Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-29
Certified Seed
Northeastern Crop

Wakefield, Mass, December 81
A report today by the New England
Crop Reporting Service shows, for
the Northeastern competitive Certi-
fled Seed Potato region, a percent
,cut from last year in acreage that
passed final field inspection, a Is per-
cent gain in yield per acre and an IL
percent gain in total production, field
run. This report is based upon cur
rent returns by the inspection Of
ficials and upon reports of actual
crops upon many individual farms
Total production, field run, for the
region is estimated at 5,515,27S BUSH
els compared with 4,960,16S revised
for 1925 and 9,3S0,S60 in 1924. In 1926
total Of 1000 acres passed final
field inspection compared with 17,700
in 1925 and 2S,935 IN 1924 in which
year both acreage and production
reached high peak. Yield per acre
is o24 bushels, the same average as
in 1924 and compares with ESQ in
1925. Of the total acreage entered
for inspection So percent is reported
as passing final field inspection COM
pared with Sc percent in 1925 and g.
percent in 1924.
Maine reported $685. acres passing
final inspection and Prince Edward
Island 1896, the two having S3.6 per-
cent of the total acreage. Average
yield, for all varieties, is estimated at
345 bushels in Maine and 325 in
Prince Edward Island. Comparative
yields are: Maine in 1925-3I5 BUSH
els; in 1924-360: Prince Edward Is
land in 1925-265; in 1924-ZS3. New
Brunswick with 81 percent as much
acreage ar1 production as in 1925,
reports an estimated production of
322,455 bushels from 1876 acres that
passed final inspection. New York
with So percent as many acres but
107 percent as much production in
1925 has an estimated total of 225,243
bushels from 904 acres that passed
final inspection. Vermont, Nova
Scotia and New Hampshire are the
minor units of the region.
The total estimated as eligible for
official certificaton, at 3,124,544 BUSH
els against 3,653,13S in 1925 and g.
S92,6S3 in 1924, is 6S percent of esti-
mated total production which COM
pares with "a percent in 1925 and 73
percent in 1924. The lower percent
age eligible this year results mainly
from higher standards and require
ments for certification and from low
er quality in Maine, New York and
New Hampshire. The season in
Maine and New York was none too
favorable and harvesting period was
distinctly unfavorable, resulting in
considerable disqualifications and
losses from rot, i'll shape and unsat-
iSfactory sizes. Probably the bulk of
the crop eligible for certfication in
most of the region has already been
sold and much of it already shipped.
Irish Cobblers, at 3,499,764 bushels
total production against 2,377,502 last
year have gained 45 percent-mainly
from larger acreages in Prince Ed
ward Island New Brunswick and
Maine. Green Mountains, at 1,299,-
693 bushels against 1,960,67S last
year, have decreased "a percent-due
to proportionate acreage cuts in
nearly all cases. Spaulding Rose.
raised chiefly in Maine shows consid-
cradle gain. These three varieties
form about 81 percent of total pro-
duction this year.
SO far as can be judged certified
seed this year has eXerted less intiu-
ence towards stabaliZing everage
yields than in 1925 and 1924, but the
indications are not conclusive Gains
in yield per acre this year over 1925
in the certified seed crop seems to be
substantially as large as gains in the
entire potato crop, the bulk of which
is grown lfplU uuCeGllueu Seeu. Yet
the more general use of improved
seed of strong vitality. better cultur-
al and control methods throughout.
more careful harvesting and handling
of the crop so as to produce higher
quality demanded in the markets re-
mains a sound policy. Market re-
quirements as to quality and quantity
may profitably receioe larger atten-
ton by producers, and production
better balanced with demand will
benefit all concerned.
United States potatoes, revised
estimates: 1926-357, 100000 bushels;
1925-323, 465, 600; 1921-1925 average
395, 242, 900. New England 1926-46,-
$4,000; 1851, 1885,, 900; 1921-1925
aveage-46, 49, 900. Canada Gas given
in Canadian Fruit and Vegetable Re-
port, October) 1885, 900 cwt;
1925-42,379, 900 cwt.