The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-02-01

Connecticut agriculture ;s s1fger- ing from a lack of appreciation. Surpluses, about which we are bearing so much, are not produced l in Connecticut and are not the primary factors which are depfess- ing agriculture.
 We may have a surplus of auid milk but at the same time we are importing q tremendous amount of | butter and other dairy produQts. Our tobacco industry, another go. called surplus crop. presents Q It. tie different angle, for the product from the Connecticut Valley is sold primarily outside the state and world crops govern the prices to q | large extent.
 With the exception of milk and tobacco, Connecticut may be cont sidered an importing state. Last year the carlot of fruits, vegetableS and poultry in waterbury, BridgS- port and New Haven and Hartford amounted to 11.ise 1-2 COTS,
 Some of these imported prod- ucts, to be sure, could net be grown in Connecticut but the rec orda show that among the staple products grown in the state Wat. erbury imported 216 carloads of tomatoes, ITO of which came from Maine; IF carloads of tomatoes; 15 carloads of turkeys; 10 carloads of poultry: 21 carloads of onions. and so on through the whole list, tnak- ing a total importation into the city by train alone of 597 carloads.
 The situation existing in Water- bury Is typical of what IS taking place in all our major titles. Con- necticut agriculture is suffering not so much from overproduction as from lack of appreciation by our residents of the quality products produced within the state. One of the big jobs of the department as see 1t is to stimulate desire on the part of Connecticut people to give Connecticut quality products a trial and then they will be satis- fled that when it comes to buying many agricultural products, no better can be purchased than those raised right here in the Nutmeg state.
 The department is not interest ed in strictly Buy At Home Campaign" but rather g develop ment of consumer conscience to the point where local products will he given a fair trial in spite of ad- vertisements which have led peo- pie to believe that goitre and other diseases may be cured or prevent ed by generous use of various agricultural products from other parts of the country.
 Perhaps we should blame our selves for this situation move than the other fellow who happens to be a good salesman. But take for example such staple products as potatoes and eggs produced in every town in Connecticut. Last year we imported more than 700 carloads of eggs and approximate ly 2,000 carloads of potatoes, 1,481 carloads of the latter coming from Maine.
 The big question is how can we develop a state consciousness for agricultural products? If we look at it from purely mereenary point of view we can find where 1t would be of direct benefit to the whole state if Connecticut people bought Connecticut products.
 Only 5 per cent of the states population is engaged in agricul- lure which is annually producing SOUlG SHV,VVVtVVV WOA1h VI PtON ucts. Some of these products are sold at a profit and others at a loss, but you can readily see what it means to business in general to have $4O,00O,O00 in circulation for farmers are not capitalists and when they have money, spend it freely. =
 Another angle on this same sub- feet applies to tobacco. If we could only encourage the sale of more cigars that are made from Connecticut tobacco we would have what might be called double header" for much of our tobacco is sold outside the state for n1anu- facturing purposes and the finished cigars return. This means that new money would be coming into the state in addition to stimulating cir cuIation of that which IS used in the regular purchase of sigars over the counter.
 It's time that people became quality conscious and then Connec- ticut agriculture and business In general would prosper, for when 1t comes to quality, no better prod ucts can be produced for Connec- ticut people than those raised by our farmers near our large indus- trial centerS.