The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1925-08-20
SPUD GROWERS
ARE WORRIED
Embargo on Potatoes Spells
Ruin for Growers on Ac-
count of Expense

The advent of the Colorado Beetle,
commonly known as the Potato Bug,
has brought the potato industry Of
this section face to face with the
most serious situation it has thus fan,
had to face. The recent quarantine
order issued by the state department
of horticulture provides that all po-
tatoes originating in the Yakima Val
ley must be screened and run into
new sacks at the car door. This order
will be a heavy blow particularly to
the early potato industry. Aside
from the labor and expense involved
in re-running the spuds at the car
we must consider the greater dam
age to the product incurred by the
extra handling of the immature po-
tato. The early crop is shipped when
green and the less it is handled the
better condition it will reach the ul-
innate market. 1t is my personal
opinion that we cannot successfully
carry out the department order and
continue to grow early potatoes,
Geo. E. Sellick, one of the valleys
successful growers in a letter to the
er-Reporter.
Realizing the seriousness Of the
situation, prominent growers of the
upper valley issued call for a
meeting of representative growers
from all parts of the valley. We'd
nesday, August 18th, these growers
met at Toppenish. Discussion devel-
oped the sentiment that the best
prospect was the organization Of a
valley-wide association Of growers
to cooperate with the horticultural
department in an endeavor to exterm-
mate the beetle. A permanent chair
man and temporary secretary were
selected and tentative plan of or
ganization, presented by Mr.. Chaffee
of Sunnyside, was adopted. The chair
was authorized to name an executive
committee to meet in the near future
to work out the details of organiza-
ton. The plan contemplates the or
ganization Of locals thruout the val
ley with representatives to form a
central organization. Each local dis
trict will be sectioned off into small
units and duly authorized deputy
horticultural inspectors working with
out compensation, will have authority
to inspect and report infested fields.
A charge of not less than fifty cents
or more than one dollar per car was
suggested as a method Of raising
funds to carry on part of the work.
s,nil Albrecht and Geo. E. Sellick
were selected to represent the new
association in this district. 1t will be
necessary for them to wait the re-
port of the executive committee
meeting before proceeding further
here.
In the meantime it is very import
ant that all interested persons, grow
ers, shippers, business men and even
owners of city gardens realize the
situation confronting them. This sit
uation leaves but one alternative
eliminate the potato bug. This can
be done by thoro control measures
aimed to destroy all mature beetles
before they can get into the soil to
hibernate over winter. This will re-
uuire labor, money and vigilance.
Nevertheless we are up against this
necessity and the most serious men
ace to our success will be the indif-
ference and lack. of cooperation that
will prevail should we fell to ade-
quately appreciate the gravity of the
situation
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