Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1924-11-20
DIRECTORS POTATO
GROWERS MEET
Confidence Expressed in the Future
of the Mountain Seed Potato Grow
ers Association-Proba One of
Watauga's Best Enterprises.

The annual meeting of the mem
bers of the Mountain Seed Potato
Growers Association was held in the
' court house on Saturday November
18th. While the weather was bad and
the attendance not so large as was
expected, the meeting was full OF
interest, and confidence was express
ed in the future of the business. No
changes were made in the officers in
Watauga County with the exception
that Mr.. H. Neal Blair was appoint
ed to act as Secretary Treasurer for
Watauga County.
The report of the business done in
Watauga County showed that the po-
tatoes last year netted the farmers
$1.62 for 1881 bushels of certified
potatoes, $1.50 per bushel for S75
bushels not certified and $120 per
bushel for no. 2's. This price was
paid after setting aside sc per bush
ell for sinking fund to be used as
operating capital. The price received
for seed this year will probably not
be quite as good as last years price
since eating potatoes are finding such
low sale. The price usually varies
from year to year, one year being
high and the next year being low in
Irregular succession. This rule has al
ways held good and will probably
continue to do so until the farmers
get better acquainted with the ac-
tion of the market and govern them
selves accordingly.
In 1922 there was record break
ing crop of potatoes planted, conse-
quently the price was very low, ma
ny farmers being unable to sell at
soc per bushel. Because of this low
price in 1928 there was light crop
planted. This crop therefore sold at
good price. Encouraged ii s.,ls fEi~
ces received another heavy acreage
was planted this year which has re-
suited in prices almost as low as in
1922. Judging from the history of the
last 20 years the low price this year
will cause light planting next year
with consequently higher prices. Be-
cause of these facts the Seed Potato
Growers Association is anxious to in
crease its acreage for next year so
as to have heavy yield to put on the
Smarket, which we expect to be good.
To encourage new members to join
now and buy their seed potatoes
while they are available the Potato
Association is offering to sell to new
members the potatoes they will need
at $3.50 per bag. 1t is hoped that
these new members will join during
the month of November and make
arrangements for their seed which
will be kept for them until the last
of March. Last year were probably
100 farmers in Watauga County who
wished to join the Association after
the pototoes had been sold, but good
seed could not be found at any price
with which they could be supplied.
A few seed were finally found at
cost of $50 per bag. Several hun
dred farmers have expressed their in
tention to grow seed potatoes dur
ing 1925. If they could be persuaded
to buy their seed now while the price
is so low they would save great deal
of expense and would therefore be
4 able to start in the business Of grow
ing seed potatoes at minimum cost.
The price of $3.50 per bag is not
promised to new members for any
definite length of time bu t is avail
able now.
See potato growing is probably one
of the most promising enterprises for
Watauga County at the present time.
The cost of getting started in this
line of farming as low as would be
the cost in starting in growing any
other farm crop.
One thing that is APPARENT to the
potato growers of Watauga is that
they must have a storage house in
which to place their potatoes in the
fall so that they can be shipped out
any time during the winter that the
market demands. This storage house
should be built large enough to take
care of the needs of the members of
the Association for 1925, both for
their seed potatoes and eating stock
they may not wish to sell at the time
of harvest. This is another reason why
it is imperative for the officers of the
Association to know what acreage to
expect for next year Watauga coun-
ty grows potatoes and cabbage to
perfection and the sooner we can pre-
pare ourselves to grow these two
crops in sufficient quantities and han
die them in business-like waysso