Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-28
FARM EDUCATION
A Promising Truck Crop
BY DIR. ANDREW M. SOULE

n PROMISING truck crop
The severe freezes of January de-
stroyed a good deal of truck. The
lands are now vacant and therefore
in an unproductiVe state. Much Of
this land was carefully prepared and
we'll fortified. Why should we not
plant it to Irish potatoes? This is
one Of the best crops we can grow
in our state for many purposes. We
consume infinitely more potatoes
than we produce. If the crop is
properly handled, good part Of it
need not necessarily be shipped out
Of the state. BY planting it at diff
ferent dates in the several climatic
areas of the state, we can have a
succession Of potatoes coming onto
the market throughout the year.
The potato is one of our most easily
cultivated vegetables. 1t is certainly
one of the most wholesome. 1t has
a range which adapts it for cultiva-
ton in all parts Of this section Of
the south. 1t is a comparatively
hardy plant, and, given a decent
chance, will make a fairly good crop
even under relatively adverse con-
ditions.
If everyone in Georgia were to
undertake to plant Irish potatoes, it
would be a misfortune. Certainly,
we would swamp the local market,
whereas our crop would not be
ready for shipment to northern
markets except at a time when it
would likely meet with severe COM
petition from other sections. Yet,
Of course there are areas in this
state lying along the coast where
we can develop the potato and have
it ready for shipment just behind
the Florida crop, and when this can
be accomplished, the market will be
found relatively bare and the price
which growers may hope to obtain
should prove remunerative.
1t is important in planting this
crop to consider all these factors
and to so adjust the handling, man.
agement and distribution of the 20
tato crop as to insure a profit to the
landowner. While we might over-do
the cultivation Of potatoes in a COM
mercial way, there is not much like
lihOod Of the average landowner
growing more than he needs for his
family's use. AS a matter of fact,
there are thousands of homes in our
state, both rural and urban, where
pOIolLO6S COuIu NC ctNluCu " lIIO
dietary with high degree Of salts
faction They are not used now be-
cause the cost Of buying them is
prohibitive. Moreover, a great many
people are under the impression that
the crop will not do we'll in the
southeastern states, and particularly
in Georgia. This idea has been
developed by the fact that many
people plant the tubers so late in
the season that the yields are great
ly curtailed by the hot weather
which sets in before the CROP can
be properly matured.
We are growing about 100000
bushels Of Irish potatoes a year in
Georgia. We ought to harvest at
least 100000 or 100000 bushels,
AS a matter Of fact, there is a local
market for a crop Of this size if it
could be properly distributed and
made available throughout the year,
There is not a farm in the state
that could not use ten bushels of
Irish potatoes acceptably. This, Of
itself would call for the production
of 100000 bushels. The $4,000
families living in our towns and
cities each needs ten bushels. Ger
tainly, we can afford to grow and
ship out of our state 100000 or g.
100000 bushels Of potatoes.
In our strictly trucking section,
they should go north during April
and May. In the mountainous sec