is fact that preceding years crop
of potatoes usually get Tout of the
market, practically speaking, in that
time.
The Eastern Shore Of Virginia
yearly puts on the market seven
i thousand cars of sweet potatoes (yel.
low barks); six hundred cars Of
strawberries five hundred cars Of
onions and cabbage each, two hun
bred cars miscellaneous truck, and
in addition, thousands of cars Of eggs
poultry and sea foods. Sea food con
Examinations, that seem to cause dis
tressing forebodings in scientific cir
cles all over the Atlantic seaboart
more threatening in the north than II
The south for obvious reasons, arr