greatest directly after digging, and in February the losses were higher than the month before or after. The size of the tuber, or whether the variety was early or late, had no perceptible influence. The three early varieties lost from 4.87 to 8.48 per cent., the five medium-early varieties from 4.55 to 6.78 per cent., and the four late varieties 5.71 to 7.28 per cent. These losses are believed to be lower than those usually assumed and observed. The loss of weight of these tubers from May to October was 21.57 per cent., considerably more than their loss from October to May 1. As soon as the sprouts begin to grow the loss is rapid. Nobbe found that about 75 per cent. of the loss of potatoes in storage is due to loss of water and 25 per cent. to respiration. As the potato is alive and breathes, its existence depends upon its using some of its stored-up energy. A ferment changes some of its starch into sugar, and this sugar is used to furnish energy. At low temperatures sugar formation continues, but respiration and the use of the sugar diminishes, and at 30° F. to 28° F. (2° to 4° below freezing-point) respiration almost ceases; hence, frozen potatoes taste sweet because of the accumulation of sugar.

E. Wollny believes that between 32° and 50° F. is the best range of temperature for holding potatoes.

The actual losses which may occur in storage as the result of disease cannot be definitely stated.

CHAPTER XIV

PRODUCTION, TRANSPORTATION, and

MARKETS

IN the North the potato is a quasi-staple product. It can be kept a number of months in storage. In the South, except in cold storage, it cannot be kept long and is purely a garden-truck crop, but its culture is extending.

2,836,196 farmers grew potatoes in 1899. The area was 2,938,952 acres, and the yield 273,328,207 bushels, valued at $98,387,614. The average value of the product per acre was $33.48, that of all crops was $10.04, while that of all vegetables was $42.09 per acre. The price per bushel varied between 22 cents in Iowa and Nebraska to $1.10 in Arizona, the average price being 36 cents. The average yield' per acre in the year 1879 was 96.7 bushels; in 1889, 83.6 bushels, and in 1899, 93 bushels per acre, although yields of 300 and 400 bushels are common, and over 800 bushels have been obtained.

In 1900 six States grew 51 per cent. of the potatoes (Figs. 47, 48)-viz., New York, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Minnesota-while Ohio, Illinois, Maine, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Indiana, and California grew 25 per cent. more. The sandy pine belt region, skirting the lakes, has shown a phenomenal increase in potato production. In Maine,

1 Consult Twelfth Census Report 1902.

Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota the potato acreage has increased faster than the population in the past ten years. New York comes in the same belt. The per capita production of potatoes in the United States is given as about 3.5 bushels.' About one-third of the total crop of the Southern States is shipped North as early potatoes, and some late potatoes are shipped back from the North. The consumption north of Mason and Dixon's line is about 41⁄2 bushels per head, exclusive of potatoes used for seed or starch-making. The South consumes a relatively small amount, being less than 11⁄2 bushels per capita.

Knowing the approximate consumption and the area and condition of the crop (obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture reports, which are posted monthly), the farmer can form an idea of the outlook of the business. Thus, in 1903 there were 2,916,855 acres grown, and the yield as now known was 247,127,880 bushels. The table below will show the uses to which this crop was put. In 1904 as large an area would need to be planted (a larger one ought to be, because the population is increasing); hence, 10 bushels of seed are allowed per

acre on:

2,925 000 acres

Plus 10 per cent. loss in storage

Used for starch-making, etc. (largely

small potatoes, etc.).

Bushels 29,250,000

2,925,000

5,000,000