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Title:  The  Guide  post,  v.  1 7 

Place  of  Publication:  Bellefonte,  Pa. 

Copyright  Date:  1940 

Master  Negative  Storage  Number:  MNS#  PSt  SNPaAg019.4 


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PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE 
POTATO  GROWERS  ASSOCIATION 

INCORPORATED 


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Dr.  Nixon  Comments  On 


CLETRAC  MODEL  H  is  the 
only  agricultural  crawler  trac- 
tor in  a  price  range  comparable 
with  a  rubber-tired  wheel  trac- 
tor. Three  widths— 31",  42"  and 
68" — make  this  tractor  adap- 
table for  all  row  crop  as  well  as 
for  general  farming.  With 
"High  Clearance"  and  mount- 
ed-on  equipment  Cletrac  Model 
H  can  be  used  for  fitting  the 
soil,  planting,  cultivating,  and 
harvesting. 

Whether  it  is  in  mud,  muck, 
snow  or  on  steep  hills,  here's  a 
tractor  that  is  a  class  by  itself 
with  traction  for  all  farm  con- 
ditions. 


THE  GENERAL  is  a  tractor 
that's  cheap  to  operate—easy  to 
service— and  at  a  price  no  more 
than  that  of  2  of  3  good  work 
animals. 

It  gives  you  everything  you 
could  want  in  a  tractor  on  9  out 
of  10  farms.  You  can  plow  from 
^  to  10  acres  per  day.  You  can 
cultivate  from  10  to  25  acres  per 
day.  The  General  also  has  a 
power  take-off  for  pickers  and 
combines;  you  have  20  belt 
horse-power  for  silo  fillers, 
small  threshers,  etc.  It's  a  BIG 
tractor  in  everything  but  cost. 


CLETRAC  TRACTORS 


14   to   95   h.p. 


GASOLINE  OR  DIESEL 


THF  ri^EVEL AND  TRACTOR  COMPANY   -  Cleveland,  Ohio 

Wdfe  nlf  e  and^^^^         below  and  mail  for  complete  in/o^--t^-^^^ 
S  General       :  -:         Check  here  ....  if  you  want  complete  details  of 
Model  H  also.  I  farm  ....  acres. 


The  Eye  is  not  the  Market 


Mr.  Fred  W.  Johnson  wrote  in  March, 
1937,  as  follows:  "I  think  most  men  will 
agree  with  me  when  I  say  that  business 
today  has  become  too  taut,  and  tense 
and  serious.  Buying  and  selling  pota- 
toes has  never  been  anything  more  than 
a  strictly  business  transaction  with  a 
dash  of  worry  and  the  hope  of  a  small 
profit,  and  little  else.  As  I  write  this 
little  message  to  my  friends  out  on  the 
farms  in  Pennsylvania,  I  am  wondering 
whether  we  may  not  unconsciously  have 
come  upon  something  even  more  in- 
teresting, and  helpful,  than  just  a  bet- 
ter method  of  marketing  the  annual  po^ 
tato  crop  of  this  great  Commonwealth. 

"I  am  wondering  whether  we  may  not 
be  setting  up  a  new  type  of  business 
transaction,  in  which  personal  contact, 
pride  of  product,  and  friendly  under- 
standing will  replace  some  of  the  age 
old  practice  of  concentrating  exclusive- 
ly on  quality  and  price  as  between  sell- 
er and  buyer."  (The  eye  is  the  market? ) . 

"Certain  it  is  that  in  the  past  year 
there  have  been  some  very  remark- 
able changes.  Pennsylvania  potatoes  no 
longer  are  just  potatoes  to  the  distribu- 
tor. Shipments  are  beginning  to  bring 
with  them  an  acquaintanceship  with  the 
grower,  something  of  his  personality, 
and  a  clear  understanding  of  his  proJD- 
lems.  It  is  still  a  business  transaction, 
but  with  more  of  the  warmth  of  human 
touch,  which  is  just  what  all  business 
needs  today. 

"It  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  at- 
tend all  of  the  meetings  of  the  Joint 
Conference  Committee  of  the  Associa- 
tion, and  several  of  the  annual  conven- 
tions. Always  my  conviction  has  been 
strengthened  that  here,  at  last,  is  some- 
thing that  will  put  a  firmer  foundation, 
and  a  fresh  infusion  of  faith,  into  tho 
business  affairs  of  men." 

Of  course,  this  is  said  in  a  nice  way, 
which  is  characteristic  of  Mr.  Johnson. 
He  anticipated  over  two  years  ago  what 
has  actually  come  to  pass.  Namely,  that 
pleasure  can  be  had  in  selling  potatoes. 
Pennsylvania  potato  growers  long  since 
learned  the  down  right  pleasure  that 
comes  from  producing  a  beautiful  crop. 
I  have  only  found  a  few  wno  really  en- 
joyed disposing  of  this  crop.  What  with 
bad  checks,  heckling  over  "price  at  the 
barn"  —  with  or  without  the  bags  — 


or  anxiously  awaiting  the  "returns"  on  a 
load,  oft  times  wondering  if  and  how 
much  would  have  to  be  sent  to  pay  the 
freight — there  is  little  wonder  that  dis- 
couragement almost  overwhelmed  many 
growers.  I  do  not  want  to  do  business 
with  a  man  if  I  get  no  pleasure  out  of 
transacting  the  deal,  whether  in  the  pur- 
chase of  a  hat  or  a  pair  of  shoes  or  the 
sale  of  a  car  of  potatoes. 

Well  we  find,  in  the  last  analysis,  that 
acquaintanceship  is  a  big  factor  in  de- 
terminig  whether  there  will  be  pleasure 
in  the  deal — in  other  words,  confidence, 
straight  shooters,  equal  footing. 

The  man  who  can  grow  a  good  crop  of 
potatoes  is  entitled  to  honor  and  respect. 
For,  after  all,  farm  products  are  created 
new  wealth.  The  potato  crop  is  "cre- 
ated" annually  out  of  carbon,  hydrogen, 
and  oxygen,  plus  a  dash  of  minerals. 
Nothing  is  left  any  worse  off  as  a  result 
of  producing  this  crop.  It  could  be  a 
permanent  source  of  wealth.  Pennsyl- 
vania's natural  resources  were  ages  and 
ages  in  forming.  Her  forests  are  gone, 
her  minerals  are  being  exploited — con- 
verted into  cash  and  called  profit.  Did 
it  ever  occur  to  you  that  if  Pennsylvania 
imported  all  her  oil,  and  gas,  all  her  coal, 
and  all  her  lumber,  she  would  not  be 
the  "empire"  she  is  today. 

In  fact,  Pennsylvania  will  be  a  deso- 
late waste  if  products  of  the  soil  are  also 
exploited.  You  say  when  will  this  oc- 
cur? When  is  not  so  important.  What  is 
mankind's  duty  to  mankind  is  more  im- 
portant. 

A  stream  cannot  rise  above  it's  source. 
Neither   can   industry   and   agriculture 
rise  above  it's  leadership.  There  is  a  job 
for  every  citizen  of  this  Commonwealth 
if  we  are  sincerely  caring  for  the  pre- 
sent and  planning  intelligently  for  the 
future.    The  men  who  attend  the  Joint 
Conference    Committee    meetings    can 
testify  to  the  fact  that  Pennsylvania  po- 
tato growers  are  honored  and  respected 
by  he  representatives  of  the  food  distri- 
butors. Furthermore,  the  food  distribu- 
tors are  men  quite  similar  to  the  rest 
of  us,  and  are  a  pleasant  crowd  to  con- 
fer with.  Furthermore,  that  while  buy- 
ing and  selling  potatoes  is,  and  always 
will  be,  a  business  proposition,  we  have 
gone   a    long   way    through    the   Joint 
Conference  and  what  it  stands  for,  in 


*v- 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January,  1940 


January,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


making  the  deal  a  pleasant  one.  You 
know  as  well  as  I  that  the  members  ot 
this  conference  would  lose  their  right 
arm,  so  to  speak,  rather  than  betray  the 
confidence,  which  has  been  built  up  in 
this  short  time.  And  the  end  is  not  yet! 

The  worst  mankind  has  to  fear  is  de- 
feat and  extermination;  the  best  man- 
kind has  to  hope  for  is  to  become  a  step- 
ping stone  on  the  road  to  higher  things. 
One  of  these  stones  which  has  been 
firmly  placed  is  confidence.  Confidence 
that  the  pack  will  be  right;  (The  only 
mistake  here,  when  there  is  one,  comes 
from  lack  of  knowledge  or  mechanical 
factors,  and  not  from  the  heart).  Con- 
fidence that  the  price  will  be  commen- 
surate with  supply  and  demand  as  based 
on  a  standard  of  grade  and  quality.  Con- 
fidence that  the  deal  is  honest;  Confi- 
dence, that,  when  right,  we  will  stand 
by  it  ,when  wrong,  we  will  help  right  it. 
The  same  careful  thought  is  indispensa- 
ble whether  for  economical  production, 
economical  distribution,  to  the  end  that 
producer  and  consumer  shall  escape  de- 
feat and  extermination. 

It  ought  to  be  clear  to  anyone  fa- 
miliar with  the  facts  that  the  farm  is  no 
place  to  establish  prices.  On  the  farm 
surplus  labor  is  converted  into  cash  and 
called  profit.  Soil  fertility  is  often  sold 
and  called  profit.  Almost  everythmg 
that  grows  on  the  farm  is  surplus.  I  had 
several  wagon  loads  of  apples  on  the 
farm  this  year  that  was  surplus.  Even 
ten  cents  a  bushel  would  have  brought 
ten  cents  more  a  bushel  than  I  got.  How 
can  a  surplus  commodity  be  sold  at  a 
a  profit?  How  can  any  farm  commodity 
be  sold  at  a  profit  when  it  comes  to  the 
place  of  "Please  buy.  Mister." 

No,  it  looks  like,  as  Mr.  Johnson  said, 
"we  may  be  setting  up  a  new  type  of 
business  transaction,  in  which  personal 
contact,  pride  of  product,  and  friendly 
understanding,  will  replace  some  of  the 
age  old  practices  .  .  .  that  here  at  last  is 
something  that  will  put  a  firmer  founda- 
tion and  a  fresh  infusion  of  faith  into 
the  business  affairs  of  men." 

At  any  rate — 

Tis  a  lesson  you  should  heed. 

Try,  try  again; 

If  at  first  you  don't  succeed. 

Try,  try  again; 

Then  your  courage  should  appear, 

For,  if  you  will  persevere. 

You  will  conquor,  never  fear; 

Try,  try  again. 


Once  or  twice  though  you  should  fail. 

Try,  try  again; 

If  you  would  at  last  prevail. 

Try,  try  again; 

If  we  strive,  'tis  no  disgrace 

Though  we  do  not  win  the  race. 

What  should  you  do  in  the  case? 

Try,  try  again. 

If  you  find  your  task  is  hard, 

Try,  try  again; 

Time  will  bring  you  your  reward. 

Try,  try  again. 

All  that  other  folks  can  do. 

Why,  with  patience,  should  not  you? 

Only  keep  this  rule  in  view: 

Try,  try  again. 

Or  said  in  another  way:  — 

If  you  think  you're  beaten,  you  are, 
If  you  think  you  dare  not,  you  don't. 
If  you'd  like  to  win  but  you  can't. 
It's  almost  a  cinch  that  you  won't; 
For  out  in  the  world  you'll  find, 
Success  begins  with  a  fellow's  will — 
It's  all  in  the  state  of  mind. 

Full  many  a  race  is  lost 
'Ere  even  a  step  is  run, 
And  many  a  coward  has  failed, 
'Ere  even  his  work's  begun. 
Think  big  and  your  deeds  will  grow 
Think  small  and  you'll  fall  behind. 
Think  you  can  and  you  will. 
It's  all  in  the  state  of  mind. 

If  you  think  you're  outclassed,  you 

are 
You've  got  to  think  high  to  rise. 
You've  got  to  be  sure  of  yourself 
Before  you  can  win  a  prize. 
Life's  victories  don't  always  go 
To  the  stronger  or  faster  man. 
For  soon  or  late  the  man  who  wins. 
Is  the  man  who  thinks  he  can — 
It's  all  in  the  state  of  mind. 


THINK  AND  ACT 


KNOWS  GENTLEMEN 

"Mr.  Jones,"  a  man  asked  his  tailor, 
"how  is  it  you  have  not  called  on  me  for 
my  account?" 

"Oh,  I  never  ask  a  gentleman  for 
money." 

"Indeed.  How,  then,  do  you  get  on  if 
he  doesn't  pay?" 

"Why,"  replied  the  tailor,  "after  a 
certain  time  I  conclude  he  is  not  a  gen- 
tleman, and  then  I  ask  him." 

Montreal  Star 


Timely  Observations  and  Suggestions 

L.  T.  Denniston,  Associati07i  Field  Representative 


FOUR  STATEMENTS  OF  FACT:  HOW 
WOULD  YOU  SOLVE  THEM? 

(1)  Thousands  of  Pennsylvania  po- 
tato growers  actually  begging  for  sales 
yet  10,000,000  to  12,000,000  bushels  of 
potatoes  from  other  states  or  producing 
areas  are  sold  in  Pennsylvania  markets 
annually. 

(2)  Pennsylvania  potatoes  of  equal 
or  superior  quality  constantly  quoted 
and  sold  in  the  so  called  market  places 
under  prices  of  potatoes  from  other 
states  or  producing  areas. 

(3)  Pennsylvania  potatoes  in  the  mar- 
kets in  feed,  fertilizer,  and  all  other 
kinds  of  bags. 

(4)  Growers  for  ever  in  competition 
with  themselves,  selling  5c  per  bushel 
or  hundredweight  less  to  make  the  sale, 
— worse  even  than  this,  believing  the 
intinerant  buyer  who  says,  "I  can  get 
No.  I.  potatoes  from  John  Jones  for  95c 
per  hundred,"  when  actually  the  mar- 
ket is  95c  per  bushel. 

PENNSYLVANIA  SEED  POTA- 
TOES: While  in  Erie,  Butler,  Somerset, 
Cambria,  and  Potter  County  during  the 
past  two  weeks  I  saw  over  100,000  bush- 
els of  good  Pennsylvania  grown  seed  in 
storage.  All  of  this  seed  was  in  good 
storage  and  was  keeping  exceptionally 
well.  There  should  be  no  reason  why 
any  Pennsylvania  grown  seed,  worthy 
of  the  name  "Good  Seed"  certified  or 
otherwise,  should  not  find  a  ready  buy- 
er, provided  the  owner  by  some  means 
lets  a  sufficient  number  of  growers  in 
the  immediate  territory  or  to  the  south 
of  him  know  that  it  is  available.  An- 
nouncements in  meetings,  small  news- 
paper ads  in  local  papers,  post  cards  to 
a  well  distributed  mailing  list  and  other 
means  have  proven  very  effective.  This 
is  salesmanship. 

Returning  to  my  desk  last  week  I  had 
in  my  mail  a  copy  of  the  Certified  Seed 
Growers  of  the  State  from  my  good 
friend  K.  W.  Lauer  of  the  Bureau  of 
Plant  Industry.  This  list  will  give  you  the 
names  of  growers,  their  address,  coun- 
ty, variety  of  seed  grown,  acres  grown. 


and  available  supplies.  Last  year  at  the 
Farm  Show  we  distributed  a  large  num- 
ber of  these  bulletins  to  growers  from 
the  Booth  of  Potato  Interests.  We  will 
be  glad  to  make  them  available  to  grow- 
ers from  the  Association  Booth  this  year 
if  my  friend  Lauer  will  see  that  we  have 
a  supply. 

SHIPPING  AND  TRUCKING  THE 
PENNSYLVANIA  BLUE  LABEL 
PACK  INTO  BORDER  STATE  MAR- 
KETS: I  am  asked  a  good  many  times 
why  we  are  moving  Pennsylvania  Po- 
tatoes into  border  State  markets  such  as, 
Cleveland,  Akron,  Youngstown  and  oth- 
er points  in  Ohio;  Wheeling,  Fairmont, 
Morgantown  and  Wellsburg,  West  Vir- 
ginia; Cumberland,  Hagerstown  and 
Baltimore,  Maryland;  etc.  First  of  all, 
because  these  markets  are  asking  for  the 
Blue  Label  Pack.  Second,  because 
enough  premium  is  paid  to  justify  the 
longer  haul.  Third,  movement  into 
these  more  distant  markets  is  generally 
from  areas  of  concentrated  production 
or  where  over  supplies  exist.  By  re- 
moving a  few  cars,  distress  stock,  by  rail 
or  truck  the  local  market  can  often  be 
materially  strengthened. 

This  movement  into  border  State 
markets,  which  is  acquainting  the  buy- 
ers in  these  markets  with  Pennsylvania 
Quality  Potatoes,  will  be  more  fully  ap- 
preciated by  Pennsylvania  Growers 
when  we  hit  a  year  of  normal  or  over 
production. 

MARKETING  DURING  JANUARY, 
FEBRUARY,  AND  MARCH:  Irrespec- 
tive of  price  or  price  outlook  Pennsyl- 
vanai  Growers,  who  have  potatoes  in 
storage  will  profit  by  moving  potatoes 
freely  through  January,  February,  and 
March.  Let  us  look  at  all  sides  of  the 
picture.  Factors  for  consideration  are: 
increased  shrinkage,  sprouting,  spring 
work  getting  under  way,  early  potatoes 
on  the  market  from  the  Southern  States, 
and  old  stock  from  the  Northern  States 
taking  preference  on  the  markets  due  to 
superior  market  condition.  Growers 
with  good  storage  can  take  exception 

{Continued  on  page  18) 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January,  1940 


January,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


THE  GUIDE  POST 

Published  monthly  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Cooperative  Potato  Growers,  Inc.  - 


OFFICERS 

P.  Daniel  Frantz,  Coplay President 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  Emlenton,  Vice-Pres. 

E.  B.  Bower,  Bellefonte, 

Sec'y-Treas.  and  Gen.  Mgr. 


DIRECTORS 

Jacob  K.  Mast Elverson,  Chester 

P.  Daniel  Frantz Coplay,  Lehigh 

L.  O.  Thompson. .  .New  Freedom,  York 

John  B.  Schrack Loganton,  Clinton 

Roy  R.  Hess Stillwater,  Columbia 

Ed.  Fisher Coudersport,  Potter 

J.  C.  McClurg Geneva,  Crawford 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.l,  Emlenton,  Venango 

Evan  D.  Lewis 

R.  5,  Johnstown,  Cambria 

Annual  membership  fee  $1.00.  This  in- 
cludes the  Guide  Post. 

All  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary-Treas- 
urer and  General  Manager,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania. 


1940 

We  all  have  an  equal  partnership 
with  time.  Let  us,  in  the  New  Year,  do 
our  portion  toward  making  the  partner- 
ship successful. 

Let  us  maintain  an  open  mind,  but 
not  so  open  that  convictions  go  out  as 
fast  as  they  come  in. 


The  annual  meeting  of  the 
members  of  the  Pennsylvania  Co- 
operative Potato  Growers'  Associ- 
ation, Incorporated  will  be  held  in 
Room  F,  Farm  Show  Building, 
Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania  on 
Tuesday  Morning,  January  16, 
1940  at  9:00  o'clock. 

All  Association  members  are 
urgently  requseted  to  be  present. 

E.  B.  BOWER,  Secretary. 


TAKING  INVENTORY 

In  this  month  of  January  most  of  us, 
by  fixed  habit,  take  an  inventory  of 
stock  in  hand,  strike  a  balance  between 
Assets  and  Liabilities,  and  call  the  dif- 
ference Net  Worth. 

The  Net  Worth  of  the  individual,  in 
terms  of  today,  is  recorded  by  the  serv- 
ice he  is  rendering  to  the  human  beings 
about  him. 

A  thousand  years  ago  a  man's  idea  of 
upright  life  was  the  saving  of  his  own 
soul,  and  the  farther  from  his  kind  he 
went,  the  farther  from  normal  human 
activities  he  removed  himself,  and  the 
more  cussedly  worthless  he  made 
himself,  the  more  he  was  looked  up  to. 

But  even  in  that  day  there  were  men 
impelled  by  the  Divinely  human  instinct 
to  do  things — and  who  left  implanted  in 
those  with  whom  they  came  in  contact, 
the  thought  of  a  more  lasting  good  than 
things  of  the  flesh. 

These  were  the  men  who  carried  on 
the  race.  Today's  ideal  of  usefulness  as 
a  standard  of  human  efficiency  is  the 
result  of  evolution  —  the  survival  of 
those  who  have  held  the  fittest  ideals. 

So  the  man  who  takes  inventory  of 
his  character  resources  in  the  year  of 
grace  1940  will  reckon  his  Net  Worth  in 
terms  of  his  value — not  to  his  own  self- 
ishness, not  to  the  selfish  saving  of  his 
soul — but  the  value  of  his  activities  to 
his  fellow-citizens. 

He  will  say  to  himself:  "Am  1  living 
the  life  of  a  healthy  animal  to  give  my 
nervous  system  suffient  staying  power? 
Am  I  getting  up  enough  steam  in  the 
boiler  to  deliver  power  at  the  draw- 
head? 

"Do  I  look  upon  my  work  as  an  oppor- 
tunity to  express  myself  in  terms  of  pro- 
ductiveness, or  as  a  means  of  keeping 
me  and  my  family  out  of  the  poor  house? 
Is  it  merely  the  spoon  wherewith  I  feed 
myself,  or  is  it  a  trowel  used  in  building 
my  character  into  the  great  House  of 
Humanity?  Will  those  who  come  after 
me  work  better,  more  happily  and  effi- 
ciently through  ways  I  have  discovered? 
Will  my  task  hereafter  be  held  in  higher 
respect  because  I  did  it  nobly?" 

"Do  I  'fill  the  unforgiving  minute  with 
sixty  seconds  worth  of  distance  run?' 
Am  I  giving  humanity  'Value  Received' 
for  all  it  has  given  me,  by  direct  inheri- 
tance in  health,  intellect  and  capacity, 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


POTATO  CHIPS 


Farm  Show  time  again,  and  as  usual, 
the  potato  industry  will  take  a  foremost 
part  as  one  of  the  principal  agricultural 
enterprises  of  one  of  the  largest  agricul- 
tural states  at  the  world's  largest  indoor 
exposition.  Because  it  has  been  an  off- 
year  for  Pennsylvania  potato  produce 
tion,  should  not  appreciably  alter  the 
quality  of  and  interest  in  the  exhibits 
and  meetings  arranged  oy  Pennsylvania 
growers. 

O 

A  new  record  in  hunting  licenses  was 
made  in  the  State  during  the  past  deer 
season  when  175,000  sportsmen  laid 
down  enough  of  the  filthy  green  for  a 
chance  to  shoot  or  to  be  shot  at.  Coud- 
ersport, in  the  heart  of  Potter  County, 
famous  for  deer  as  well  as  for  spuds, 
was  actually  overrun  with  hunters. 
Additional  lodgings  could  not  be  found 
within  25  miles  of  the  town.  Many 
potato  growers  were  successful  in  secur- 
ing their  raw  meat  on  the  hoof  but 
others  returned  home  with  nothing  but 
the  experience. 

There  may  be  others  who  did  just  as 
well,  but  at  least,  we  know  of  three 
Pennsylvania  growers  who  during  re- 
cent weeks  have  shipped  Blue  Labels  of 
exceptionally  high  quality.  The  grow- 
ers who  rate  this  month's  honorable 
mention  are  R.  W.  Lohr,  of  Boswell, 
Evon  Abraczinskas,  of  Catawissa,  and 
Jacob  Mast,  of  Elverson. 

The  following  editorial  from  a  leading 
Pennsylvania  newspaper  has  nothing  to 
do  with  spuds,  but  is  of  interest  to  all 
who  love  the  Keystone  State:  "Penn- 
sylvania's government,  which  is  spend- 
ing oodles  each  year  to  attract  tourists, 
persists  in  defeating  this  effort  by  splat- 
tering its  own  billboards  all  over  the 
Commonwealth.  It's  latest  offense  is  to 
promote  it's  sponsored  Job  Program  by 
using  billboards.  It  has  done  the  same 
thing  in  this  and  earlier  advertisements 
to  "promote"  safety  and  emphasize 
health  precautions.  'The  best  experts  on 
highway  safety  agree  that  the  billboard 
is  safety's  worst  enemy.  Instead  of  en- 
couraging drivers  to  keep  their  eyes  on 
the  highways,  these  billboard  sponsors 
seek  to  divert  the  motorist's  attention. 
This  is  not  the  billboard's  only  offense. 
It  spoils  scenery  for  which  motorists  in 


this  and  other  states  go  miles  to  see  and 
it  disfigures  countryside  and  mountain. 
Government  should  be  the  very  last  to 
be  engaged  in  such  an  enterprise,  no 
matter  how  admirable  it's  particular 
cause  may  be." 

O 

'Tis  said  there  are  many  lots  of  po- 
tatoes in  Pennsylvania  cities  being 
tagged  "Unclassified"  since  the  State 
enforcement  men  have  been  active. 
Many  of  these  are  out-of-state  spuds 
too,  since  the  present  interpretation  of 
the  Marking  Law  puts  the  responsibility 
on  the  dealers  who  offer  for  sale  or  sell 
potatoes  improperly  marked. 

And  speaking  of  quality  reminds  me 
that  in  all  my  days  I  never  recall  a  sea- 
son when  the  market  quality  (including 
small  size)  was  as  bad  as  the  1939  crop, 
over  the  entire  Eastern  United  States. 
It's  my  belief  that  the  price  level  would 
be  considerably  higher  right  now  if  it 
were  not  for  the  large  volume  of  off- 
grades  and  Size  B  tubers  which  have 
flooded  principal  markets  since  harvest. 

O 

Regardless  of  whether  you  are  figur- 
ing the  market  value  of  tobacco,  pota- 
toes, eggs,  pumpkins,  cocoanuts  or 
"what  have  you"  there  are  two  sets  of 
factors  which  determine  this  value, 
neither  of  which  can  be  denied  or  laugh- 
ed off  with  a  jest — appearance  and 
utility.  To  the  grower  who  says  appear- 
ance is  not  a  factor  of  value  because  you 
can't  eat  it,  the  wholesalers,  retailers 
and  consumers  in  no  uncertain  terms 
proclaim  through  decreased  purchasing 
prices,  "Says  you!" 

Few  of  us  realize  how  rapidly  the 
Green  Mountain  has  taken  hold  in  East- 
ern Pennsylvania  in  recent  years,  par- 
ticularly in  Lancaster  and  Chester 
Counties.  Last  season's  crop  was  not  of 
high  quality  because  late  rains  caused 
the  tubers  to  be  rough  in  texture  and 
irregular  in  shape.  However,  the 
Mountains  have  generally  yielded  large 
crops  of  good  quality  and  have  done 
much  to  establish  Eastern  Pennsylvania 
as  a  section  capable  of  producing  qual- 
ity spuds. 

(Continued  on  page  22) 


'.''1^87 


ml-* 


8 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January,  1940 


January,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


9 


TAKING  INVENTORY 

(Continued  from  page  6) 

by  racial  inheritance  in  education,  en- 
vironment and  opportunity?" 

All  of  our  wealthy  heritage  of  finely 
organized  body  and  keenly  intelligent 
mind,  of  opportunity  in  a  highly-organ- 
ized society  with  its  millions  of  chan- 
nels, leading  to  success — we  must  count 
as  Liabilities  until  we  have  converted 
them  into  Assets. 


A  LITTLE  MORE  AND  A 
LITTLE  LESS 

A  little  more  deed  and  a  little  less  creed, 
A  little  more  giving  and  a  little  less 

greed; 
A    little   more   bearing    other   people's 

load. 
A  little  more  Godspeed's  on  the  dusty 

road; 
A  little  more  rose  and  a  little  less  thorn, 
To   sweeten   the   air   for   the   sick   and 

forlorn; 
A  little  more  song  and  a  little  less  glum, 
And  coins  of  gold  for  the  uplift  of  the 

slum; 
A  little  less  kicking   the   man   that   is 

down, 
A   little   more   smile   and    a   little   less 

frown; 
A  little  more  Golden  Rule  in  marts  of 

trade, 
A  little  more  sunshine  and  a  little  less 

shade; 
A  little  more  respect  for  fathers  and 

mothers, 
A   little   less   stepping   on   the   toes   of 

others; 
A  little  less  knocking  and  a  little  more 

cheer, 
For  the  struggling  hero  that's  left  in  the 

rear; 
A  little  more  love  and  a  little  less  hate, 
A  little  more  of  neighborly  chat  at  the 

gate; 
A  li-ttle  more  of  the  helping  hand  by  you 

and  me, 
A  little  less  of  this  graveyard  sentimen- 
tality; 
A  little  more  of  flowers  in  the  pathway 

of  life. 
A  little  less  on  coffins  at  the  end  of  the 

strife. 


KING  SPUD 

"We  praise  all  the  flowers  in  fancy. 

Sip  the  nectar  of  fruit  'ere  they're 
peeled 
Ignoring  the  common  old  'tater 

When,  in  fact,  he's  the  King  in  the 
field. 

Let  us  show  the  old  boy  we  esteem  him. 

Sort  of  dig  him  up  out  of  the  mud: 
Let's  show  him  he  shares  our  affection. 

And  crown  him  with  glory — "King 
Spud!" 


A  JUMP  AHEAD 


A  dollar  pays  membership  in  the 
Association,  and  also  brings  you  month- 
ly the  GUIDE  POST. 


A  candidate  for  the  police  force  was 
being  verbally  examined. 

"If  you  were  by  yourself  in  a  police 
car  and  were  pursued  by  a  desperate 
gang  of  criminals  in  another  car  doing 
40  miles  an  hour  along  a  lonely  road, 
what  would  you  do?" 

The  candidate  looked  puzzled  for  a 
moment.    Then  he  replied,  "Fifty." 

L.  &  N.  Magazine 
See  us  at  the  Farm  Show. 


THE  MARKET  OUTLOOK 


by  the  Observer 


In  the  November  issue  of  the  Guide 
Post  the  "Outlook"  reported  "condi- 
tions indicate  a  steady  market  until  late 
in  the  winter  when  prices  may  advance 
slowly."  As  of  late  December,  the  mar- 
ket has  advanced  during  the  past  two 
months  little,  if  any,  on  hundreds,  and 
only  a  cent  or  two  on  paper  pecks. 

How  do  conditions  shape  up  for  the 
next  several  months,  when  the  market- 
ing of  Pennsylvania  potatoes  will  be 
heavier?  A  few  healthier  factors  are 
entering  the  picture  not  readily  ap- 
parent two  months  ago,  although  con- 
tinued unseasonable  warm  weather  and 
an  oversupply  of  off-grade  supplies  may 
still  have  a  depressing  effect. 

Carlot  shipments,  track  holdings  in 
principal  cities,  and  stocks  in  city  deal- 
er's hands,  have  all  been  light  during 
the  present  marketing  season.  Buyers 
have  bought  on  a  hand-to-mouth  basis, 
a  truck  load  or  two  at  a  time,  rather 
than  many  carloads.  The  extremely 
mild  and  open  winter  from  coast  to 
coast  has  made  conditions  ideal  for  this 
system  of  purchase.  This  slow  demand 
has  been  further  augmented  by  a  U.  S. 
market  which,  for  size,  and  market 
quality  is  reported  to  be  "worse  than 
in  years."  Market  sales  indicate  this 
poor  quality  in  a  greater  than  normal 
spread  between  lowest  and  highest  quo- 
tations. A  difference  of  as  much  as  80c 
to  90c  a  hundred  between  fair  quality 
*'Unclassifieds"  and  best  U.S.  No.  1  stock, 
as  has  been  common  at  Philadelphia  and 
Pittsburgh  this  season,  is  greater  than 
usual.  In  other  words,  high  quality 
packs  are  scarce  and  becoming  more 
scarce,  while  there  continues  to  be  a 
plentiful  supply  of  inferior  packs. 

The  final  government  report  dropped 
the  1939  crop  of  the  30  late  states  a  mil- 
lion bushels  from  the  November  report 
to  297  million  bushels,  only  half  a  mil- 
lion greater  than  the  1938  crop.  When 
one  considers  that  the  market  is  25c  a 
hundredweight  higher  now  than  a  year 
ago,  even  with  a  crop  slightly  larger, 
it  is  apparent  that  there  is  considerable 
underlying  strength  in  the  present  mar- 
ket. With  increased  purchasing  power, 
most  commodity  prices  have  been  ad- 
vancing except  food  stuffs.  It  is  prob- 
able that  prices  of  foods,  including  po- 
tatoes, will  also  strengthen  durmg  the 
coming   months.    A    nation-wide    cold 


wave  of  any  appreciable  duration  would 
not  only  curtail  truck  shipments  to 
strengthen  the  demand,  but  would  also 
increase  consumer  demand. 

Growers  in  all  producing  sections  of 
the  nation  continue  to  hold  for  higher 
prices  than  most  dealers  can  pay  and 
turn  the  stocks  at  a  profit.  As  already 
mentioned,  high  quality  tubers  seem  to 
be  scarce,  and  therefore,  should  warrant 
holding  for  higher  prices  although 
stocks  of  poor  quality  will  not  only  show 
greater  shrinkage,  but  can  be  expected 
to  advance  less  sharply  on  the  strength- 
ening market. 

Therefore,  in  summary,  a  rising  pota- 
to market  seems  more  predictable  than 
a  month  or  two  ago,  particularly  if  cold- 
er weather  develops  and  particularly  for 
well  graded  stock  of  high  quality. 


Fred  Bateman,  Conducts 

Experiments  in  South 

Many  Pennsylvania  potato  growers, 
who  plan  to  travel  South  this  winter  to 
visit  the  various  potato  districts  there, 
will  be  interested  in  observing  some  of 
the  experiments  which  Fred  H.  Bate- 
man,  of  York,  Pennsylvania,  is  conduct- 
ing there,  in  potato  culture. 

Mr.  Bateman  is  now  located  at  Home- 
stead, Florida,  where  he  is  constantly 
in  contact  with  potato  growers  from  all 
parts  of  the  country. 

He  writes  us  that  he  is  looking  for- 
ward to  visits  from  his  fellow  Pennsyl- 
vanians,  all  of  whom  know  him  well  for 
his  work  in  this  State  direct  with  grow- 
ers and  his  adaption  of  his  Iron  Age 
machinery  for  use  on  Pennsylvania 
farms. 


Visitor — "Why  does  the  whistle  blow 
for  a  fire?" 

Got— "It  doesn't  blow  for  the  fire; 
it  blows  for  the  water.  It  already  has 
the  fire." 

U.  S.  S.  Reina  Mercedes  Gallion 

O 

Patronize  your  advertisers. 


10 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January,  1940 


The  Old  Eagle  Tree 


In  a  distant  field,  stood  a  large  tulip 
tree,  apparently  of  a  century's  growth, 
and  one  of  the  most  gigantic.  It  looked 
like  the  father  of  the  surrounding  for- 
est. A  single  tree  of  huge  dimensions, 
standing  all  alone,  is  a  sublime  object. 

Ot  the  top  of  this  tree,  an  old  eagle, 
commonly  called  the  "Fishing  Eagle," 
had  built  her  nest  every  year,  for  many 
years,  and,  undisturbed,  had  raised  her 
young.  A  remarkable  place  to  choose, 
as  she  procured  her  food  from  the  ocean, 
and  this  tree  stood  full  ten  miles  from 
the  seashore.  It  had  long  been  known 
as  the  "Old  Eagle  Tree." 

On  a  warm  sunny  day,  the  workmen 
were  hoeing  corn  in  an  adjoining  field. 
At  a  certain  hour  of  the  day,  the  old 
eagle  was  known  to  set  off  for  the  sea- 
side, to  gather  food  for  her  young.  As 
she  this  day  returned  with  a  large  fish  in 
her  claws,  the  workmen  surrounded 
the  tree,  and,  by  yelling  and  hooting, 
and  throwing  stones,  so  scared  the  poor 
bird  that  she  dropped  her  fish,  and  they 
carried  it  off  in  triumph. 

The  men  soon  dispersed,  but  Joseph 
sat  down  under  a  bush  near  by,  to  watch, 
and  to  bestow  unavailing  pity.  The  bird 
soon  returned  to  her  nest,  without  food. 
The  eaglets  at  once  set  up  a  cry  for 
food,  so  shrill,  so  clear,  and  so  clamorous 
that  the  boy  was  greatly  moved. 

The  parent  bird  seemed  to  try  to 
soothe  them;  but  their  appetites  were 
too  keen,  and  it  was  all  in  vain.  She 
then  perched  herself  on  a  limb  near 
them,  and  looked  down  into  the  nest  in 
a  manner  that  seemed  to  say,  "I  know 
not  what  to  do  next." 

Her  indecision  was  but  momentary; 
again,  she  poised  herself,  uttered  one  or 
two  sharp  notes,  as  if  telling  them  to 
"lie  still,"  balanced  her  body,  spread  her 
wings,  and  was  away  again  for  the  sea. 

Joseph  was  determined  to  see  the  re- 
sult. His  eye  followed  her  'till  she  grew 
small,  smaller,  a  mere  speck  in  the  sky, 
and  then  disappeared.  What  boy  has 
not  thus  watched  the  flight  of  the  bird 
of  his  country! 

She  was  gone  nearly  two  hours,  about 
double  her  usual  time  for  a  voyage, 
when  she  again  returned,  on  a  slow, 
weary  wing,  flying  uncommonly  low,  in 
order  to  have  a  heavier  atmosphere  to 
sustain  her,  with  another  fish  in  her 
talons. 


On  nearing  the  field,  she  made  a  cir- 
cuit round  it,  to  see  if  her  enemies  were 
again  there.  Ending  the  coast  clear,  she 
once  more  reached  the  tree,  drooping, 
faint,  and  weary,  and  evidently  nearly 
exhausted.  Again  the  eaglets  set  up 
their  cry,  which  was  soon  hushed  by  the 
distribution  of  a  dinner,  such  as,  save 
the  cooking,  a  king  might  admire. 

"Glorious  bird,"  cried  the  boy,  "what 
a  spirit!  Other  birds  can  fly  more  swift- 
ly, others  can  sing  more  sweetly,  others 
scream  more  loudly;  but  what  other 
bird,  when  persecuted  and  robbed,  when 
weary,  when  discouraged,  when  so  far 
from  the  sea,  would  do  this? 

"Glorious  bird!  I  will  learn  a  lesson 
from  thee  today.  I  will  never  forget, 
hereafter,  that  when  the  spirit  is  de- 
termined it  can  do  almost  anything. 
Others  would  have  dropped,  and  hung 
the  head,  and  mourned  over  the  cruelty 
of  man,  and  sighed  over  the  wants  of  the 
nestlings;  but  thou,  by  at  once  recover- 
ing the  loss,  hast  forgotten  all. 

"I  will  learn  of  thee,  noble  bird!  I 
will  remember  this.  I  will  set  my  mark 
high.  I  will  try  to  do  something,  and  to 
be  something  in  the  world;  I  will  never 
yield  to  discouragements." 


Every  life  is  its  own  excuse  for  being, 
and  to  deny  or  refute  the  untrue  things 
that  are  said  of  you  is  an  error  of  judg- 
ment. All  wrong  recoils  upon  the  doer, 
and  the  man  who  makes  wrong  state- 
ments about  others  is  himself  to  be 
pitied,  not  the  man  he  vilifies.  It  is 
better  to  be  lied  about  than  to  lie.  At 
the  last  no  one  can  harm  us  but  our- 
selves. 


He 


s> 


No  man  lives  without  jostling  and 
being  jostled;  in  all  ways  he  has  to  elbow 
himself  through  the  world,  giving  and 
receiving  offense. 

— Carlyle 


A  FOUR  SIDED  FIGURE 

Wife:  "You  know,  I  suspect  that  my 
husband  has  a  love  affair  with  his  sten- 
ographer." 

Maid:  "Oh!  I  donH  believe  it.  You 
are  only  saying  that  to  make  me  jeal- 


ous. 


>> 


L.  &  N.  Magazine. 


January,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


11 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 


by  Inspector  Throwout 


Befo^^^  t^^  same  wind  two  ships  pass, 
one  going  one  way,  and  one  the  other. 
You  cannot  control  the  winds,  but  you 
can  control  the  rudder,  and  it  is  the  rud- 
der that  counts. 

4i       «       « 

An  elderly  pair  were  making  their 
first  visit  to  a  New  York  playhouse. 

"Well,  Sarah,"  remarked  the  old  gen- 
tleman, at  the  conclusion  of  the  first  act, 
"don't  you  think  we'd  better  be  a- 
leavin?" 

"Why,  no,  Hiram!  The  show  ain't  half 
over  yet." 

"Well,  it  says  on  this  here  program 
that  three  days  elapse  between  the  first 
and  second  acts,  and  I'm  darned  if  I  want 
to  set  here  that  long." 

♦        «         4( 

Figure  it  out — and  see 

If  twelve  persons  were  to  agree  to 
dine  together  every  day,  but  never  sit 
exactly  in  the  same  order  around  the 
table,  it  would  take  them  13,000,000 
years  at  the  rate  of  one  dinner  a  day,  and 
they  would  have  to  eat  more  than  379,- 
000,000  dinners  before  they  could  get 
through  all  the  possible  arrangemnts 
in  which  they  could  place  themselves. 

•     •     • 

"Mary,"  said  the  head  of  the  house  one 
morning,"!  called  Jimmy  four  times  and 
he  didn't  answer,  so  I  turned  down  the 
covers  on  his  bed  and  gave  him  a  good 
spanking." 

"Oh,  John,  how  could  you?  That 
means  I'll  be  hunting  for  a  new  cook!" 

"How's  that?" 

"Jimmy  stayed  all  night  at  Smith's 
and  the  cook  slept  in  his  bed  last  night." 

Hi         *         * 

"Now,  professor,  you  have  heard  my 
daughter  sing;  tell  me  what  I  ought  to 
do  with  her?" 

"Sir,  if  I  told  you  what  you  ought  to 
do  with  her  the  law  would  hold  me  as 
an  accessory." 

>:!       >:<       >:« 

Marks— "Why  do  you  allow  your  wife 
to  run  up  such  big  bills?" 

Parks  —  "Because  I'd  sooner  have 
trouble  with  my  creditors  than  with  her 
—that's  why." 


Put  away  $1.37  each  day  with  com- 
pound interest  and  in  50  years  you  will 
have  $145,000.00 


>!t 


3!t 


Winks  (sitting  in  a  game  of  poker)  — 
"If  I  win  tonight  I'm  going  to  buy  my 
wife  the  latest  fad  in  furniture." 

Blinks— "What  is  that?" 

Winks — "A  tango  dresser." 

Blinks— "What  is  it  like?" 

Winks — "All  legs  and  no  drawers." 


«     « 


A  few  conquer  by  fighting  but  it  is 
well  to  remember  that  more  battles  are 
won  by  submitting. 


<( 


sH 


* 


Dont'  kick — 

When  you  get  a  bad  shave  or  haircut. 
Neither  lasts  long. 

When  you  have  a  bad  meal  set  before 
you.  You  may  get  over  it  before  the  next 
meal,  even  if  you  eat  it,  and  you  don't 
have  to  eat  it. 

When  you  find  you're  going  to  die 
poor.  They  haven't  begun  making  pock- 
ets in  shrouds  yet. 

When  your  health  goes  back  on  you. 
Life  isn't  very  long  anyway,  and  a 
healthy  man  dies  just  as  dead  as  a  sick 
one. 

When  you  discover  a  mean  streak  in 
your  neighbor.  He  has  to  stay  with  that 
mean  streak  day  and  night,  and  you 
don't. 

When  you  can't  pay  all  your  debts  at 
once.  Y'our  creditors  would  a  great  deal 
rather  get  the  money  in  driblets  than 
not  at  all. 

When  your  wife  isn't  in  a  good  humor. 
She  is  partially  balancing  the  books 
against  some  of  your  numerous  disa- 
greeable spells  that  you  never  make 
note  of. 

When  you  are  caught  by  a  swindler. 
It  is  merely  proof  that  you  need  some 
information  and  wisdom  that  he  was 
willing  and  able  to  sell  you  at  his  own 
price. 

When  you  find  that  you  can't  have 
everything  your  own  way.  If  you  were 
to  get  all  you  think  you  want  you'd 
find  you  wanted  just  that  much  more. 

(Continued  on  page  22) 


r 


12 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January,  1940 


The  Fight  Against  the  Potato 


What  would  we  do  without  the 
potato?  None  is  so  poor  that  he  cannot 
afford  to  eat  it.  None  is  so  rich  that  he 
can  afford  to  distain  it.  If  all  the  potato 
plants  of  Europe  should  suddenly  per- 
ish and  prove  irreplaceable,  a  large 
part  of  the  population  would  have  to 
starve  or  emigrate. 

Yet,  the  people  fought  the  potato  as 
though  it  were  the  plague  when  it  was 
first  introduced  into  Europe.  They  were 
used  to  the  plague  and  regarded  it  as 
proper  punishment  for  their  sins,  but 
the  potato,  coming  from  the  wild  west 
of  America,  was  new,  and  therefore  to 
be  feared. 

Sir  Francis  Drake  is  supposed  to  have 
brought  the  potato  to  England  in  1586, 
having  perhaps  taken  the  tubers  in  the 
course  of  one  of  his  privateering  cruises, 
from  some  Spanish  vessel,  together  with 
other  less  valuable  booty,  such  as  gold 
and  gems.  Anyhow,  he  is  credited  with 
it  by  the  Germans,  who  erected  a  monu- 
ment in  his  honor  at  Offenburg  in  1845, 
and  struck  off  a  memorandum  for  the 
British  admiral  as  the  savior  of  Ger- 
many in  1916,  when  a  big  potato  crop 
enabled  them  to  hold  out  another  year. 

But  such  honors  always  come  by  slow 
freight.  It  took  people  a  hundred  years 
or  more  to  learn  that  potatoes  were  good 
for  them  to  eat.  In  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury they  fed  them  to  their  pigs  and 
cattle,  which,  not  having  the  prejudices 
of  rational  men,  took  them  readily.  The 
Germans  then  fed  their  prisoners  of 
war  on  potatoes,  and  it  happened  that 
one  of  the  men  was  a  French  chemist, 
Parmentier,  who,  having  been  captured 
in  1758,  was  held  a  prisoner  in  Hanover 
for  five  years  and  had  to  live  largely  on 
potatoes.  One  would  have  thought  he 
would  have  acquired  a  distaste  for  them, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  when  he  was  re- 
leased, he  urged  his  countrymen  to 
cultivate  the  potato  as  a  vegetable  thai 
"in  Times  of  Necessity  can  be  substi- 
tuted for  Ordinary  Food."  But  the 
French,  even  though  starving,  would  not 
eat  potatoes,  until  finally  Parmentier 
persuaded  the  king  and  queen  to  taste 
some  and  wear  a  bouquet  of  the  blos- 
soms. The  people,  seeing  that  the  king 
and  queen  were  not  poisoned,  consented 
to  sample  them  for  themselves. 

In  1728,  an  attempt  was  made  to  intro- 
duce potatoes  into  Scotland  but   they 


were  denounced  from  the  pupit  on  two 
contradictory  counts:  that  they  were 
not  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  and  so  not 
fit  food  for  Christians,  and  that  they 
were  forbidden  fruit,  the  cause  of 
Adam's  fall.  They  were  accused  of 
causing  leprosy  and  fever. 

In  England  the  effort  of  the  Royal 
Society  to  promote  the  cultivation  of 
the  potato  was  suspected  to  be  a  con- 
spiracy of  capitalists  to  oppress  the 
poor.  The  labor  leader,  William  Cor- 
bett  said,  *'It  has  become  of  late  the 
fashion  to  extol  the  virtues  of  potatoes 
as  it  has  been  to  admire  the  writing  of 
Milton  and  Shakespeare,"  and  he  de- 
clared the  working-men  ought  not  to 
be  induced  to  live  on  such  cattle  food. 

When  the  British  army  was  sent  to 
fight  in  Flanders— not  in  1914,  but  a 
hundred  years  before— they  acquired 
two  shocking  habits:  they  learned  to 
eat  potatoes:  The  monks  of  Bruges 
had  introduced  potato  cultivation  by 
compelling  their  tenants  to  pay  part  of 
their  dues  in  potatoes.  The  farmers, 
seeing  that  the  monks  throve  on  them 
began  to  save  out  some  of  the  crop  for 
their  own  use. 

In  Germany,  our  own  Benjamin 
Thompson,  having  become  Count  Rum- 
ford,  in  Bavaria,  undertook  to  clean  the 
beggars  out  of  Munich.  When  he  had 
rounded  them  up  he  had  to  feed  them, 
and  being  a  student  of  dietetics,  he  de- 
cided that  potato  soup  was  the  cheapest 
and  most  nutritious  food  he  could  find. 
But  he  had  to  smuggle  the  potatoes  into 
the  kitchen  secretly;  otherwise  he  would 
have  had  a  hunger  strike  in  the  poor- 
house. 

And  so,  thanks  to  the  initiative  of 
scientists,  kings  and  monks,  and  to  the 
involuntary  assistance  of  pigs,  prisoners, 
and  paupers,  the  world  got  the  inestim- 
able benefit  of  potatoes. 

I  wonder  what  we  are  fighting  today 
as  wrong-headedly  and  vainly  as  pota- 
toes were  fought  by  our  forefathers? 

— taken  from  *'Chats  on  Science'' 
hy  Edwin  E.  Slosson,  Ph.  D. 

— Contributed  hy  J,  A.  Donaldson, 


PLENTY  OF  POTASH 


Many  potato  growers  will  recall  the  critical  shortage  of 
potash  salts  brought  about  by  the  last  war,  when  this  coun- 
try was  dependent  upon  importations  which  were  sud- 
denly and  completely  terminated.  The  situation  is  now 
radically  different.  Potash  supplies  are  adequate.  Dur- 
ing the  intervening  years,  discovery  of  potash  deposits  in 
this  country  has  led  to  the  development  of  a  domestic 
industry  capable  of  expansion  to  meet  the  requirements  of 
American  agriculture. 

Make  sure  that  your  1940  potato  fertilizers  contain 
plenty  of  potash.  Potatoes  are  greedy  feeders  on  this  plant 
food.  They  remove  from  the  soil  more  potash  than  nitro- 
gen and  phosphoric  acid  combined.  For  a  good  crop,  soil 
and  fertilizer  must  supply  at  least  200  lbs.  of  available 
potash  (KoO)  per  acre. 

Ask  your  county  agent  or  experiment  station  how  much 
your  soil  will  supply.  Your  fertilizer  dealer  or  manufac- 
turer will  tell  you  how  little  it  will  cost  to  make  up  the 
difference. 


Renew  Your  membership. 


Write  us  for  free  information  and 
literature  on  the  profitable  fertiliza- 
tion of  other  crops. 


American  Potash  Institute,  Ina 

Washington,  D.  C. 


Investment  Building 


^MSPS^""^^ 


14 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January,  1940 


State's  High  Yield  for  1939 


^.4 


Above  is  shown  a  porlion  of  the  Champion  yield  acre  of  potatoes  grown  by  John  J. 
Daniel,  head  farmer  at  the  Hershey  Industrial  School,  Hershey,  Pennsylvania,  in 
Dauphin  County,  and  left  to  right,  Mr.  Daniel,  Dauphin  County  Agent,  A.  S.  Fro- 
mbeyer,  and  Henry  Hitz.  ^  ,      ,    j  i. 

This  acre  produced  687.5  bushels  of  fine  quality  Green  Mountains,  as  checked  by 

Mr.  Frommeyer.  ,  ,         ,  ,         ,     ..       x- 

This  acre  was  planted  double  row,  6"x8"x30  ,  and  was  broadcasted  at  planting  time 
with  600  pounds  of  7 — 21 — 21  fertilizer.   Three  additional  applications  of  200  pounds 

each  of  7 21 — 21  fertilizer  were  added  during  the  growing  seasons. 

It  was  sprayed  weekly  with  4 — 4 — 50  Bordeaux,  and  was  irrigated  after  July  1st. 
This  yield  is  outstanding — not  only  for  this  year  in  Pennsylvania,  but  is  proof  of 
what  CAN  be  done  in  potato  culture. 


BUY  A  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER  THAT 
CLEANS  POTATOES  AS  IT  GRADES . . . 

The  Bean  Rubber  Spool  Grader  is  the  Rubber  Spool  Grader  that  cleans 
while  it  grades.  The  rubber  spools  or  spines  on  the  grading  spools  do  a  good 
job  of  cleaning  your  potatoes.  At  the  same  time  these  spines  add  much  to 
the  sizing  accuracy  when  compared  to  smooth  spools.  There  is  no  substitute 
for  the  accuracy,  cleaning  and  gentle  handling  of  potatoes  of  the  Bean  Rub- 
ber Spool  Grader. 


The  Bean  Rubber  Spool  combined  Grader  and  Cleaner  is  made  in 

ihree  sizes 

1.  No.  102  Hand— 100  to  150  bu.  per  hour. 

2.  No.  103  Intermediate— 150  to  250  bu.  per  hour. 

3.  No.  203  Warehouse — 400  to  500  bu.  per  hour. 
One  of  the  above  models  will  meet  any  requirement. 

ELEVATORS,  SORTING  TABLES,  BAGGERS 
Bean  offers  a  complete  line  of  wood  roller  elevators,  rubber  roll  clean- 
ing elevalors,  various  lengths  and  widths  of  wood  roller,  ^^^ber  roller  or 
rubber  belt  sorting  tables  and  regular  2  or  4  bag  baggers  or  15  and  60  pound 
paper  baggers. 

PENNSYLVANIA  GROWERS  APPROVE  THE 

BEAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  POTATO  GRADER 

Because  of  the  speed  and  accuracy  and  gentle  handling  of  potatoes 

over  the  Bean  Rubber  Spool  Grader  the  growers  of  Pennsylvania  accept 

till  Ihl  final  word  in  potato  grading  for  accurate  clean  packages  of  pota- 

toes  that  sell. 

ASK  FOR  1939  POTATO  GRADER  CATALOG  NO.  GP. 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co. 


Division  Food  Machinery  Corporation 


LANSING 


MICHIGAN 


V 


16 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January,  1940 


PROGRAM 


Twenty-third  Annual  Meeting 


of  the 


Pennsylvania  Cooperative  Potato  Growers' 
Association,  Incorporated 

(Room  F,  Farm  Show  Building) 


HARRISBURG,  PENNSYLVANIA 
JANUARY,  15-19,  1940 


Tuesday  Morning,  January  16,  1940. 

9:00  A.M.  Annual  Meeting  of  the  membership  of  the  Association. 
Room  F,  Farm  Show  Building. 

Tuesday  Afternoon,  January  16,  1940. 

Room  F,  Farm  Show  Building. 

1:30  P.M.  President's  Address  —  Accomplishments  of  the  Associ- 
ation—P.  Daniel  Frantz. 

a.  Projecting  the  Future  —  J.  A.  Donaldson,  Vice- 
President. 

b.  Round  Table  Discussion  on  Potato  Equipment.  — 
Prof.  R.  U.  Blasingame,  Head,  Department  of  Agri- 
cultural Engineering,  The  Pennsylvania  State 
College. 

Tuesday  Evening,  January  16,  1940. 

Farm  Show  Building  Cafeteria. 

6:30  P.M.  Potato  Growers'  Banquet. 

Toastmaster,  Miles  Horst,  Field  Editor,  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Farmer,  Palmyra,  Penna. 

a.  Fun  and  Frivolity 

b.  Presentation  of  Medals  of  Award  and  Certificates 
of  Merit. 

c.  Presentation  of  400-Bushel  Club  Medals. 

d.  Address  —  Hon.  Robert  R.  Lewis,  President  Judge, 
55th  Judicial  District,  Coudersport,  Penna. 


January,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


17 


Wednesday  Morning,  January  17,  1940. 

Room  F,  Farm  Show  Building. 

9:30  A.M.  Marketing. 

Discussion  Leader,  L.  Wayne  Arny,  James  G.  Lamb 
Company,  Advertising,  Philadelphia,  Penna. 

a.  C.  F.  H.  Wuesthoff,  Vocational  Agricultural  Super- 
visor, Warren,  Penna.  —  Informal  discussion. 

b.  R.  W.  Lohr,  Grower  and  Association  Contact  Man, 
Boswell,  Penna.  —  Informal  Discussion. 

c.  J.  C.  Jacobsen,  Farm  Machinery  Dealer,  Girard, 
Penna.  —  Informal  Discussion. 

d.  Address  —  C.B.  Denman,  National  Association  of 
Food  Chains,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Wednesday  Afternoon,  January  17,  1940. 

Room  F,  Farm  Show  Building. 

1:30  P.M.    Round  Table. 

Discussion  Leader,  L.  T.  Denniston,  Association  Field 
Representative. 

Topics  Pertinent  to  the  Potato  Industry. 

a  WHAT  VARIETY  SHOULD  WE  PLANT?  Is  the 
Russet  On  the  Way  Out?  Is  the  Katahdin  the 
Answer?    Seed  Sources.    New  Seedling  Varieties. 

b.  STOPPING  SOIL  EROSION.  Strip  Farming  for 
Potatoes.  Rotations.  Soil  Building  versus  Soil 
Depleting  Crops.  New  Cover  Crops.  Trends  in 
Fertilizers  and  Fertilization  of  Potatoes. 

c  ADAPTING  CULTURAL  PRACTICES  TO  NEW 
VARIETIES.  When  and  How  to  Plant.  The  1940 
Spray  Program.  Cultivation  When  Dry  and  During 
Heat  Periods. 

d.  NEW  IDEAS  IN  STORAGE  CONSTRUCTION. 
Preventing  Mechanical  Injuries.  New  Ideas  in 
Grades,  Grading  and  Packaging.  Future  Packages 
for  Potatoes.  Satisfied  Customers.  How  to  Get  the 
Greatest  Percent  of  the  Consumers'  Dollar. 

These  and  other  vital  problems  confronting  the 
grower  and  the  industry  will  be  discussed.  Growers, 
men  from  The  Pennsylvania  State  College,  the 
State  Department  of  Agriculture,  and  Representa- 
tives of  other  public  and  private  agencies  are  invited 
to  participate  in  the  discussion. 

Do  you  know  that  a  dollar  pays  a  membership  in  the  Association,  — 
and  you  get  the  GUIDE  POST  too? 


*r 


18 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January.  19*0 


THINK  AND  ACT 

(Continued  jrom  page  5) 
and   market   in   competition   with   tlie 
Northern  stock  on  equal  footmg. 

There  is  every  indication  that  a  lot 
of  potatoes  in  common  storage  will  be 
sprouting  freely  by  January  or  Febru- 
ary.  This  can  be  attributed  to  the  hot 
weather  during  the  latter  Part^  he 
growing  season,  warm  fall  and  digg  ng 
season,  and  moderate  weather  during 
the  early  winter.  Serious  shrinkage  on 
<;iich  stock  will  set  in  earlier  than  usual 
and  sprouting  means  extra  labor  in  con- 
ditioning and  grading  for  market. 

These  are  my  personal  views  on  this 
situation.    I  welcome  an  fxp'ression^f 
views  held  by  others  on  this  very  im 
portant  question. 

WIRE  WORMS,  SCAB,  STEM  END 
ROT  AND  MUD:  I  have  worked  on  the 
Sng  of  a  good  number  of  fine  crop 
in  recent  weeks  where  the  ]ob  of  grad 
ng  and  making  a  good  pack  has  been 
made  difficult  by  dumping  a  load  or  two 
ofThe  crop  injured  by  wire  worms,  scab, 
stem  end  rot  or  plastered  with  mud  into 
Sin.  This  could  have  been  avoided  a 
Hiosine  time.    I  know  of  one  car  tnai 
wffrelected  in  the  market  because  the 
Tower  was  compelled  to  finish  the  car 
from  a  part  of  the  bin  where  the  pota- 
loef  showed  one  of  the  above  defects 
Thi<5  was  both  unfortunate  and  costly,  i 
know  of  another  grower  who  lost  a  good 
slle  because  he  had   dumped  several 
loads  of  injured  stock  on  the  face  of  his 
nile    You  can  profit  by  these  costly  ex- 
periences if  you  can  imagine  yourself 
in  their  position. 

THE  POTATO  GROWERS  STA- 
TTONERY-  I  have  hurridly  pulled  out 
of  my  files'a  number  of  letters  that  por- 
tray a  business  side  to  this  jnatter  of 
beine  Potato  Growers.  The  prmtea 
Sings  on  the  letters  I  have  before  me 
are  something  as  follows: 

THE  BROWN  FARM 

Potatoes  and  General  Farm  Products 

New  Bethlehem,  Pa. 

HARMONY  HILL  FARM 

Walter  S.  Bishop 

Doylestown,  Pa. 

THOMAS  S.  BUELL 

Selected  Seed  Potatoes 

■from  the 

Heart  of  Northern  Michigan 

Elmira,  Michigan 


THOMAS  DENNISTON  &  SONS 

Willow  Grove  Farm 

Quality  Potatoes,  Seed  and  Table  Stock 

Slippery  Rock,  Pa. 


BROADACRES 

Inc. 

Producers  of  Produce 

Brookville  Pennsylvania 


MARA  ALVA 

Potato  Farms 

Smithville,  Ohio 


Printed  stationery  is  not  expensive. 
Any  of  these  growers  will  tell  you  that 
it  is  a  great  satisfaction  to  have  and  use 
their  own  letterhead.  A  number  of  those 
above  have  designs  or  cuts  to  portray 
their  farm  or  product,  which  cannot  be 
shown  here  in  print.  Printed  stamped 
envelopes  removes  the  "always  out  ot 
stamps"  problem. 

Why  not  designate  your  Potato  Farm 
as  a  business  enterprise  by  having  an  at- 
tractive printed  stationery?  See  your 
local  printer.  He  will  be  glad  to  help 
you,  and  if  you  know  him  to  be  an  hon- 
est one,  will  not  overcharge  you. 

STEM    END    DISCOLORATION 
FROM  A  MARKETING  VIEWPOINT: 
To  me  this  is  the  most  difficult,  provok- 
ing, tuber  defect  with  which  the  potato 
grower  has  to  contend  in  grading  and 
packing,  whether  it  be  in  Pennsylvania, 
Maine,  Idaho,  or  elsewhere.  It  is  a  hid- 
den  defect  for   which   no   satisfactory 
means  of  detection  or  elimination  has 
been  found.   Some  may  say,  "plant  dis- 
ease free  or  certified  seed  and  you  won  t 
have  it."  Ther  are  many  cases,  where 
the  grower  has  been  using  his  seed  over 
too  long,  where  this  will  suffice.  There 
are  other  growers,  some  of  our  best,  who 
will  testify  that  this  is  not  enough. 

It  is  my  observation  during  the  past 
three  years  of  working  with  growers  in 
grading,  packing,   and  marketing  that 
stem  end  discoloration  and  rot  continues 
to  get  worse  in  storage  each  month  until 
the  potatoes  are  all  out  in  the  spring. 
Some  have  intimated  that  it  is  easier  to 
remove  the  affected  tubers  after  they 
have  been  in  storage  for  a  time  as  the 
ends  will  be  sunken  by  then.   It  is  my 
observation  that  during  the  same  period 
those  tubers  only  slightly  affected  will 
now  be  more  severely  damaged.  So  this 
doesn't  work.  I  have  come  to  the  con- 

(Continued  on  page  20) 


January,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


19 


ON  ALL  COUNTS 

IT'S  MAINE  CERTIFIED  SEED 

QUALITY  IS  THERE:  Proof  of  the  prolific  yields  to  be  expected 
from  Maine  Certified  Seed  Potatoes  is  seen  in  the  fact  that  they  show 
a  producing  average  of  50  bushels  per  acre  above  the  State's  own 
high  tablestock  production. 

VOLUME  IS  THERE:  This  year  22,700  acres  of  Maine  Seed  Pota- 
toes were  Certified  by  the  State  Department  of  Agriculture.  Whether 
your  needs  are  for  bushels  or  carlots,  Maine  Certified  Seed  Shippers 
can  fill  them. 

PROTECTION  IS  THERE:  Two  Department  of  Agriculture  inspec- 
tions of  the  growing  fields,  a  third  at  digging  time,  and  a  fourth  dur- 
ing grading,  give  every  assurance  of  strong,  disease-free  stock. 

EXPERIENCE  IS  THERE:  Maine  adopted  its  Seed  Potato  program 
in  1914.  Thus  for  25  years,  under  the  alert  supervision  of  our  Maine 
Extension  Service  and  the  Maine  Department  of  Agriculture,  Maine 
Seed  Stock  growers  have  developed  an  industry  that  has  grown  to  an 
annual  volume  of  over  5,000  cars  of  America's  finest  seed  stock. 

PERFORMANCE  IS  THERE:  Today  Maine  Seed  Stock  growers 
ship  to  customers  in  23  States  and  to  many  foreign  countries— their 
repeat  orders,  attesting  satisfaction  with  Maine  Seed  Stock. 

VARIETIES  ARE  THERE:  This  year's  avaUable  varieties  include 
Mountains,  Chippewas,  Katahdins,  Bliss,  Spaulding  Rose,  Irish  Cob- 
blers, Russets  and  others. 

THE  SERVICE  IS  THERE:  Inquiries  handled  promptly.  All  orders 
whether  large  or  smaU  given  prompt  shipment.  Allow  2  to  3  days  to 
load  a  car  under  our  watchful  inspection  methods. 


Write  or  wire  for  a  copy  of  "Potatoes  Inspected  and  Certified  in 
Maine.  1939"  with  list  of  Maine  Seed  Potato  Growers.  Copies  of 
Field  Inspection  Reports  also  available  upon  request. 


MAINE  DEVELOPMENT 
COMMISSION 

PRODUCTS  DIVISION 
AUGUSTA,  MAINE 


slP^^i 


tAM^ 


TIFIEO 


SEED 


ot^ 


TOtS 


20 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January,  1940 


T 


THINK  AND  ACT 

(Continued  irom  page  IS) 

elusion,  if  at  all  possible,  when  a  Rrow- 
erer  knows  his  crop  has  a  Percentage  of 
SloTation.  that  he  will  be  b^  te^"^" 
move  it  during  or  as  soon  ajter  oiggins 
as  practical.  I  ^aje  seen  ven.  ^w  cf^^s 
whpre   crops   snowing    ai^v^^*^    ^  ^^r. 
Zonld  not,  at  digging  time  and  for  a  rea- 
Tonable  time  thereafter,  grade  to  a  good 
Commercial  pack    Many  of  these  sam^c 
crops  would  have  to  later  be  pacKea  uu 
classified.  r,,-,T-r< 

r.r,TATO  ACTIVITIES  AT  THE 
FARM  SHOW  AND  HOW  TO  GET  THE 
fi^SiT  OTIT  OF  THEM:  For  the  first 
ETn°the^h?story  of  the  Farm  Show 
wT  have  succeeded  in  gettmg  all  the 
potato   activities  under  one  roof.  The 

%a\^o'nTot^h  ^he^Kc^^tn  k^^nt^^^ 
Ka^Kyc'ationalMeetin^^^^^^^^^ 

rf  Bln^u^et^^Urirbe^M^n  V 
Fa?m  Show  Building.  There  are  many 
reasons  why  this  should  meet  with  the 
hearty  approval  of  all  growers  and  their 

"^  Fh-st  of  all  plan  to  attend  the  Show 
and  renew  you?  acquaintance  with  your 
fallow  growers  from  other  parts  of  the 

State 

Tf  a  member  of  the  State  Potato  Grow- 
„r=  A.,?ociation  by  all  means  attend  the 
Annual  Meeting;  Tuesday  forenoon 
JanuaiT  16th,  and  express  yourself  on 
Se  various  problems  confronting  your 

Association. 

Buv  yourself  a  Pennsylvania  Baked 
Potato  and  tell  your  friends  about  it. 


THIS  MATTER  OF  GRADING  AND 
PUTTING  UP  A  QUALITY  PACK.,  i 
know  of  no  grower  who  has  gwen  mori 
thought  and  who  more  fully  appreciates 
thi^  nroblem  than  President  P.  D. 
FrLntz.  A  number  of  ideas  expressed 
here  were  at  his  suggestion. 

This  machine  we  call  a  "potato  Grad- 
er" is  simply  a  sizer,  not  a  grader. 

In  shovelling  Potatoes  onto  the  grad- 
er remember  you  are  shovelling  pota 
toes  (human  food)  not  coal. 

Check  vour  grader  or  sizer  to  make 
sure  that  the  tubers  are  not  being  in- 
jurld  by  some  sharp  corner,  rolls,  or 
otherwise.  . 

The    Grade    Supervisor    in    charge 
should    familiarize    himself    with    the 
stockpile  (the  potatoes  to  be  graded) , 
should  determine  the  sped   (how  fast 
the  potatoes  are  to  be  fed  onto  the  ma 
chine),  and  how  many  men  (or  women) 
are  to  work  over  the  picking  table    If 
the  scales  for  weighing  are  accurate  and 
have  been  properly  /et   allowing  lor 
shrinkage  we  are  ready  to  begin  aciuai 
gradtg    Grading  is  a  human  eem^^^^^^ 
and  requires  a  good  eye,  .intellisence 
alertness,  speed,  and  consistency.  One 
who  qukkly  tires  and  becomes  careless 
has  no  business  on  the  picking  table.  If 
it  is  found  that  one  man  can  handle  the 
nicking  off  he  should  have  no  other  duty 
what  ever  to  perform.  If  it  requires  two 
men  to  pick  off  neither  of  them  should 
be  cha'^ged  with  any  other  duty.  If  two 
or  more  men  are  required  at  any  par- 
ticular time  on  the  picking  table  on  a 
gfven  run  of  potatoes, tlieir  full  undivid- 
ed attention  is  essential  all  the  time. 


Pav  us  a  call  at  the  Association  Booth 
«nd  direct  other  growers  there  for  Mem- 
berships and  Subscriptions  to  the  Gmde 
Post.  ,,     ^. 

Attend  the  Educational  Meetings 
Tuesday  afternoon  and  all  day  Wed- 
nesday in  Room  F,  Farm  Show  Building, 
Second  Floor. 

The  Banquet  Tuesday  "'ght— A  tur- 
key dinner  on  the  platter  with  all  the 
frimmings.  Plenty  of  fun  and  I  predict 
asC  an  address  as  you  will  hear  dur- 
ing the  entire  week  of  the  Show. 

Take  plenty  of  time  to  study  changes 
and  improvements  in  potato  equipment. 

Finally  watch  your  eats  (  better  eat 
another  Baked  Potato),  your  rest  your 
sleep  and  as  Dr.  Rittenhour  used  to  say 
your  output. 


Be  sure  that  you  have  good  light,  par- 
ticularly over  the  grader  or  sizer. 

It  is  well  to  check  the  scales  occasion- 
ally  especially  when  packing  consumer 
packs.    Dirt,  sitting  unlevel,.  or  rough 
use  often  changes  their  efficiency   The 
man  weighing  has  the  second  most  im- 
portant job  to   the  Grade  Supervisor 
Potatoes  from  storage  that  are  dry  and 
clean  should  be  packed  15  pounds  5  to  7 
ounces,  if  damp  or  slightly  dirty  a  little 
more  tolerance  should  be  allowed-l& 
pounds  9  to  11  ounces   and  if  wet  and 
dirty  they  should  not  be  packed  at  all. 
The  bushel  pack  should  be  weighed  at 
61  pounds. 

Whether  Pecks,  Bushels  or  Hundreds, 
the  pack  should  be  kept  clean  dry,  ancf. 
safe  from  frost  or  freezing  until  deliver- 
(Continued  on  page  22) 


2  Rows  or  10  Rows  . 
Spray  With  a  Har<iie 


-For  Ihe  big  jobs  the  Hardie  Tractor 
Trailers  are  universally  popular. 


-Hardie  combination  row  crop  and 
orchard  sprayers  are  built  in  a  wide 
variety  of  sizes  and  styles. 


Hardie  gives  you  the  most  mod- 
ern sprayer  for  the  job  you 
have  to  do.  The  biggest  outfits 
in  the  fields  are  Hardies.  Hardie 
provides  equally  dependable 
and  efficient  sprayers  for  small 
acreages  and  under  glass  opera- 
tions. Write  for  the  Hardie 
Row  Crop  Catalog  and  learn 
about  up-to-date  row  sprayers. 
Sold  and  serviced  by  leading 
local  dealers  everywhere.  The 
Hardie  Mfg.  Company,  Hudson, 
Mich. 


See  the  Hardies  at  the 
Pennsylvania  Farm  Show 


22 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January.  1940 


THINK  AND  ACT 

(Continued  jrom  page  20) 

ed   to   the  Warehouse,   Store,   or  Con- 
sumer. 

The  Grade  Supervisor  should  use 
every  opportunity,  stopping  the  opera- 
tion occasionally  if  in  doubt,  to  check  a 
few  bags  on  grade,  not  guessing,  but  ac- 
tually weighing  the  tubers  scored  and 
computing  the  percent.  It  requires  very 
few  individual  tubers  to  a  peck  bag  to 
equal  6%. 

If  the  pack  shows  too  much  mechanic  - 
al  injury,  growth  crack,  second  growth, 
or  some  other  discernible  defect  it 
means  those  on  the  sizer  or  picking  table 
should  exercise  more  care.  If  the  pack 
contains  too  high  a  percentage  of  stem 
end  discoloration,  wire  worm,  hollow 
heart  or  some  similar  hidden  defect 
there  is  but  one  thing  to  do,  inform  the 
grower  and  advise  that  the  crop  or  this 
particular  bin  be  packed  in  a  lower 
grade. 


ers  to  the  advantages  of  greater  use  of 
potatoes  in  the  diet.  Only  throng Vf: 
vertising  can  the  potato  industry  hold 
its  own  in  the  terrifPic  struggle  m  the 
food  industries  for  the  consumer  s  dol- 

^^^'  —"Bill  Shakespud" 


"POTATO  CHIPS" 

(Continued  jrom  page  7) 

Kurv  Lauer,  Chief  seed  potato  certi- 
fier, has  recently  issued  a  most  instruc- 
tive report  of  the  1939  certification  in 
Pennsylvania.     Copies  may  be  secured 
free  by  addressing  the  Department  of 
Agriculture,    at    Harrisburg.      Among 
many  interesting  facts  disclosed  in  the 
report,  we  find  that  in  16  counties,  92 
Pennsylvania    growers   had    800    acres 
certified  last  year,  which  yielded  183,- 
166  bushels;  that  8  varieties  were  certi- 
fied of  which  58%  were  Russets,  14% 
Nittanys,    10%    Katahdins,    9%    White 
Rurals,  4%   Penningans,  2%   Bliss,  1% 
Chippewas  and  less  than  1%  Cobblers. 
The   most  significant  fact  disclosed   is 
that  only  slightly  over  half  of  the  pota- 
toes certified  were  Russets,  although  in 
very  recent  years  nearly  all  were  of  that 

variety. 

O- 

Have  previously  mentioned  here  the 
vital  need  for  greater  advertising  of 
potatoes.  Maine  and  Idaho  have  secured 
remarkable  results  through  their  cam- 
paigns. If  each  Pennsylvania  grower 
were  assessed  only  one  cent  a  bushel,  a 
quarter  million  dollar  fund  would  result 
yearly.  This  would  go  a  long  way  to- 
ward educating  Pennsylvania  consum- 


OVER  THE   PICKING   TABLE 

(Continued  jrom  page  11) 

When  the  other  fellow  gets  the  best 
of  the  trade.  Just  think  how  good  the 
other  fellow  must  feel,  and  be  sympa- 
thetically happy. 

When  you  find  that  your  competitor 
is  selling  potatoes  at  a  better  price  than 
you  are.  The  reason  probably  is  that 
"he  packs  his  in  a  Blue  Label  container 
and  you  can  do  the  same. 

<:  *  * 

The  world  is  blessed  most  by  men  who 
do  things,  and  not  by  those  who  merely 

talk  about  them. 

— James  Oliver 


Warning  Against   Mismarking  by 
Potato  Shippers 

Washington,  D.  C,  Dec.  29.— Shippers 
who  mark  and  sell  potatoes  in  interstate 
commerce  as  U.  S.  No.  1  when  they  do 
not  meet  the  requirements  of  the  grade 
are  violating  the  misbranding  provi- 
sions of  both  the  Perishable  Agricul- 
tural Commodities  Act  and  the  Foods, 
Drugs  and  Cosmetic  Act,  the  Agricul- 
tural Marketing  Service  wraned  this 
week. 

It  has  been  called  to  the  attention  of 
the  service  that  some  dealers  quote  mis- 
branded  potatoes  that  have  not  been 
officially  inspected  at  lower  prices  than 
are  being  obtained  for  inspected  stock. 
This  would  seem  to  indicate  that  the 
shippers  in  question  recognize  that  the 
potatoes  do  not  grade  U.  S.  No.  1  al- 
though they  are  so  marked. 

Further  claims  have  been  presented 
that  when  buyers  object  to  the  quality 
of  these  potatoes  upon  arrival,  the  ship- 
pers readily  grant  allowances.  This  is 
an  additional  indication  that  the  ship- 
pers have  little  faith  in  their  potatoes 

(Continued  on  page  26) 


MR.  SPUD  SAYS : 

"I  like  my  food 


GRANULATED 


because  I  can  digest  it  so  easily.  It's 
readily  soluble  —  furnishes  plenty 
of  plantfood  from  infancy  to  ma- 
turity." 


r 


^de  DAVCO  GRANULATED  FERTILIZER 


So  easy  to  apply  -  distributes  uniformly 
Many  members  of  the  Pennsylvania  Potato  Growers'  Association  find 
DAVCO  GRANULATED  ideal  for  growing  Potatoes.  We  hope  others  will 
benefit  this  year  by  using  Davco. 

VISIT  OUR  BOOTH  NO.  449  AT  THE  FARM  SHOW 

The  Davison  Chemical  Corporation 

Baltimore,  Md. 


POTATO  GROWERS  it  pays  to  use  certified  seed 

HIGHER  QUALITY  —  LARGER  YIELDS  —  MORE  PROFIT 


VISIT  OUR 

BOOTH  AT 

THE  FARM 

SHOW 


LOOK  FOR 
THE  SIGN 

OF 
QUALITY 


WE  OFFER  A  DEPENDABLE  SUPPLY  OF  CERTIFIED 

RUSSET  RURALS  IRISH  COBBLERS  g^NT^ACS  ^^"^^^^ 

KATAHDINS  CHIPPEWAS  PONTIACS 

Michigan   Potato  Growers  Exchange,  Inc. 

TWENTY-ONE  YEARS  OF  SUCCESSFUL  POTATO  MARKETING 

^KTNTTT  I.V  MICHIGAN 

CADILLAC 


i;V.^ft 


24 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January,  1940 


Firm  Foundation  for  Farmer  Urged 

Food  Induslry  Nation's  Largest;  Its  Success  Depends  Wholly  on 

Efficiency  of  Demand,  Supply 
By  WILLIAM  PARK— President,  American  Stores  Co. 


As  we  stand  on  the  threshold  of  a  new 
year,  it  is  quite  human  and  natural  to 
face  the  rising  sun  with  renewed  hope, 
courage  and  determination.  It  is  also 
proper  that  we  should  pause  and  look 
back  to  see  if  our  past  activities  have 
contributed  anything  for  the  betterment 
of  our  country  and  its  citizens. 

But  reviewing  our  past  experiences, 
we  are  better  equipped  to  make  practi- 
cal, constructive  plans  for  the  future. 

The  food  industry  is  the  largest  and 
most  important  industry  in  our  Nation. 
Approximately  one-fifth  of  the  gamful- 
ly  employed  population  is  engaged  in 
the  production,  processing,  manufactur- 
ing, transporting  and  selling  of  food 
products. 

As  consumers,  every  man,  woman 
and  child  has  a  vital  interest  in  the  food 
industry.  They  expect  and  have  a  right 
to  demand  that  efficiency  be  practiced 
by  everyone  connected  with  the  indus- 
try. They  expect  foods  to  be  brought 
from  the  producers  to  them  with  the 
smallest  possible  loading  of  expense 
consistent  with  the  high  standard  of 
w^ages  prevailing  in  the  industry. 

The  producer  on  the  other  hand  is 
entitled  to  efficient,  economical  handling 
of  his  products,  and  a  return  which  will 
reimburse  him  for  his  effort. 

America's  greatest  producer  is  the 
farmer.  He  is  the  one  to  whom  we,  in 
the  great  metropolitan  areas,  must  look 
for  food  and  to  a  large  extent  for  cloth- 
ing. He  is  one  of  our  biggest  customers 
and  must  be  prosperous  to  be  a  good 
customer.  Fundamentally  we  realize 
that  the  retail  food  business  depends  on 
general  prosperity,  which  cannot  be 
achieved  without  agricultural  prosper- 
ity. 

All  too  often  when  nature  brings 
abundant  crops  to  farmers,  the  result  is 
disastrous.  Year  aftre  year  emergencies 
have  arisen  in  agriculture  which  des- 
troyed market  valuess  and  lowered  the 
farmer's  income  below  his  cost  of  pro- 
duction. Generally  these  emergencies 
are  the  result  of  abundant  crops  or 
some  situation  which  forces  a  particular 
commodity  on  the  market  more  rapidly 


than  it  can  be  consumed  by  normal  de- 
mand. This  is  a  challenge  to  the  coun- 
try's distribution  system. 

For  many  years  individual  food  chains 
including  the  American  Stores  Co.,  have 
given  aid  to  producers  in  their  own 
operating  territories  to  help  market 
seasonal  surpluses,  but  this  effort  was 
local  and  not  co-ordinated  over  other 
areas. 

Early  in  1936  peach  growers  faced  a 
critical  situation  with  canneries  holding 
inventories  of  six  an  done  half  million 
cases  of  canned  peaches.  Preliminary 
offers  for  the  1936  crop,  because  of  this 
large  carry -ver,  were  $15  a  ton  although 
it  costs  considerably  in  excess  of  this 
figure  to  raise  peaches.  Faced  with  this 
seemingly  certain  loss,  the  peach  grow- 
ers appealed  to  chain  stores  for  help: 
the  only  organized  group  of  distributorc 
they  could  reach  quickly  and  that  offer- 
ed promise  of  assistance. 

The  idea  of  a  co-ordinated  national 
plan  to  aid  agriculture  had  been  con- 
sidered by  chain  operators  for  some 
time.  The  peach  growers'  appeal  pre- 
sented the  opportunity  to  try  it. 
Through  the  National  Association  of 
Food  Chains,  34,000  chain  food  stores 
entered  a  Nation-wide  sales  campaign 
in  April  and  May  of  1936.  The  result 
was  an  increase  in  the  sale  of  canned 
peaches  sufficient  to  liquidate  the  sur- 
plus, a  reduction  of  June  1  inventory  to 
one  of  the  lowest  on  record  and  a  price 
of  $30  per  ton  wsa  paid  farmers  for  their 
new  crops.  Instead  of  certain  losses, 
producers  realized  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  dollars  profit. 

That  was  the  inception  of  the  agricul- 
tural program  of  the  chain  food  stores 
which  has  become  a  permanent  part  of 
their  business  activity.  It  is  a  program 
in  which  the  American  Stores  Co.  has 
co-operated  from  the  start.  We  are 
proud  to  have  been  a  part  in  this  form 
of  practical  farm  relief. 

Since  the  peach  campaign  the  food 
chains  have  co-operated  with  the  agri- 
cultural producers  at  their  request  on 
nearly   100  different  occasions.     Com- 
(Continited  on  page  28) 


USE 

WHITEROGK 

Lime  and  Limestone 

Products  for  all 

AGRICULTURAL 
LIMING  PURPOSES 

Write  for  Prices 
and  Full  Particulars 


Whiterock  Quarries 

Bellefonte,  Pa. 


Seal    of 
Approval 


— since  the  day  of  bustle - 
skirts  and  high-button  shoes, 
Dempwolf  Fertilizers  have 
been  helping  Pennsylvania 
farmers  raise  finer,  money- 
crops. 

In  1940  use  Dempwolf  Fertil- 
izers for  a  better  yield  in 
every  field. 

Send  for  our  new  1940  de- 
scriptive, illustrated  folder. 
It  costs  nothing. 

York  Chemical  Works 

YORK,  PA. 


THE  POTATO  GROWER'S  CHOICE 

Deep  working  teeth,  shaped  to  a  perfect  spiral,  dig  like  a  Pjo^jre^tm^  the  PERFECT  SEED  BED  potato 
growers  like.     Plowed  under  cover  is  shredded  and  strewed  THROUGH  the  plowed  *»^P*h     /he  HI-BAR 
WEED  HOG  creates  a  moisture  reservoir  that  means  money  in  the  hank.     Famous  WHH24   teeth  carrj 
an  unusual  guarantee. 


BABCOCK  HI-BAR  WEED  HOG 

pletelv  FLEXIBLE  tillage  tool  with  extra  high  frame  and  under  slung  tooth  bars      Gives 
e;  freedom  from  clogging:  a  fast,  thorough  worker  that  lowers  field  costs.     See  it  at  the 


Is  a  com 

clearance 

PRODUCTS  SHOW  spaces  106  and  107 


Gives  greater 
FARM 


Only 

BABCOCK 

makes  the 

HI-BAR 

WEED  HOG 


Ask  for  folder 
WH-8 

also 

Babcock 

Remote 

Control 

HD  Spring 

Tooth    Harrow 

and 

Babcock 
High    frame 

SPECIAL 

Spring  Tooth 

Harrojv 


BABCOCK  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

Leonardsville,  New  York 


26 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January,  1940 


JANUARY  IS  THE  MONTH  TO  BOOST 

MEMBERSHIP  DRIVE 
Give  This  Drive  Your  Support! 


The  membership  drive  is  making 
some  little  progress,  and  we  are  looking 
for  some  substantial  results  durmg  the 
current  month. 

Several      fine      contributions      gave 
prompt  replies  to  our  recent  solicitation, 
as  follows: 
A.  T.  Blakeslee,  two  new  members: 

William  Altemose,  Monroe  County 

Russell  Altemose,  Monroe  County 

George  D.  Denninger,  one  new  member: 

Chas.    H.    Anangst,    Northampton 

County 

Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon,  one  new  member: 

Louis  Bailey,  Centre  County 
S.  E.  McCune,  one  new  member: 

E.  B.  Tussing,  Columbus,  Ohio 
Roy  R.  Hess,  one  new  member: 

Chas.  Jessick,  Columbia  County 
Jos.  D.  Young,  one  new  member: 

Harry  Gallant,  Erie  County 
J.  C.  McClurg,  two  new  members: 
Homer  Waring,  Crawford  County 
L.  A.  McMichael,  Crawford  County 

Then  too,  regular  renewals  have  been 
coming'  in  steadily,  including  these  re- 
cent ones: 

T.  McDonald  Patterson,  Lancaster 

rCounty 
Ulysses  L.  Moyer,  Berks  County 
S.  E.  Mc  McCune,  &  Son,  New  Wat- 

erford,  Ohio 
K.  K.  McCreary,  Lawrence  County 
Harwood    Martin,    Honeoye    Falls. 

New  York 
A.  C.  Ramseyer,  Smithville,  Ohio    ^ 
Biron  E.  Decker,  Erie  County 
George  D.  Henninger,  Northampton 

County 
A.  L.  Larson,  McKean  County 
Clark  B.   Moyer,   Northumberland 

County 
Norman  J.  Kline,  Lehigh  County 
Walter  S.  Bishop,  Bucks  County 


David  A.  Miller,  Lehigh  County 
Port  Alleghany,  F.  F.  A.,  McKean 

County 
J.  C.  Brubaker,  Lancaster  County 
W.      O.      Lichtenwalner,      Lehigh 

County 

Very  gratifying  it  is  when  former  old 
members  come  back  to  the  Association 
or  brand  new  ones  join  unsolicited— 
we  had  four  of  these  this  month: 

Wayne  G.  Dubble,  Lebanon  County 
J.  Paul  Kimmel,  Armstrong  County 
John     K.     Heebner,     Montgomery 

County 
Russell  Byler,  Lawrence  County 

All  in  all,  we  are  progressing  but  we 
still  need  a  hand.  Yon't  you  send  in 
your  new  member? 


Warning  Against  Mismarking 
By  Potato  Shippers 

(Continued  from  page  22) 

meeting  the  grade  requirements.  The 
service  warns  such  potato  shippers,  as 
well  as  shippers  of  other  fruits  and  veg- 
etables, that  they  may  expect  disciplin- 
ary action  with  possible  revocation  ot 
their  licenses  if  evidence  of  deliberate 
misbranding  is  obtained.  Action  will 
also  be  taken  against  brokers  who  nego- 
tiate sales  and  make  representations 
that  potatoes  are  of  a  specified  grade, 
when  they  are  aware  that  the  potatoes 
do  not  meet  requirements  of  that  grade. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  have  a  federal- 
state  inspection  certifficate  to  mark  and 
sell  potatoes  as  U.  S.  No.  1,  but  marking 
or  tagging  as  U.  S.  No.  1  when  they  do 
not  make  the  grade  is  not  permissible. 
This  applies  to  both  table  and  seed  stock. 
From  the  nature  of  the  Departments 
announcement,  it  appears  that  it  does 
not  intend  to  clamp  down  on  all  ship- 
ments which  fail  to  make  grade  but  that 
it  does  plan  to  take  action  aaginst  ship- 
pers who  deliberately  misbrand. 


Modern  Marketing  Methods 
Call  for  Paper  Bags 

Attractively  Printed  Bags  Bring  Repeat  Orders 

HAMMOND  Betterbags 

Combine  High  Grade  Printing  with 
Essential  Strength  and  Quality 


Hammond  Bag  &  Paper  Company 
Wellsburg,  W.  Va. 

Paper  Bags  for  Lime,  Limestone,  Fertilizer,  Flour,  Feed  and  Potatoes 


Potato 
Machines 


Make  Money  for  Potato  Growers 

Eureka  Potato  Machines  take  hard  work  out  of  potato  growing. 
Th«y  reduce  time  and  labor  costs.  They  assure  btgger  yields. 


Potato  PUntcr 

One  man  machines 
doing  five  operations  in 
one.  Overtwenty-two 
years'  success. 


Traction  Sprayer 

Insures  the  crop.  Sires. 
4  or  6  rows.  60  to  100 
gallon  tanks.  Many 
stylet  of  booms. 


PoUte  Cutter 

Cuts  uniform  seed. 
Operates  with  both 
har.db  free  for  feed- 
irg, 

Ridinfl  Mulcher 

Brenks  crusts,  mutches  soil,  and 
kills  weeds  when  potato  crop  is 
rcung  and  tender.  8.  10  and  12 
fl.aifcs.  Many  other  uses. with 
Of  without  teedinftattachment 
AH  «•ac^»f.•s  in  •lie*  near  you.  Send  for  complete  cafa/orfuo 


Potato  Digger 

Famous  for  getting  all  the 
potatoes,  separating  and 
standing  hard  use.  With  or 
without  engine  attachment 
or  tractor  attachment. 


Used  by  many 

of  the  most 

successful 

growers  in 

Pennsylvania 

and  elsewhere 


See  our 

display  at 

Harrisburg 

Farm  Show 


BLOCKS 
106  and  107 


EUREKA  MOWER  CO.,  Utica,  New  York 


28 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January,  1940 


\ 


National  Certified  Seed  Potato  Crop  Is  Next  to  Largest 


Government  Estimates  Production  This 

Year  at   13,798  Bushels  Compared 

With  11,262,000  Bushels  Last  Year 


Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.  5.— The  1939 
crop  of  certified  seed  was  the  second 
largest  on  record  and  totaled  13,798,000 
bushels,  the  Agricultural  Marketing 
agencies  in  16  states.  The  record  crop 
was  grown  in  1937,  when  15,485,000 
bushels  were  certified.  The  1938  crop 
of  11,262,000  bushels  was  slightly  be- 
low average.  The  1933-37  average  was 
11,596,000  bushels. 

The  Irish  Cobbler  is  the  most  popu- 
lar, the  figures  show,  about  30  per  cent 
of  the  total  certified  being  this  variety. 
Green  Mountain  was  next  with  21  per 
cent,  followed  by  Bliss  Triumph  with  19 
per  cent.  Other  varieties  with  the  per 
cent  certified  are  as  follows:  Katahdin, 
6  per  cent;  Chippewa,  5  per  cent;  White 
Rose,  4  per  cent;  Netted  Gem,  3  per 
cent;  and  all  others,  12  per  cent. 

Some  of  the  minor  varieties  havo 
made  rapid  gains  in  the  last  year,  how- 
ever. The  largest  increases  over  a  year 
ago  in  the  quantities  certified  were  re- 
ported for  Chippewa,  White  Rose,  and 


FIRM  FOUNDATION 

FOR    FARMER    URGED 

(Continued  from  page  24) 

modities  assisted  cover  every  producing 
area  of  the  country  and  range  from 
citrus  fruits  to  eggs,  domestic  beef  to 
dried  fruits,  turkeys  to  butter. 

The  program  has  been  extended  in 
many  ways.  It  includes  a  plan  to  relieve 
local  or  sectional  distress  where  Nation- 
wide action  is  unnecessary.  For 
example,  our  company  has  co-operated 
with  the  Pennsylvania  potato  growers 
to  market  their  crop  by  selling  Pennsyl- 
vania potatoes  to  consumers  at  reason- 
able prices  for  the  benefit  of  Pennsyl- 
vania producers.  We  have  also  co-oper- 
ated with  the  New  Jersey  Farm  Bureau 
in  helping  to  move  surplus  crops  of 
sweet  potatoes  and  seasonal  vegetables. 

CO-OPERATION  URGED 

The  program  includes  encouragement 
to  farmers  to  form  strong  co-operative 
marketing  associations  in  the  interests 


Katahdin.  The  Chippewa  and  Katahdin 
varieties  are  gaining  in  favor  in  the 
southern  commercial  early  potato  sec- 
tions. 

Production  this  year  in  16  states  ex- 
ceeds that  of  last  year,  whereas  in  ten 
other  states  it  is  smaller.  Increases  in 
the  number  of  bushels  certified  in  1939 
are  by  states  in  the  following  order: 
Maine,  Wyoming,  Colorado,  Nebraska, 
Washington,  South  Dakota,  Oregon, 
New  Jersey,  Vermont,  Pennsylvama, 
Louisiana,  Tennessee,  Wisconsin,  North 
Carolina,  New  Mexico,  and  New  Hamp- 
shire. Decreases  in  1939  occur  in  this 
order:  North  Dakota,  Michigan,  Min- 
nesota, Idaho,  New  York,  Utah,  Mon- 
tana, California,  Maryland  and  Ken- 
tucky. 

It  is  estimated  that  about  18  per  cent 
of  the  1939  production  of  certified  seed 
potatoes  had  been  sold  up  to  December 
1,  compared  with  about  13  per  cent  last 
year  and  about  15  per  cent  in  1937. 

Prices  offered  to  growers  on  Decem- 
ber 1  varied  very  much,  according  to 
varieties  and  states  of  production.  They 
averaged  99c  a  bushel,  compared  with 
85c  last  year  and  63c  in  1937. 


of  better  distribution.  We  also  work 
with  4-H  Clubs  in  our  territory,  those 
fine  groups  of  young  people  who  are 
learning  agriculture  in  practical  ways. 
Last  year  our  company  bought  many 
prize  'cattle  raised  by  4-H  members  as 
an  encouragement  to  them,  paying 
premium  prices  and  featuring  the  meat 
in  our  stores  at  reasonable  consumer 
prices. 

All  this  is  good  business.  The  chain 
stores  find  it  a  profitable  merchandising 
venture.  Producers'  markets  are  stab- 
ilized and  farmers  receive  a  profit  for 
their  products,  or  in  some  particularly 
distressing  circumstances  where  profits 
are  impossible,  prices  are  kept  from  go- 
ing to  ruinous  levels.  Consumers  bene- 
fit because  the  existence  of  a  surplus 
subpject  to  orderly  distribution,  gives 
a  fine  quality  product  at  reasonable 
prices. 

This  inherent  soundness  is  the  only 
basis  for  a  permanent  program.  Every- 
one benefits,  no  one  is  hurt.  To  my  mind 

(Continued  on  page  30) 


i 


Visit  Our  Exhibits 
Penna.  Farm  Show 

EUREKA  POTATO  MACHINERY 

Spaces  Nos.  106-107 

BOGG'S  POTATO  GRADERS 

Spaces  Nos.  325-326 

MESSINGER  DUSTERS 

Spaces  Nos.  118-119-124-125 

CUTAWAY  DISC  HARROWS 

Spaces  Nos.  40-41 

CHAMPION  POWER  DIGGERS 

One  and  Two-Row 

CHAMPION  IRRIGATION  PIPE 

An  Investment,  Not  an  Expense 

Space  No.  666 

You  will  find  "MAC"  and  RAY 
Spaces.  Nos.  106-107 

S.  E.  McCUNE  &  SON 

Wholesale  Distributors 
NEW  WATERFORD,  OHIO 


PROTECT  YOUR  POTATO 
CROP  BY  USING 

WASHINGTON 

Powdered  and  Pebble 

SPRAY  LIME 

Packed  in  180  Pound  Drums 
Net  Weight 

A  Rotary  Kiln  Product  Insur- 
ing Perfect  Slacking  and  Com- 
plete Satisfaction. 
Washington  Spraying  Hydrated 
Lime  for  Dusting  Requirements 
325  Mesh  in  50  Pound  Paper 
Sacks. 

Ask  the  Growers  Who  Have 
Used  Washington;  They  Are 
Easy  to  Find. 

The  Standard  Lime 
and  Stone  Company 

First  Nafl  Bank  Bldg:.,  Baltimore,  Md. 

N.  E.  DiETRiCK,  Sales  Rep. 


BLUE 

LABEL 

PACKERS 


have  learned  that  poor  seed  is 
expensive.  Roughs,  culls,  and  dis- 
coloration, caused  by  inferior  seed, 
increase  the  amount  of  unprofit- 
able *'throw-outs."  New  seed, 
particularly  Russet  direct  from  its 
native  soil  and  climate  of  North- 
ern Michigan,  is  unexcelled  in 
vigor  and  assures  minimum  grad- 
ing waste.  The  saving  in  sorting 
alone  will  pay  the  difference  in 
planting  costs. 


APPROVED     \ 


MAINE 

Cobblers        —       Mountains 

Katahdins       —       Chippewas 

MICHIGAN 
Russels    —   Mountains 

We  again  invite  you  to  visit 
our  booth  at  the  Harrisburg 
Show,  make  it  the  place  to 
meet  your  friends,  inspect 
our  Show  samples  and  car- 
lot  grading.  Ask  for  prices. 

"Every  hag  must  be  right** 

Dougherty  Seed  Growers 

Williamsport  Penna. 


■■.;:'■  ■■';« 


30 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


January,  1940 


FIRM    FOUNDATION    FOR 
FARMER  URGED 

(Continued  from  page  28) 

it  is  evidence  of  what  American  business 
on  its  own  initiative  can  do  to  meet  its 
problems. 

On  behalf  of  every  man  and  woman 
connected  with  our  company,  I  can  say 
that  we  are  all  proud  to  have  participat- 
ed in  these  efforts  and  feel  that  we  have 
contributed  to  the  betterment  of  two 


groups  of  friends — the  producers  and 
the  consumers.  We  lay  our  plans  for  the 
future  optimistically,  counting  on  the 
integrity  and  ability  of  our  people  and 
on  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God. 

(Reprinted  from  Phila.  Inquirer. 
Jan.  2,  1940) 

-O- I 

Members  Visit  the  exhibits  of  our 
advertisers.  They  may  have  something 
worthwhile  your  seeing. 


Don't  tell  the  public  about  yourself  or  your  product  unless 
you  can  measure  up  to  all  you  tell  them. 

LET'S  GET  TOGETHER 

ALBERT  C  ROEMHILD 

POTATO  COMMISSION  MERCHANT 
122  Dock  Street  Lombard  1000  Philadelphia 


Protect  Your  Potato  Crop  by  using 

"BeU-Mine  Lime" 

for  Spraying  and  Dusting 

Use  "Bell-Mine"  Pulverized  Lime  in  any  formula  where  "quick  lime"  or  "stone 
lime"  is  specified.  Use  "Bell-Mine"  hydrated  Lime  in  any  formula 

where  "hydrated  lime"  is  specified. 


Other  "Bell-Mine"  pro- 
ducts for  the  farm  in- 
clude "Bald  Eagle" 
Hydrate,  an  exception- 
ally active  soil  sweet- 
ener, and  "Alfalfa"  Pul- 
verized Limestone,  a 
finely  pulverized  high 
calcium  stone. 


"Bell-Mine"  Pulverized 
Lime  is  packed  in  80  lb. 
paper  bags  and  180  lb. 
(net)  steel  drums  with 
tight  friction  lids. 

"Bell-Mine"  Hydrated 
Lime  is  packed  in  50  lb. 
special  paper  bags. 


t|^nrrr^ttqr»tt( 


BELLEFONTE  DIVISION 

Executive  Offices:  219  N.  Broad  Street  Philadelpliia 

"BELL-MINE"  PLANT  BELLEFONTE,  PA. 


CERTIFIED 

NITTANY  —  RED  BLISS  —  PENNIGAN 

WHITE  RURAL  and  RUSSET 

SEED  POTATOES 

Also  Rogued  and  Selected  Seed  Potatoes  of  High  Quality 
Seed  potatoes  grown  and  packed  by  Potter  County  Seed  Potato 
Growers'  Association  are  also  for  sale  through  the  Pennsylvania 
Farm  Bureau  agencies. 

POTTER  COUNTY  SEED  POTATO 
GROWERS'  ASSOCIATION 

Coudersport,  Pennsylvania 
Don  Stearns,  Pres.  F.  E.  Wagner,  Sec'y. 


pENNSYLVmA  PoT/ITO  QlPO\^ERsJ^ECIPE: 


Plant  good  seed,  fertiuze, 

SPRnV  THOROLY,   PROVIDE 
PROPER  MOI5TURB*^flNDDIG 

^'^"  OK  CHAMPION 

Bf?Uf5E- PROOF,  E/i5Y  RUNNING, 
SHORT  TURNING,  CONTROLLED 
ELEV/ITOR,  Cf)5TER  NHEEL  DIGGERS 


^^^ 


OK  CHftMPION- ^g  QQ  ONE  ROW 

/  %       \rs/ITH  PNEUM/^TIC  TIRES,  RIGID  HITCH, 
\      SPRING  LEVEf^  LITT,   OIL  TEMPERED 
ELEVfiTOR'  WEBS    TIMKEN  BE/iRING5, 
/     '       I       HY^TT  BEftRINGS,   RDJU3Tf^BLE ■Z>0  ra 
4^  INCH  ROWS.    FIT  /iNV  TRffCTOR. 
"    %         <HE   NORLD'5  BEST  JDIGGERS. 


,       V  •PROMIDE  1^0\5TUR^   WITH' 

-J      I    OKCHf\nPlOH  \R\?\GPaiOH   SYSTEMS. 

D\ST^\QUTED  BH-  LOEGLER  *  LflDD,    BUEF/iLO,  NY-  SEN^CUNE.  NEW  ^f^TEREORD, 

CHPinpioN  Corporation 

A-Z^Zi    ^^^^^s^.r.     n^^  HAMMOND     IND. 


4733  Sheffield  /iVF. 


Farm  Show  Space  666 


Meet  Us  At  The 
Harrisburg  Farm  Show 


No  matter  whether  the 
price  of  potatoes  next  sea- 
son is  up  or  down,  as  the 
result  of  efforts  at  crop 
control,  or  because  of  in- 
sects, blight,  drought,  or 
anything  else,  it  will  be 
advantageous  for  any  po- 
tato grower  to  start  right 
by  planting  his  crop  with 
the 


mMC£ 

Potato  Planter 


The  Band-way  method 
of  fertilizer  application  is 
a  part  of  the  Iron  Age  Po- 
tato Planter,  and  exten- 
sive tests  over  a  period  of 
years  have  shown  that  no 
other  method  of  fertil- 
izer application  produces 
yields  as  large.  And  of 
course,  in  the  matter  of 
the  nearest  approach  to 
100%  accuracy  and  uni- 
formity of  spacing,  the 
Iron  Age  Planter  is  still  in 
a  class  by  itself. 

By  the  way,  have  you 
yet  traded  in  that  one-row 
planter  for  a  two-row  Iron 
Age?  Remember,  it  is  one 
sure  way  of  helping  to 
reduce  your  production 
costs  next  year. 

See  your  dealer, 

or  write  us  for 

literature 


A.  B.  FARQUHAR  CO.,  Limited 


322  DUKE  STREET 


I 


YORK,  PENNSYLVANIA 


/;  /A)  M  W^  A 


VOLUME  XVII       Ap  2  5 


NUMBER  2 


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COULtGt,  PA. 


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FEBRUARY 


1940 


ppJsliAJied  lui  the 

PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE 
POTATO  GROWERS  ASSOCIATION 


INCORPORATED 


t^" 


■;f?.- 


The  jront  cover  picture  shows  Amos 
S.  Eberly's  Outstanding  field  of  pota- 
toes, at  New  Holland,  Penna.,  at  dig- 
ging time  last  fall  This  field  yielded 
the  Champion  Yield  for  1939.  Crops  of 
this  size  and  type  can  only  he  grown 
with  good  seed. 


1 


Dr.  Nixon  Comments  On — 

Ideas  Obtained  at  the  Farm  Show 


Do  you  know — 

That  there  are  more  turtles  in  the 
South  American  waterways  than  in  all 
the  remaining  streams  of  the  earth; 

That  500  species  of  humming  birds 
are  known  to  science,  and  each  and 
every  one  of  these  is  a  resident  of  the 
Western  hemisphere  (North  and  South 
America);  not  a  single  member  of  this 
extraordinary  group  is  found  in  any 
part  of  the  old  world? 

That  the  smallest  of  the  humming 
birds  is  but  little  larger  than  a  bumble 
bee? 

That  one  half  of  the  fresh  water  in 
the  entire  earth  is  in  our  five  Great 
Lakes? 

That  it  is  not  how  old  you  are  but 
how  you  are  old? 

That  some  men  grow  under  responsi- 
bility, others  only  swell? 

That  there  were  economic  dust  bowls 
before  the  plows  broke  the  plains? 

That  high  hopes  rode  in  the  covered 
wagons,  but  there  were  graves  beside 
all  the  trails? 

That  the  truth  is,  there  probably 
never  was  a  golden  age — the  hour  of 
trial  and  decision  has  never  been  far 
away  in  America? 

That  the  original  settlers  had  to  deal 
with  the  wilderness  and  the  Indians. 
They  fought  two  major  wars  with  the 
French.  How  did  America's  prospects 
look  after  the  Revolutionary  War?  Yet, 
here  we  are  in  the  midst  of  plenty, 
wrestling  with  mere  unemployment? 

That  William  Pitt,  British  Prime  Min- 
ister said  in  1783,  "There  is  scarcely  any- 
thing around  us  but  ruin  and  despair." 

That  Disraeli,  in  1849  said,  "In  in- 
dustry, commerce  and  agriculture  there 
is  no  hope." 

That  Lord  Shaftesbury  said  in  1848, 
"Nothing  can  save  the  British  Empire 
from  shipwreck." 

It  is  not  these  prophets  of  doom  that 
we  should  heed;  it  is  not  the  content- 
ment of  our  ancestors  that  we  should 
imitate.  It  is  their  courage  and  resolu- 
tion that  we  need.  They  lived,  worked, 
had  their  glowing  and  happy  moments, 


and  passed  on  a  heritage  compounded  of 
achievement  and  unfinished  business. 
They  met  their  problems  and  did  their 
chores,  and  did  not  know  the  end  of  the 
story nor  do  we. 

— That  John  Schrope,  our  philospher 
potato  grower,  commenting  on  "after 
they  are  mashed,  who  can  tell?"  said 
"now  I  am  not  so  sure." 

— That  there  is  not  another  state  in 
the  union  which  can  grow  a  better  po- 
tato than  Pennsylvania,  when  judged 
in  the  skillet. 

— That  you  can  "drink  to  me  only 
with  thine  eyes"  but  you  can't  eat  that 
way. 

— That  it  was  expressed  to  me  per- 
sonally, by  the  slender  ladies,  by  the 
tall  ones,  by  the  short  ones,  and  espe- 
cially by  the  fat  ones  that  these  Penn- 
sylvania baked  potatoes  "are  irresis- 
tible." Again,  quality  in  the  skillet. 

— What  a  lot  of  housewives  need  is 
information  on  how  to  really  cook  and 
prepare  potatoes. 

— That  it  takes  more  than  fire  and 
water  to  make  most  vegetables  pali- 
table. 

— That  some  vegetables  are  eaten  raw 
other  than  by  cows? — Did  you  ever  try 
a  glass  of  cold  water  instead? 

— That  the  greatest  need  is  the  truth 
about  food  and  food  values  in  the  diet  of 
the  masses,  and  not  so  much  bombard- 
ment on  the  mysticisms  of  this,  that  and 
the  other  thing  bursting  with  health. 

— That  a  bushel  of  potatoes  at  $1.00 
will  go  farther  towards  building  brawn, 
and  bone,  besides  satisfying  the  craving 
for  a  hungry  family  than  any  other  com- 
modity which  can  be  purchased  bar- 
ring none — liquid  or  solid,  and  baked 
potatoes  are  bursting  with  health  too, 
and  you  can't  eat  enough  of  any  other 
kind  to  make  you  sick,  yea,  and  in 
addition,  regardless  of  how  many  you 
eat,  they  won't  give  you  diabetes,  acido- 
sis, high  blood  pressure,  or  indigestion, 
and  you  won't  have  scurvy,  and  they 
are  satisfying  too! 

Try  this  out  with  any  other  thing 
whether  fish,  fowl,  fruit  or  vegetable — 
compare  the  cost — experience  the  re- 
sult. 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


February,  1940 


February,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


Did  you  know, — 

—That  the  Russet  potato  is  the  most 
resistant  variety  to  scab  that  has  yet 
been  tested? 

Let  me  admonish  you  to  be  careful 
about  a  too  extensive  planting  of  any 
white  skinned  variety  until  you  have 
tested  it  for  scab  under  your  own  con- 
ditions. You  can  bet  your  bottom  dollar 
that  if  you  have  had  any  scab  with 
Russets,  you  will  have  much  more  with 
the  white  skins,  and  sometimes  it  will 
be  disastrous. 

Did  you  know, — 

— That  potato  growing  is  not  much 
different   from   manufacturing?     If   an 
individual  or  company  sets  out  to  pro- 
duce automobiles,  a  factory  is  construc- 
ted and  equipped  with  tools  peculiar  to 
the    manufacturing    of    automobiles— 
They  do  not  equip  it  with  tools  which 
are    designed    for    the    construction    of 
locomotives.   So   also   must   the   potato 
grower  set  out  to  equip  his  farm  with 
the  tools  peculiar  to  the  production  of 
potatoes.   When  and  if  lime  mitigates 
against  potato  production  by  creating  a 
scab  condition,  then  a  more  judicious  use 
of  lime   is  necessary.    When  and  if  a 
rotation  of  crops  mitigates  against  the 
most    economical    potato    production — 
however  desirable  such  a  crop  rotation 
may   be   for   other   purposes,   then   an 
adaptation  of  crop  rotation  is  necessary 
for  the  potato  grower.  In  other  words, 
the  paramount  issue  of  the  potato  grow- 
er is  not  crop  rotation,  or  how  much 
pasture  or  hay  one  can  grow,  but  the 
economical   production   of   potatoes.   It 
ought  to  go  without  saying   that  this 
means,  freedom  from  scab,  wire  worms, 
grubs  and  what  not. 

The  potato  grower  cannot  fool  around 
trying  to  manufacture  potatoes  when 
his  plant  is  better  equipped  to  supply 
fish  bait,  hogfeed  or  cow  pasture.  Be 
satisfied  only  with  the  rotation  which 
everything  considered,  is  best  adapted 
to  the  most  economical  production  of 
potatoes  on  your  own  farm. 

Did  you  know, — 

— That  the  fundamental  principles  of 
storage  construction  are  first,  tempera- 
ture control,  and  second,  humidity  or 
moisture  control.  For  those  growers  who 
want  to  keep  potatoes  late  this  Spring, 
it  is  important  that  the  storage  be 
cooled  down  while  the  temperature  is 
yet  cold  on  the  outside.  Seventy  degrees 
on  the  outside  will  not  reduce  the  tem- 


perature on  the  inside  below  seventy. 
Opening  vents  and  doors  when  the  tem- 
perature is  high  on  the  outside  only 
raises  the  temperature  on  the  inside. 
When  you  get  the  temperature  down, 
close  the  storage  and  keep  it  closed. 

Did  you  know, — 

— That  a  ground  floor  and  a  straw 
loft  is  the  most  practical,  fool-proof 
method  yet  devised  for  maintaining  the 
proper  humidity  in  potato  cellars? 

Did  you  know, — 

— That  potatoes  in  storage  need  cold 
air  a  thousand  times  more  than  they 
need  fresh  air?  If  the  fresh  air  cannot  be 
cold,  then  do  not  admit  it.  The  air  had  a 
thousand  times  better  be  stagnant  and 
cold  (36  to  40  degrees)  than  be  fresh  and 
warm  (70-75  degrees).  A  lot  of  pretty 
good  storages  are  ruined  in  the  Spring 
by  leaving  the  doors  and  vents  open. 
Did  you  ever  observe,  in  the  care  of  cold 
storages,  how  the  attendant  slips 
through  a  narrow  opening  and  quickly 
closes  the  door  after  him?  He  has  an 
artificial  way  in  which  to  create  cold, 
while  the  only  sources  of  cold  for  the 
common  storage  are  the  outside  atmos- 
phere, when  it  is  cold  enough  and  the 
stored  up  cold  of  the  inside.  The  longer 
potatoes  are  to  be  stored  in  the  Spring, 
the  more  the  inside  cold  must  be  con- 
served, because  the  outside  temperature 
in  the  Spring  soon  becomes  higher  than 
the  inside. 

Did  you  know, — 

— That  there  are  a  lot  of  practical 
minds  at  work  on  the  improvement  and 
adaptations  of  potato  equipment?  Why 
the  expression,  practical  minds?  Prati- 
cal  means  capable  of  applying  know- 
ledge or  theory  to  practice.  No  one 
knows  better  what  is  hoped  to  be  accom- 
plished in  the  various  operations  of  po- 
tato production  and  handling  than  the 
men  who  grow  and  handle  them  day 
after  day,  year  after  year. 

I  had  my  eyes  opened  to  this  fact 
over  at  Mr.  Ramseyers'.  I  often  wonder- 
ed what  his  men,  who  had  worked  with 
potatoes  so  long  and  so  extensively, 
thought  about.  When  given  a  chance  to 
express  themselves,  it  was  amazing  how 
many  things  they  had  thought  through 
to  the  end.  They  applied  knowledge  to 
practice,  and  it  worked.  There  are  a  lot 
of  young  fellows  with  less  opportunities 
to  acquire  the  theories  of  potato  produc- 
tion whose  heads  are  capable  of  more 

(Continued  on  page  26) 


Timely  Observations  and  Suggestions 

L.  T.  Denniston,  Association 
Field  Representative 


. 


I 


WARREN  COUNTY  PIONEERS: 
I  am  writing  these  notes  from  the  Ex- 
change Hotel,  Warren,  Pennsylvania. 
It  seems  fitting  that  I  might  give  credit 
to  a  group  of  pioneers  in  this  northern 
County  with  whom  I  am  to  meet  to- 
morrow. The  Warren  County  Potato 
Growers  Association  is  one  of  the 
youngest  and  one  of  the  smallest  asso- 
ciations in  numbers  in  the  State.  But 
what  they  lack  in  age  and  numbers  is 
more  than  made  up  in  aggressiveness 
and  determination  to  succeed.  By  hold- 
ing fast  to  fundamental  principles  of 
production  and  marketing  adopted  by 
their  association  I  predict  continued 
growth  and  success.  Starting  from 
scratch  two  years  ago  this  group  to  date 
this  season  has  graded,  packed  and 
marketed  over  20  cars,  and  60  truck 
loads  of  Pennsylvania  Blue  Label 
Pecks.  I  believe  in  giving  credit  where 
credit  is  due.  The  spark  plug  back  of 
this  progress  and  success  has  been 
Henry  Wuesthoff,  County  Vocational 
Agricultural  Supervisor.  Like  the 
quarterback  of  the  football  team,  Henry 
could  not  have  done  this  alone.  Much 
credit  must  go  to  his  fellow  workers  who 
pulled  together  for  the  common  good 
and  unselfish  success  of  all. 

MARKET  QUOTATIONS:  There 
seems  to  me  to  be  considerable  room  for 
improvement  in  the  manner  in  which 
potato  quotations  are  given.  I  have  be- 
fore me  a  daily  paper  from  one  of  our 
metropolitan  areas  quoting  Maine  pecks 
at  ,"33  to  35  cents  per  peck,  poorer  29 
to  30  cents  per  peck."  I  have  authen- 
tic information  to  the  point  that  the 
movement  in  this  particular  market 
was  and  has  been  practically  nil  at  the 
33  to  35  cent  price.  The  facts  are,  this 
is  a  2J  inch  minimum  pack.  The  market 
for  a  premium  pack  at  the  best  is  lim- 
ited. The  question  we  want  to  know 
and  the  one  that  should  concern  our 
growers  is  at  what  price  are  the  people 
being  fed?  At  what  price  in  other 
words,  can  a  good  volume  of  potatoes 
be  moved?  We  often  read,  "Pennsyl- 
vania U.S.No.l  $1.50  per  cwt.  few  $1.70 
per  cwt."  How  many  is  a  few?  Could 
the  report  not  qualify  why  the  $1.70 
price?  Growers  should  bear  in  mind 
that    Produce    Street    Quotations    are 


sales  prices,  not  purchase  prices  paid 
the  grower  which  are  always  a  lower 
figure. 

I  may  be  out  of  order  in  suggesting 
that  there  might  be  improvement  in 
Market  Reports  but  the  fellow  from 
a  distance  can  often  see  better  than 
the  fellow  who  has  his  nose  on  the 
grind  stone. 

CHECKING  FIELDS  FOR  SCAB: 
Hundreds  of  growers  who  are  contem- 
plating turning  to  the  growing  of  some 
white  skinned  variety  are  scared  of  the 
scab  problem.  Those  who  have  experi- 
enced it  can  testify  how  serious  a  bad 
case  of  scab  can  be.  I  firmly  believe 
that  more  of  our  growers  should  be 
growing  or  getting  ready  to  grow  a 
white  skinned  potato.  Many  markets 
prefer  them,  some  even  to  the  point  of 
paying  a  premium.  I  know  of  no  "cure 
all"  for  scab.  Many  growers  undoubted- 
ly will  have  to  stick  to  the  Russet  or  a 
similar  resistant  variety.  These  grow- 
ers need  not  feel  disheartened  for  there 
will  always  be  a  market  for  good  Rus- 
sets and  the  time  may  not  be  so  far 
distant  when  certain  markets  may  be 
paying  a  premium  for  them. 

In  checking  fields  for  susceptibility 
to  scab  on  a  white  skinned  variety  we 
used  to  advise  planting  a  row  or  two  of 
the  white  variety  through  the  field. 
While  working  on  hundreds  of  crops  in 
trading  and  packing  for  market  this 
fall  and  winter  I  have  a  better  sugges- 
tion where  the  grower  is  strictlv  a  com- 
mercial grower  and  not  in  the  seed 
business.  Secure  a  few  bushels  of  the 
white  potatoes  and  cut  a  tuber  or  two  , 
into  each  crate  or  planter  hopper  at 
planting  time.  This  will  give  you  white 
potatoes  throughout  the  field  which 
may  vary  greatly  due  to  former  field 
arrangements,  fence  rows,  or  different 
soil  treatment.  You  will  have  two  fine 
opportunities  to  study  the  results  and 
decide  whether  you  want  to  risk  plant- 
ing a  White  potato  in  this  field  two  or 
three  years  hence.  These  are  at  digging 
time  and  during  the  grading  and  pack- 
ing of  the  crop.  But  you  say,  "they  will 
be  mixed".  This  need  not  worry  you 
for  if  the  difference  in  appearance  is 
great  you  can  easily  and  quickly  pick 


mm 


6 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


February,  1940 


off  the  White  ones  when  grading  and 
on  the  other  hand  if  it  should  be  diffi- 
cult to  determine  one  from  the  other 
it  will  make  no  difference  to  the  buyer 
nor  the  consumer.  If  you  cannot  tell 
them  apart,  everything  else  being  equal, 
you  might  best  stick  to  the  Russet. 

POTATO  SPRAY  RINGS:  Potato 
spray  rings  were  the  means  of  introduc- 
ing potato  spraying  in  a  great  many 
communities  in  Pennsylvania  back 
around  1920.  Most  of  these  rings  passed 
out  of  existence  with  the  greater  num- 
ber of  the  growers  purchasing  their  own 
sprayers  as  the  years  passed  by.  The  old- 
est continuously  operated  ring  of  the 
early  period  was  that  operated  in  the 
Horsham  Community  of  Montgomery 
County.  I  will  long  remember  eating 
chicken  and  chestnuts  with  the  mem- 
bers of  this  group  at  the  friendly  home 
of  John  Park. 

A  few  years  ago  my  good  friend  O.T. 
Grazier,  Vocational  Agricultural  Super- 
visor, Oakland,  Md.,  a  Pennsylvanian  by 
birth  and  at  heart,  at  least  a  firm  be- 
liever in  Pennsylvania  Potato  Spray 
methods,  modernized  the  spray  ring 
idea  by  setting  up  two  cooperative 
spray  rings  among  the  farmers  of  his 
community.  Two  modern  sprayers  were 
purchased  and  put  in  the  field  under 
the  care  of  two  experienced  or  capable 
operators.  These  rings  have  been  suc- 
cessful. During  the  past  year  four  such 
modernized  rings  were  in  operation  in 
Potter  County,   Pennsylvania. 

Information  as  to  equipment,  costs, 
manner  of  operation,  and  success  of 
these  rings  can  be  secured  by  writing 
County  Agent  Bert  Straw,  Agricultural 
Extension  Association,  Coudersport, 
Pa.  or  Kyle  Alexander,  Farm  Security 
Administration,  State  College,  Pa. 

CAMP  POTATO:  Like  many  of  you 
.  growers  during  this  cold  weather  the 
Camp  is  in  hibernation.  In  the  spring 
it  will  stir  from  this  slumber  and  be  a 
most  active  enterprise.  With  thousands 
of  seedlings  to  be  planted,  ground  to  be 
cleared  and  fitted,  landscaping  to  be 
done,  roads  to  be  completed  and  numer- 
ous other  imporvements  there  will  be 
ample  opportunity  to  not  only  visit  the 
camp  but  plenty  of  chance  for  growers, 
youth  groups,  and  friends  of  the  indus- 
try to  become  active  participators  in 
Camp  Potato  activities.  As  an  active 
member  of  the  Association  you  own  a 
share  in  Camp  Potato  that  has  an  actual 
value  of  at  least  $5.00.  Those  who  have 


participated  in  the  erection,  develop- 
ment, and  activities  of  the  Camp  value 
their  share  at  many  times  this  amount. 

FUTURE   POTATO    PRICES:    I    am 
asked  almost  every  day  what  I  thmk  of 
future  potato  prices.  I  am  not  a  prophet. 
I  stated  very  clearly  in  the  last  issue  of 
the  Guide  Post  that  I  thought  Pennsyl- 
vania Growers  should  move  their  pota- 
toes yet  in  storage  freely  during  Jan- 
uary, February,  and  March.  I  have  not 
changed  my  opinion.  Growers  who  se- 
cured 25  and  26  cents  per  peck  at  dig- 
ging time  or  shortly  thereafter,  are  as 
well  off  as  those  getting  28  or  29  cents 
per  peck  now,  and  those  getting  28  to  29 
cents  now  are  as  well  off  as  they  will 
be  at  30  to  31  cents  a  few  months  from 
now,  "if"  the  price  should  advance  to 
this  figure.     We  will    not    be    packing 
Blue  Labels  after  March  except  from  a 
limited  number  of  unusually  good  stor- 
ages  that   will   insure    good   condition 
stock  not  only  to  the  distributor  but  for 
the  consumer  who  will  be  purchasing 
them. 

POTATOES  FREEZING  IN  TRAN- 
SIT: I  have  often  heard  it  said  and  no 
doubt  you  have  too,  that  potatoes  will 
not  freeze  in  transit  so  long  as  they  are 
on  the  move.  This  is  not  true.  I  talked 
with  a  grower  last  week  who  was  as- 
suming that  they  would  not  freeze 
packed  in  paper.  This  is  not  true  either. 
It  is  true  that  they  will  not  freeze  as 
quickly  in  paper  as  in  burlap  but  this 
should  not  lessen  the  shipper's  precau- 
tion to  prevent  freezing  in  transit  or  at 
any  other  time.  Growers  packing  dur- 
ing the  coming  weeks  should  watch  for 
possible  frost  bitten  or  frozen  spots  in 
their  bins.  Even  though  you  do  not  see 
any  wet  or  broken  down  tubers  it  will 
be  well  to  cut  a  few  tubers  from  suspec- 
ted spots  as  chilled  or  frost  bitten  tub- 
ers do  not  always  break  down  but  will 
show  gray  to  dark  flesh  and  be  unfit 
for  market  or  seed. 


"My  lad,  do  you  know  what  becomes 
of  little  boys  who  use  bad  language 
when  playing  marbles?" 

"Yes,  sir,  they  grow  up  and  play  golf". 

New  West  Trade 


Landlady— "I  don't  allow  any  games 
of  chance  here". 

Student— "This  isn't  that  sort  of  a 
game.  My  friend  here  hasn't  a  chance". 

Cincinnati  Post 


February,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


, 


POTATO  CHIPS 


The  Farm  Show  of  1940  is  now  his- 
tory. The  attendance  record  of  1939, 
which  was  swelled  by  the  inauguration, 
was  not  surpassed.  Apparently  the 
Farm  Show,  growing  so  rapidly  through 
adolescence,  has  finally  reached  the  full 
stature  of  maturity.  Further  growth,  if 
any,  will  be  gradual  rather  than  rapid. 
A 

As  usual,  the  potato  meetings  were 
well  conducted,  interesting  and  well  at- 
tended. Was  especially  impressed 
with  the  last  session  capably  handled 
by  "Denny."  At  which  many  problems 
of  production,  storage,  varieties  and 
marketing  were  discussed  by  growers, 
extension  men,  and  others.  A  few  of  the 
more  important  points  brought  out  at 
this  meeting  might  be  listed  as  follows: 

1.  Pennsylvania  growers  use  3,000,- 
000  bushels  of  seed  potatoes  a  year  but 
produce  only  200,000  bushels  of  certified 
seed  annually.  Possibilities  are  excel- 
lent for  the  much  greater  production 
and  use  of  Pennsylvania  certified  seed. 

2.  Rye  grass  as  a  rapid  grower  has 
wonderful  possibilities  as  a  cover  crop, 
particularly  for  fall  growth  to  prevent 
erosion  of  fallow  fields  during  the 
winter. 

3.  The  two-year  rotation  cuts  down 
the  potato  yield  perceptably  but  is  the 
surest  cure  for  wire-worm  infestation. 

4.  That  the  Katahdin  is  rapidly 
growing  in  popularity,  particularly  in 
Southeastern  Pennsylvania.  It  has 
yielded  well  and  gives  a  large  percent- 
age of  U.S.No.l  quality  tubers. 

5.  Storages  of  straw  ceiling  insulation 
type  are  being  built  in  increasing  num- 
ber in  Pennsylvania.  That  a  number  of 
principles  of  insulation,  convection  and 
ventilation  are  important  to  consider  in 
construction,  so  it  is  wise  to  consult 
William  Peterson,  of  the  Extension  Ser- 
vice for  expert  advice  before  proceedmg 

to  build.  ^  .      ^ 

6.  A  word  of  wisdom  from  A.  C. 
Ramsever,  of  Smithville,  Ohio,  to  the 
effect  that  most  growers  know  the  iron- 
clad rule  for  growing  one  acre  of  pota- 
toes successfully,  and  that  to  grow  1,000 
acres  properly,  you  just  multiply  by 
1,000. 

k 

Heard  someone  say  at  the  banquet 
that  if  the  cafeteria  manager  would 
have  turned  off  the  coffee  percolators 


and  brought  in  the  State  Highway  De- 
partment road  scrapers,  it  would  have 
been  easier  to  hear  the  speakers.  For 
all  the  noise,  however,  it  was  good 
turkey  that  brother  Lohr  sent  from  Som- 
erset County,  and  very  kind  remarks 
which  Miles  Horst  made  about  the 
GUIDE  POST.  The  many  other  remarks 
were  mighty  good,  and  worth  straining 
a  little  to  hear. 

¥ 

Believe  this  month's  bouquet  for  high 
quality  potatoes  should  go,  jointly,  to 
Robert  Getz  and  Roger  Meckes,  of  Al- 
brightsville,  who,  together,  furnished 
those  bakers.  Austin  Blakeslee,  also  of 
the  Poconos,  had  his  share  in  these 
packs,  having  washed  them  for  baking 
use,  and  I  mean,  he  really  washed  them 
clean! 


Studies  of  potatoes  on  the  Chicago 
market  to  determine  whether  it  would 
be  practicable  to  revise  the  present  U.S. 
standards  so  they  may  carry  through  to 
consumers  have  gotten  well  under  way. 
One  phase  of  the  survey  is  the  follow 
through  of  potato  quality  from  producer 
to  consumer  through  all  stages  of 
handling,  and  another  phase,  the  deter- 
mination of  retailer  and  consumer  pre- 
ferences for  varieties,  grades  and  con- 
tainers. It  will  be  interesting  to  note 
the  results  of  this  study  since  the  potato 
grades  have  never  taken  much  account 
of  the  consumers'  viewpoint. 

A 

With  many  unforeseen  factors  con- 
trolling the  fall  price  of  potatoes  un- 
known at  the  time  of  planting,  and  the 
possible  risk  each  Spring  that  potato 
prices  will  be  less  than  a  buck  a  bushel 
in  the  fall,  it  behooves  potato  growers 
to  get  the  yield  per  acre  way  up  there 
by  every  known  method  of  improved 
production.  In  other  words,  don't  buy  a 
crop  failure  when  you  buy  your  seed! 

A 

Reliable  information  has  reached  us 
that  the  Hastings  potato  section  of 
North  Florida  which  heretofore  has 
largely  planted  Spaulding  Rose  potatoes 
has  this  year  planted  between  75  to  90 
percent  Katahdins. 

A 

What  next  in  packaged  foods?  Re- 
cently   saw    shoe-string    style    french- 

(Continued  on  page  18) 


::,:.%- ;,iiA.-M-.^:,^_^^ 


»«  --•^■iV.-Wf.* 


8 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


February,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 

Published  monthly  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Cooperative  Potato  Growers,  Inc. 

OFFICERS 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  Emlenton  . .  President 
Roy  R.  Hess,  Stillwater   . . .  .Vice-Pres. 

E.  B.  Bower,  Bellefonte, 

Sec*y-Treas.  and  Gen.  Mgr. 


DIRECTORS 

Jacob  K.  Mast Elverson,  Chester 

P.  Daniel  Frantz Coplay,  Lehigh 

Hugh  McPherson Bridgeton,  York 

John  B.  Schrack Loganton,  Clinton 

Roy  R.  Hess Stillwater,  Columbia 

Ed.  Fisher Coudersport,  Potter 

Charles  Frey   North  Girard,  Erie 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.l,  Emlenton,  Venango 
R.  W.  Lohr   Boswell,  Somerset 

Annual  membership  fee  $1.00.  This  in- 
cludes the  Guide  Post. 

All  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary-Treas- 
urer and  General  Manager,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania. 


Days  of  February 

Winter    has     yet    brighter     scenes— he 
boasts 

Splendors  beyond  what  gorgeous  sum- 
mer knows; 

Which  come,  when  the  rains 

Have  glazed  the  snow,  and  clothed  the 
trees  with  ice; 

While  the  slant  sun  of  February  pours 

Into  the  bowers  a  flood  of  light. 

—William  Cullen  Bryant. 


IMPORTANT  TOPICS  TO  COME 
IN  THE  MARCH  ISSUE 

Seed  and  Root  Bed  Preparation 
Seed,  Seed  Cutting  and  Planting 
Fertilizers  and  Potato  Fertilization 


J.  A.  Donaldson  Elected  Ass'n 

President  at  Annual  Meeting 

Roy  Hess  Chosen  Vice-President 

and  E.  B.  Bower  Renamed 

Secretary-Treasurer 


Good  Night 

Mary—**  John,  John,  get  up!    The  gas 
is  leaking". 

John — ''Oh  ,  put  the  pan  under  it  and 
come  to  bed."  — Cincinnati  Post 


J.  A.  Donaldson,  of  Emlenton,  Ven- 
ango County,  was  chosen  by  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  the  Association  to  pre- 
side over  Association  activities  durmg 
the  coming  year.  President  Donaldson 
succeeds  P.  Daniel  Frantz,  of  Coplay, 
Lehgih  County,  to  this  position. 

At  the  same  meeting,  Roy  R.  Hess  of 
Stillwater,  Columbia  County,  elected  to 
the  Board  last  year,  was  chosen  Vice 
President,  succeeding  Mr.  Donaldson 
who  held  that  postion  in  1939. 

E  B.  Bower,  of  Bellefonte,  was  re- 
named the  Association  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  the  position  for  which  he 
was  chosen  in  1936. 

New  members  to  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors were   chosen   during   the  Annual 
Meeting,  as  follows:     For  the  Eastern 
District,  Hugh  McPherson,  of  Bridge- 
ton,    York    County,    replacing    L.    U. 
Thompson,  whose  three-year  term  ex- 
pired; For  the  Western  District,  Charles 
Frey   of  North  Girard,  Erie  County,  to 
replace  J.  C.  McClurg,  of  Geneva,  Craw- 
ford County,  whose  three-year  term  ex- 
pired'   For    the    Central    District,    Ed 
Fisher,  Coudersport,  Potter  County,  ^yas 
reelected  to  the  Board,  his  term  having 
expired;  and  R.  W.  Lohr,  of  Boswell, 
Somerset   County,   was   also   chosen   a 
Director    for    the   Western    District   to 
complete  the  unexpired  term  of  Evan 
D.  Lewis,  of  Johnstown,  Cambria  Coun- 
ty, who  resigned  from  the  Board. 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


MESSAGE— TO  THE  MEMBERSHIP 

It  is  with  a  feeling  of  confidence  that 
we  enter  into  a  new  year  of  activities 
in  the  potato  industry  of  Pennsylvania. 

Anyone  who  attended  the  meetings  of 
the  Potato  Growers'  Association  at  the 
State  Show  at  Harrisburg  could  not  fail 
to  be  impressed  by  the  wonderful  pro- 
gress that  has  been  made  by  the  or- 
ganization. 

Not  only  were  the  financial  affairs 
found  to  be  in  a  healthy  condition,  but 
an  expression  of  Good  Will  and  Fellow- 
(Continued  on  page  14) 


February,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


i 


Notes  From  the  Farm  Show 


It  is  most  gratifying  to  the  Manage- 
ment and  the  Officers  to  report  that  the 
Annual  Business  Meeting  of  the  Asso- 
ciation on  Tuesday  Morning,  January 
16th.  Room  F.  Farm  Show  Building 
was  the  most  largely  attended  of  any 
Annual  Business  Meeting  in  the  history 
of  the  Association. 


aic  :|c  sjc :)( 4c  >ic 


Seats  were  at  a  premium,  with  many 
people  standing,  during  the  Educational 
Meetings    Tuesday    afternoon    and 


throughout  Wednesday.  There  was  no 
lag  in  interest  and  growers  were  free  to 
express  themselves  in  the  Wednesday 
afternoon  Round  Table  Discussions.  We 
wish  to  thank  in  behalf  of  the  Associa- 
tion all  those  who  cooperated  and  took 
part  in  these  Educational  Meetings. 

4l  %  1(1  4c  3|C  9|C 

More  than  300  joined  the  Annual 
Banquet  Festivities,  held  in  the  Main 
Cafeteria,  Second  Floor  of  the  Farm 
Show  Building.  Music  was  furnished  by 


A  snap  of  the  usual  crowd  gathered  about  the  Association  Baking  Booth  at  the 
Farm  Show  to  enjoy  Pennsylvania  Baked  Potatoes. 


the  Fawn  Twp.  High  School  Orchestra, 
Fawn  Grove,  York  County,  with  C. 
Nancy  Bowman  as  leader.  Miles  Horst, 
Field  Editor  of  the  Pennsylvania  Farm- 
er did  the  usual  good  job  as  toast- 
master.  Introductions,  presentation  of 
certificates  of  merit  and  medals  of 
award,  presentation  of  "400  Bushel 
Medals  and  the  address  of  the  evenmg 
by  Judge  Robert  R.  Lewis,  Potter 
County  were  features  of  the  program. 

The  popularity  of  the  Baking  Booth 
increases  each  year.  Nearly  forty  thou- 


sand (37,750)  potatoes  is  a  lot  of  spuds 
yet  with  Ed.  Fisher  as  manager  and  a 
capable  hard  working  crew  back  of  the 
counter  the  supply  of  37,750  bakers  was 
exhausted  by  6  P.M.  Friday  evening. 
Contrary  to  the  thought  of  a  few,  this  is 
not  a  money  scheme.  It  is  a  practical, 
economical  way  of  showing  the  public 
that  Pennsylvania  Potatoes  are  good. 
Expenses  for  floor  space,  potatoes,  but- 
ter, labor,  gas  and  electricity,  laundry, 
and  many  incidental  items  run  high. 
(Continued  on  page  16) 


10 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


February,  1940 


Should  Potatoes  Be  Good  to  Eat? 


by  C.  L.  Fitch 


(Editors  Note:  This  article  was  clip- 
ped from  the  April  1  1939  issue  of  the 
New  York  Packer,  and  gives  some  real 
constructive  thought  on  the  continued 
controversy  on  ''What  Shall  We  Raise?   ) 

At  the  meeting,  last  December  of  the 
Potato  Association  of  American  at  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  we  had  a  cooking  test.  For 
that  test  we  had  the  kitchen  of  a  great 
down  town  church.  The  cooks  were  for 
that  job  the  best  in  the  country. 

All  varieties  under  trial  were  Aroos- 
took grown.  We  had  Green  Mountains 
for  our  standard  of  high  qual  ty.  They 
were  mealy-too  mealy  fo^  hoiling-and 
they  were  white  and  glistening.  Their 
odor  was  that  mildly  Pleasant  and  sweet 
fragrance  that  all  or  nearly  all  such  po- 
tatoes have,  and  that  no  hard  or  waxy  or 
unripe  potatoes  have— they  have  an 
earthy  acrid  odor  and  taste. 

We  had  jammed  together  in  that  kit- 
chen many  if  not  most  9f  the  techncial 
servants  of  the  potato  industry  of  the 
United  States.  For  comparison  with  the 
Green  Mountains  we  had  the  following 
new  varieties  produced  by  the  breeders 
of  the  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture:  Sebago,  the  high  yielding 
blight  and  scab  resistant  late  Potato ,  the 
Earlaine,  the  new  early  sort;  the  Chip- 
plwa,  the  beautiful,  high  yielding  mid- 
season  sort  that  is  having  a  tremendous 
Expansion  in  use,  and  if  ^Y  ^^lemory 
serves  me  right,  some  Katahdins,  the 
beautiful  later  sort  of  the  same  parent- 
age at  the  Chippewa. 

None  of  these  sorts  could  have  been 
classed  for  general  use  as  comparable  for 
a  moment  in  table  quality  to  the  Green 
Mountain,  nor  to  the  Russet  Burbank 
from  Idaho.  None  of  the  new  sorts  would 
I  compare  in  table  quality  to  the  Cob- 
blers—grown  on  peat,  silt  and  muck  that 
we  have  used  at  our  house  for  ten  years, 
and  are  using  at  this  time. 

In  my  own  judgment  — a  judgment 
which  some  of  the  men  with  whom  I 
am  associated  do  not  share— the  danger 
in  various  places  in  the  country  that 
growers  may  stampede  to  these  new  and 
beautiful  sorts  is  a  threat  to  potato  con- 
sumption and  to  profits.  A  man  may  be 
attracted  to  a  boarding  house  because 
the  landlady  is  stylish  and  handsome,  but 
in  the  long  run  most  of  the  boarders  will 
be  found  at  the  tables  where  the  eats  are 
good.   Sales  of  Chippewas  may  be  easy 


to  make  but  in  the  long  run,  people  will 
eat  fewer  hard  cooking  raw  flavored  po- 
tatoes than  they  will  of  white  mealy 
fragrant  kinds.  Is  there  not  a  danger 
that  in  crowding  great  quantities  of 
handsome  hard  Chippewas  onto  the 
market,  we  shall  persuade  millions  of 
families  that  potatoes  are  not  so  good  to 
eat,  as  we  used  to  think? 

It  was  a  good  thing  to  show  growers, 
and  taxpayers  and  Congressmen  that 
planned  breeding  could  produce  beauty 
and  health  and  yield  and  might  be  ex- 
pected to  produce  earliness,  resistance 
to  scab,  and  high  table  quality.  However, 
I  personally,  devoutly  hope  that  growers 
will  not  stampede  to  any  potato  inferior 
in  table  quality  to  the  superb  mountains 
and  Gems.  I  hope  that  the  U.  S.  men  will 
introduce  no  more  new  sorts  unless  they 
are  of  top  table  quality,  or  are  resistant 
to  scab,  or  both.  In  my  judgment  a  stam- 
pede to  Chippewas  would  be  a  large  net 
damage  to  potato  consumption. 

J.  A.  DONALDSON  ELECTED 

(Continued  jrom  page  8) 

The  Secretary's  office  wishes  to  ex- 
tend to  the  new  Board  members,  Messrs. 
McPherson,  Frey  and  Lohr  hearty  wel- 
come to  the  Directorate,  and  assure 
them,  as  well  as  the  entire  Board,  of  full 
cooperation  in  all  matters  pertaining  to 
the  advancement  of  the  Association  and 
the  potato  industry  of  the  States  as  a 

whole.  ,  .   . 

We  also  acknowledge  and  appreciate 
the  wholehearted  cooperation  of  Messrs. 
Thompson,  McClurg  and  Lewis  during 
their  terms  as  Directors  of  the  Associa- 
tion, and  thank  them  for  ourselves  and 
the  entire  membership  for  their  unsel- 
fish and  loyal  service  to  the  Association. 
Their  many  fine  contributions  will  be 
long  remembered  throughout  the  potato 

industry.  j.  -n    ^: 

To  P.  Daniel  Frantz,  our  past  Presi- 
dent, we  pay  tribute  for  wise  counsel, 
fine  leadership  and  Association  boost- 
ing. His  contribution,  both  as  President 
and  a  member  of  the  Board,  will  not  be 
forgotten  either. 

For  our  new  officers,  it's  congratula- 
tions! These  men  were  chosen  wisely, 
on  their  own  merits,  and  their  leader- 
ship cannot  but  help  carry  the  Associ- 
ation to  new  and  greater  successes. 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


February,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


11 


■ 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 


by  Inspector  Throwout 


While  scientists  were  learnedly  ex- 
plaining why  the  thing  could  never  be 
done,  they  were  interrupted  by  some- 
body's doing  it. 


A  good  word  every 
Now  and  then 

Is  relished  by  the 
Wisest  men. 

A  word  of  praise  will 
Make  you  feel 

As  though  you'd  had  a 
Good,  square  deal. 

It's  funny  that  a 

Kindly  word 
Beats  all  the  music 

Ever  heard. 

They  may  not  mean  it, 
But  they  would. 

If  they  knew  of  its 
Power  for  good. 


again  admitted— this  time,  covered  only 
with  confusion.  "Ah,  that's  better, 
said  the  doctor,  "now  then,  what  s  the 
matter?"  "Nothing  at  all,  Doctor,  an- 
swered the  girl  timidly  and  blushingly; 
"I  only  called  to  collect  your  subscrip- 
tion to  the  Charitable  Aid  Society." 


Chicago  society  women  are  daffy 
over  "eurthmy",  which  means  noiseless 
dancing  in  a  costume  composed  of  a 
union  suit.  Maybe  they  think  this  is  a 
new  stunt,  but  we've  seen  it  done  at 
the  burlesque  shows  for  twenty  years. 


A  New  York  man  is  seeking  a  divorce 
because  his  wife  hasn't  spoken  to  hini 
for  eleven  years.  Get  in  line,  men! 
Don't  crowd! 


Said  a  robust  young  maiden  named  Peg, 
Whose  shape  was  somewhat  like  an  egg 
"Those  law  makers  are 
Too  fussy,  by  far— 

What's    the    odds    if   a   man    sees   my 
elbow?" 


It  is  the  invariable  rule  in  the  office 
of  a  famous  New  York  specialist  that  all 
patients  shall  undress  for  examination 
before    entering    his    consulting   room. 
This  saves  a  lot  of  his  high-priced  time. 
One  day,  when  the  doctor  rang  his  bell 
to  indicate  to  the  attendants  that  he  was 
ready  for  the  next  patient,   the   door 
opened    and    in    stepped  a  remarkably 
pretty    young    woman— fully     dressed. 
The    peppery-tempered    old    specialist 
immediately  flew  into  a  rage.      What 
do  you  mean  by  coming  in  here  like 
that?"    he    demanded.     "Go    and    take 
your  clothes  off— quick"!  "But  Doctor 
—began  the  girl,    with   a   deep   blush. 
"Don't  talk!  I've  no  time  to  waste.   Go 
out  and  strip,  at    once"!    ordered    the 
Doctor,    ringing    the    bell   for   another 
patient.     In  a  half  hour,  the  gurl  was 


You  rarely  meet  a  girl  who  is  so  fond 
of  music  that  she  won't  play  the  piano. 


It  always  makes  a  woman  feel  good 
to  see  an  installment  collector  ringing  a 
neighbor's  door-bell. 


A  retentive  memory  may  be  a  good 
thing,  but  the  ability  to  forget  is  the 
true  token  of  greatness. 


Brook  Farm  disbanded  because  the 
man  at  the  head  of  it  had  no  head  for 
business,  nor  did  he  have  the  capacity 
to  select  a  man  who  had.  But  it  s  fail- 
ure" was  a  success,  in  that  it  was  a  rot- 
ting log  that  nourished  a  bank  of  violets. 


If  you  are  defamed,  let  time  vindi- 
cate you— silence  is  a  thousand  times 
better  than   explanation.   Explanations 
do  not  explain.  Let  your  life  be  its  own 
excuse    for   being— cease    all    explana- 
tions and  apologies,  and  just  live  your 
life.    By  minding   your  own   business, 
you  give  others  an  opportunity  to  mind 
theirs;  and,  depend  upon  it,  the  great 
souls  will  appreciate  you  for  this  very 
thing.    I  am  not  so  sure  that  absolute, 
perfect  justice  comes  to  everybody  in 
this  world,  but  I  do  know  that  the  best 
way  to  get  justice  is  not  to  be  too  anxious 
about  it.    As  love  goes  to  those  who  do 
not  lie  in  wait  for  it,  so  does  the  great 
reward  gravitate  to  the  patient  man. 

A 

Life  is  beautiful,  and  for  all  we  know, 
death  is  just  as  good.  And  death,  science 
shows,  is  in  itself,  a  form  of  life.    The 
(Continued  on  page  18) 


12 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


February,  1940 


Seed  Potato  Certification 

K  W  LAUER,  Plant  Pathologist 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industry  Pennsylvania  Department  of  Agriculture 

borne  disease.    As  far  as  we  know  this 


The  seed  potato  inspection  and  certi- 
fication report  for  1939  shows  there 
were  183,166  bushels  of  seed  potatoes 
certified  last  year  compared  with  173,- 
454  bushels  in  1938.  A  difference  of  al- 
most 10,000  bushels  more  for  1939. 

There  was  a  decrease  of  1.2%  in  the 
amount  of  Russets  certified  last  year 
over  the  amount  certified  in  1938  but  m 
White  Rurals  there  was  an  increase  of 
18  8%.  The  Pennigan  variety,  however, 
is  included  with  the  White  Rurals  smce 
this  is  a  white  skin  variety  with  many 
of  the  white  rural  characteristics.  We 
certified  45.1%  more  Pennigans  in  1939 
than  were  certified  in  1938.  Nittany's 
showed  a  decrease  of  9.5%  and  the 
Katahdins  an  increase  of  63.2  from  6.411 
bushels  certified  in  1938  to  26,286  bu- 
shels in  1939. 

There  appears  to  be  a  strong  demand 
for  Pennsylvania  certified  Katahdins 
again  this  year.  This  demand  has  been 
increasing  each  year  since  this  variety 
was  first  grown  in  Pennsylvania.  While 
the  Russet  is  still  widely  grown  in 
Pennsylvania  the  demand  for  seed  of 
this  variety  appears  to  be  on  the  de- 
cline. Demand  for  the  Nittany  has  also 
shown  a  steady  increase  since  this  var- 
iety was  first  introduced  several  years 
ago. 

During  1939  we  certified  seed  potatoes 
in  Bradford,  Butler,  Cambria,  Erie, 
Lancaster,  Lehigh,  Northampton,  Perry, 
Potter,  Somerset,  Sullivan,  Warren  and 
York  counties.  We  inspected  1208.25 
acres  and  certified  799.25  acres.  This  is 
the  highest  acreage  certified  during  any 
one  year  since  the  work  was  started  in 
1920. 

The  crop  this  year  is  very  uniform, 
smooth  and  comparatively  free  from 
scab.  Growing  conditions  during  last 
summer  were  generally  dry,  resulting 
in  a  crop  of  tubers  that  show  very  little 
second  growth  and  over  size.  Because 
of  the  unfavorable  growing  conditions 
the  yield  per  acre  was  the  lowest  since 
1930  when  we  produced  207.7  bushels 
per  acre  compared  with  229.2  bushels 
in  1939. 

Growers  are  cautioned  to  select  their 
seed  with  care  this  year  because  of  the 
Bacterial  Ring-Rot  which  is  a  seed- 
disease  does  not  live  over  winter  in 


the  soil  under  our  Pennsylvania  condi- 
tions. It  is  carried  over  and  spread, 
however,  through  the  seed. 

Fields  found  infected  with  this  dis- 
ease in  Pennsylvania  are  refused  cer- 
tification. Seed  stocks  have  also  been 
rejected  where  the  disease  was  found 
in  potato  fields  grown  on  the  same 
farm  for  table  use.  Growers  buying 
Pennsylvania  Certified  seed  can  feel 
that  they  are  buying  seed  from  sources 
that  are  free  from  this  dangerous  and 
destructive  disease. 

Varieties  certified  in  bushels  during 
1939: 

Russet  Rural  106,518 


White  Rural 

Pennigan 

Nittany 

Cobbler 

Katahdin 

Bliss  Triumph 

Chippewa 

Total 


18,039 

7,710 

26,286 

760 

17,390 

4,307 

2,156 

183,166 


Growers  wishing  to  secure  a  list  of 
Pennsylvania  certified  seed  potato 
growers  can  do  so  by  writing  to  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania. 


J.  A.  DONALDSON  ELECTED 

(Continued  from  page  10) 
Problems  pertinent  to  the  potato  in- 
dustry were  discussed  at  the  Annual 
Meeting,  among  them  plans  for  furth- 
ering the  interest  in  this  publication, 
and  constructive  criticism  of  the  mar- 
keting plan  and  the  producer-distribu- 
tor relationship. 

As  regards  the  Distributors,  the  mem- 
bership unanimously  reaffirmed  their 
opposition,  expressed  at  the  1939  An- 
nual Meeting,  to  t  he  proposed  Patman 
federal  Anti-Chain  Store  Bill,  and 
passed  a  resolution  accordingly. 

The  report  of  the  Secretary-Treas- 
urer was  unanimously  approved  by  the 
membership,  with  no  little  enthusiasm. 
This  report  showed  unprecedented  pro- 
gress in  all  lines  of  Association  activity, 
including  increase  in  potatoes  market- 
ed, Association  income,  Association 
membership,  increased  assets,  and  all 
finances  accounted  for,  with  no  bills 
owing. 


February,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


13 


) 


Grower  to  Grower  Exchange 

The  rate  for  advertising  in  this  column  is  a  penny  a  word,  minimum  cost  25  cents, 
payable  with  order.  (10%  reduction  when  four  or  more  insertions  are  ordered  at 
one  time.)  Count  name  and  address.  Send  ads  to  reach  the  GUIDE  POST,  Crider's 
Exchange  Building,  Bellefonte,  Penna.,  by  the  20th  of  te  month  previous  to  publi- 
cation. 


QUALITY  SEED  POTATOES: 

Russet  Rurals,  White  Rurals,  Cobblers 
and  Nittanys.  Certified  Seeds  and  one 
year  from  certified.  All  grown  from 
northern  foundation  seed.  Ideal  stor- 
age. All  seed  will  be  graded  and  packed 
in  Association  bushel  paper  bags.  I  am 
purchasing  a  new  eight  row  sprayer, 
therefore  am  offering  for  sale  a  six  row 
used  power  sprayer.  Thomas  Dennis - 
ton.  Slippery  Rock,  Pennsylvania. 
(Butler  County.) 

AVAILABLE: 

Copies  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon's  book,  "The 


Principles  of  Potato  Production,"  $1.25 
per  copy.  Write  for  your  copy  today,  to 
Association  office,  Bellefonte,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

WANTED  TO  BUY: 

Good  used  six-row  sprayer.  Will  con- 
sider four-row  if  priced  right.  Write 
Box  No.  22,  care  the  GUIDE  POST. 

FOR  SALE  OR  TRADE: 

Good  three-ton  truck.  Will  trade  on 
good  used  potato  equipment.  Whafs 
offered?  Write  Box  No.  20,  care  the 
GUIDE  POST. 


Growers !  Use  This  Column ! 

If  You  Have  Anything  To  BUY  or  SELL,  Let  THE  GUIDE  POST 
Advertsie  It  For  You! 


It  is  not  so  much  the  quality  of  a  man^s 

mind  as  the  quantity  of  his  courage 

that  carries  him  through. 

ALBERT  C.  ROEMHILD 

POTATO  COMMISSION  MERCHANT 
122  Dock  Street  Lombard  1000  Philadelphia 


i 


14 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


February,  1940 


MESSAGE  TO  THE  MEMBERSHIP 

(Continued  jrom  page  8) 

ship  among  the  growers  and  the  Dis- 
tributors was  everywhere  apparent. 

With  matters  shaping  themselves  in 
this  way,  we  cannot  do  otherwise  but 
have  a  healthy  growth  during  the  com- 
ing year. 

We  wish  to  thank  all  members  of  the 
Association  for  their  loyal  support  m  the 
past,  and  welcome  all  new  members  m- 
to  the  fold,  hoping  that  they  may  find 
as  much  pleasure  and  profit  m  traveling 
together  with  us  as  we  have  found  in 
the  past. 

Sincerely 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  President 


MY  MOTHER'S  BIBLE 

This  book  is  all  that's  left  me  now. 

Tears  will  unbidden  start, — 
With  faltering  lip  and  throbbing  brow, 

I  press  it  to  my  heart. 
For  many  generations  past 

Here  is  our  family  tree; 

My  Mother's  hands  this  Bible  clasped, 

She,  dying,  gave  it  me. 

Ah!  Well  do  I  remember  those 

Whose  names  these  records  bear; 
Who  round   the  hearth-stone   used   to 
close. 

After  the  evening  prayer, 
And  speak  of  what  these  pages  said 

In  tones  my  heart  would  thrill! 
Though  they  are  with  the  silent  dead. 

Here  are  they  living  still! 

My  father  read  this  holy  book 

To  brothers,  sisters,  dear; 
How  calm  was  my  poor  Mother's  look, 

Who  loved  God's  word  to  hear! 
Her  angel  face, — I  see  it  yet! 

What  thronging  memories  come! 
Acrain  that  little  group  is  met 

Within  the  walls  of  home! 

Thou  truest  friend  man  ever  knew, 

Thy  constancy  I've  tried; 
When  all  were  false,  I  found  Thee  true. 

My  counselor  and  guide. 
The  mines  of  earth  no  treasures  give 

That  could  this  volume  buy. 
In  teaching  me  the  way  to  live, 

It  taught  me  how  to  die. 


Have  you  anything  to  Buy?—  To  Sell? 
To  Swap?  Use  the  GROWER  EX- 
CHANGE! 


Certificate  of  Merit  and 
Medals  of  Awards 

Judge    Robert    R.    Lewis,    President 
Judge  of  the  55th.  Judicial  District,  Pot- 
ter County,  who  delivered  a  most  in- 
spiring address  at  the  Associations  An- 
nual Banquet  during  the  Farm  Show 
was   the   recipient  of   a   Certificate   of 
Merit  and  Medal  of  Award  from  the 
Association.    This  was  an  expression  of 
appreciation  from  the  potato  growers 
of  the  State  and  particularly  the  Associ- 
ation Membership  of  the  long  continued 
interest  and  loyalty  of  Judge  Lewis  in 
the  potato  grower's  problems  and  the 
Association's  program  for  fostering  the 
best  interests  of  the  Industry      Judge 
Lewis  has  always  given  freely  of  his 
time,  sound  judgment  and  counsel,  and 
has  been  a  most  ardent  supporter  of 
Camp  Potato,  having  deeded  the  prop- 
erty  on   Which   the   Camp   is   located 
to  the  Association  as  an  outright  gift. 
We  can  think  of  no  one  more  deserving 
of  the  honor  bestowed  upon  him  tnan 
the  Potato  Grower's  friend,  the  congen- 
ial Judge  from  Potter  County. 

Two  other  Certificates  of  Merit  and 
Medals  of  Award  were  presented  during 
the  Show.  They  went  to  Robert  B. 
Keith,  Mifflin  County,  and  Joseph  Cos- 
grove,  Erie  County,  two  N.Y.A  boys 
who  were  members  of  Camp  Potato 
during  1938  and  1939.  The  inscription 
on  the  Certificates  presented  to  these 
young  men  reads,  'Tor  maintaining  sin- 
cerity, stability,  and  industry  under 
unfavorable  circumstances."  In  recog- 
nition the  qualities  thus  shown  by  these 
voung  men  we  express  a  faith  in  all 
youth  and  shall  not  falter  from  the 
original  conception  of  fostering  a  Youth 
Movement  as  a  part  of  Pennsylvania  s 
Potato  Program. 

These  boys  so  signally  honored  by  the 
Association  will  be  given  ample  oppor- 
tunity to  prove  further  the  worthiness 
to  be  so  recognized.  We  trust  that  they 
will  bear  in  mind  that  any  breach  of  the 
faith  we  have  placed  in  them  will  re- 
flect not  only  on  themselves  but  on 
other  youth  in  whom  we  place  our  faith 
as  well.  Both  of  these  young  men  will 
be  found  in  Potter  County  next  spring 
in  the  employ  of  Ed  Fisher  where  they 
will  have  an  opportunity  to  learn  more 
of  the  fundamental  principles  and  prop- 
er adaptations  of  modern  potato  pro- 
duction. 


i 


f 


HAVE  YOU  CHECKED 
YOUR  1940  PLANS? 


Have  you  checked  with  your  county  agent  or  experiment 
station  to  make  sure  that  your  plans  for  fertilizing  potatoes 
this  year  are  in  line  with  their  latest  fertilizer  recom- 
mendations for  potatoes?  Experiment  stations  frequently 
change  their  recommendations  as  a  result  of  their  in- 
vestigations and  the  adoption  of  new  standardized  high 
analysis  fertilizer  grades.  The  increasing  importance  of 
fertilizers  well  balanced  with  potash  to  produce  the  desired 
plant  growth  and  yield  of  high  quality  potatoes  is  being 
emphasized. 

Analyses  high  in  potash  which  are  proving  popular  in- 
clude: 5-10-10  and  5-10-12  in  the  Mid-Atlantic  States;  4-8-10 
and  8-16-20  in  New  England;  and  3-9-18  and  3-12-12  in  the 
Midwest  Rates  of  application  depend  upon  the  plant  food 
available  in  the  soil  and  the  high  plant-food  requirement 
of  the  expected  yield.  To  guard  against  potash  deficiency, 
plan  to  apply  enough  fertilizer  to  supply  at  least  200  lbs.  of 
actual  potash  per  acre.  You  will  be  surprised  when  your 
fertilizer  dealer  tells  you  how  little  extra  it  will  cost. 


Write  us  for  additional  information 
and  free  literature  on  the  profitable 
fertilization  of  crops. 


American  Potash  Institute,  Inc. 

Washington,  D.  C. 


Investment  Building 


16 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


February,  1940 


NOTES  FROM  THE  FARM  SHOW 

(Continued  from  page  9) 

Exhibits  in  the  Potato  Show  by  the 
Future  Farmers  and  the  4H  Club  Mem- 
bers continue  to  show  improvement 
from  year  to  year.  The  Grand  Cham- 
pion Exhibit  of  the  Show  was  exhibited 
by  Ford  Kingsley,  a  Future  Farmer 
from  Dushore,  Sullivan  County,  inis 
is  the  second  successive  year  that  Ford 
Kingsley  has  carried  off  the  Grand 
Prize     We  salute  you,  Ford  Kingsley. 


Honors  for  being  Pennsylvania  s 
High  Yield  grower  with  irrigation  for 
1939  was  conferred  upon  John  J.  Dan- 
iels, Farm  Superintendent  of  the  Her- 
shey  Industrial  School,  Hershey,  Dau- 
Industrial  School,  Hershey  Dauphin 
phin  County.  His  yield  was  687.5  bushels 
on  an  officially  measured  acre.  The  acre 
was  planted  double  row,  6  by  8  by 
30"  A  7-21-21  fertilizer  was  used,  week- 
ly applications  of  8-8-100  bordeaux  was 
applied,  and  several  irrigations  after 
July  1st  were  made. 


The  Polato  Growers  Banquest  in  Progress 
the  group  present.    Can  you  find  yourself 

The  Association  Headquarters  Booth 
was  one  of  the  busiest  booths  on  the 
floor  of  the  show  throughout  the  week 
with  private  and  group  conferences,  the 
writing  of  memberships,  and  the  han- 
dling of  the  potato  sales.  More  member- 
ships were  written  than  at  any  previous 
Show  and  by  far  a  greater  number  of 
growers  contacted  their  Association 
through  their  officials  and  officers. 

Several  thousand  copies  of  the  Pic- 
torial Folder  edited  by  Potato  Interests 
portraying  Pennsylvania's  Potato  In- 
dustry and  its  future,  the  Pennsylvania 


at  the  Farm  Show,  showing  a  portion  of 
in  it? 

Certified  Seed  List,  and  other  literature 
was  passed  out  to  growers  and  their 
friends  from  the  Association  Booth  dur- 
ing the  week. 

4l  ||C  i|l  4(  4i  t 

The  approximate  40,000  baked  pota- 
toes served  from  the  Baking  Booth  were 
dripping  with  over  1000  pounds  of  but- 
ter and  well  sprinkled  with  75  pounds  of 
salt  and  15  pounds  of  pepper.  Some 
one  remarked  that  it  was  a  good  thing 
that  they  were  served  on  paper  plates 
and  wooden  forks,  for  who  would  want 
to  wash  40,000  plates  and  forks. 
(Continued  on  page  20) 


SEND  TO  MAINE 

FOR  HIGH-YIELD 

SEED  POTATO  STOCK 


Doesn't  it  stand  to  reason  that  Maine  Seed  Potato  Grow- 
ers, with  generations  of  specialized  experience  in  the 
raising  of  potatoes,  should  produce  the  very  finest 
Certified  Seed  Stock  available  anywhere? 

Isn't  there  conclusive  evidence  that  Maine  Certified 
Seed  Stock  is  preferred  to  any  other  in  the  fact  that  our 
Seed  Potato  Industry  annually  ships  over  5,000  cars  to 
over  23  States  and  foreign  countries? 

Send  to  Maine  for  strong,  high-yield,  disease-resisting 
stock  vsrhether  your  needs  are  in  bushels  or  carlots. 
Almost  every  important  variety  is  available  here. 

This  year  over  22,700  acres  of  Maine  Seed  Potato 
Stock  v\rere  Certified  after  four  field  and  grading  inspec- 
tions by  the  Maine  Department  of  Agriculture.  The  qual- 
ity is  there— in  quantity  to  fill  any  seed  stock  need. 

•         •         • 

Write  or  wire  for  a  copy  of  "Potatoes  Inspected  and  Certified  in 
Maine.  1939"  with  a  list  of  Maine  Certified  Seed  Potato  Growers. 
Copies  of  Field  Inspection  Reports  are  also  available  upon  request. 


MAINE  DEVELOPMENT 
COMMISSION 

PRODUCTS  DIVISION 
AUGUSTA,  MAINE 


sT^T!: 


tA^\^ 


18 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


February.  1940 


POTATO  CHIPS 

(Continued  from  page  7) 

fried  potatoes  put  up  in  an  attractive 
glass  container  tightly  sealed  which  the 
housewife  can  purchase  for  a  dime^  To 
Hav  I  read  of  a  new  packaged  potato 
pro^dictlor  "making  -ashed  potatoes 
The  Dotatoes  are  shredded,  dehydrated 
and    packed   in   attractive    cellophane 
bags     When  placed  in  boiling  water  for 
nvf  minutes,  the  shreds  are  ready  to  be 
whipped    into    mashed    potatoes.    Ana 
they  say  they're  real  good!. 

* 

The  government  ^port  °f  potato 
stocks  on  hand  January  1st,  1940  was 
somewhat  higher  than  expected,  prob 
ably  due  to  the  fact  that  relatively  high 
prices  since  harvest  has  led  to  the 
Ireater  sales  of  size  B  and  of f -grade 
tubers  than  usual,  less  sold  to  livestock 
and  fewer  consumed  on  farms.  The  total 
US.  stocks  on  hand  for  1940  and  some 
previous  years  are  as  follows: 


pewas  and  Katahdins  than  for  Green 
Slountains,  and  60  to  65c  more  for  tjiem 
than  for  Rurals,  but  that  s  what  tne  ae 
mand  from  the  Cleveland  housewives, 
hotels  and  restaurants  and  other  con- 
suming groups  is  doing,  There  are  onb^ 
two  ways  to  answer  this:  either  Katah 
din  and  Chippewa  quality  is  "ot  as  bad 
as  most  people  believe,  or  else  the  pre- 
slnTday  consumers  don't  give  a  hoot  for 
inherent  cooking  quality  but  they  will 
pay  a  premium  for  attractive  appear- 

ance. 


— •- 


Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 


1,  1940- 
1,  1939- 
1,  1938- 
1,  1937- 
1,  1936- 
1,  1935- 


-103,318,000  bu. 
-103,550,000  bu. 
-113,155,000  bu. 
-  85,418,000  bu. 
-106,127,000  bu. 
-123,739,000  bu. 


According  to  a  recent  release  of  the 
Agricultural  Marketing  Service,   there 
^improvement  in  the  planting  of  good 
seed     In  1938,    growers   reported   that 
70.2%    of   seed   used  was  home-grown 
In  1939,  this  had  dropped  to  68%,  ana 
now  the  report  of  intentions  to  plant  in 
1940,   indicates   an   additional   drop   to 
65%.     Still  too  much  poor  seed  being 
used  in  Northern  states,  fPf^^^^^ly  ^^^.^ 
you  consider  that  nearly   100%   of  all 
southern  potatoes  must  be  grown  from 
sMpped  in  seed,  which  makes  the  per- 
centage  of  home-grown   seed  used   m 
Pennsylvania    and   other    northern 
stages  much  higher  than    he  average  of 
65%  reported  for  the  total  U.  S.  1940  in- 
tended plantings. 

*: 

There's  a  story  in  today's  Cleveland 
market  quotations  which  I  quote  as  fol- 
ISwtfro^i  the  V-S.  Market  News  Ser- 
vice: "Maine  Katahdins  2.35  -2.40,  Chip- 
npwas  2  35,  Green  Mountains,  2.10, 
^S  Russet  Rurals,  1.75-  L85,  Idaho 
Russet  Burbanks,  2.15-  2.25".  Surely  if 
potato  growers  were  purchasing  pota- 
toes for  their  own  tables,  they  wouldnt 
pay  25  to  30c  more  a  hundred  for  Chip- 


Pennsylvania  had  a  reported  6  775,000 
bushels  of  potatoes  stored   on   January 
1st  of  this  year  compared  with  6  017,00^ 
bushels  on  January  1st,  1939,  and  7  002 - 
000  bushels  on  January  1st,  1938.  inese 
increased  holdings  were  to  be  expe^ed 
as  growers  in  the  State  have  not  been 
anxious  to  sell  at  prevailing  PJices  and 
iudfiing  from  the  present  market  condi- 
tions    they    have    not    been    unwise. 
However,  the  market   is   already   high, 
and  offers  strong  resistance  to  further 
price  advances,  and  therefore  the  usual 
sound  procedure  of  selling  out  the  re- 
maining crop  gradually  on  satisfactory 
Sfe?s  which  come  along  is  more  to  be 
commended  than  to  hold  everythmg  ex- 
peXg  sharp  advances  which  may  not 
materialize.  __^,^.^^  Shakespud". 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 

(Continued  jrom  page  11) 

man  who  lives  well  is  the  one  who  is 
willing  to  go  or  to  stay.    And  the  man 
who  is  willing  to  go  or  stay,  stays  quite 
a  while.    John  Calvin  and  John  Knox 
had  a  deal  to  do  with  devising  and  for- 
mulating a  religion  of  sorrow,  and  each 
died  old  at  fifty-seven.  Unfortunately, 
they    took    themselves    seriously,    at- 
tempting to  say  the  final  word.     And 
anyone  who  does  this  is  suffering  from 
arterio-sclerosis  of  his  think-cells.    Lite 
is  fluid;  and  nothing  is  permanent  but 
change. 


Abraham  Lincoln  was  as  ]ust  and 
generous  to  the  rich  and  well-born  as 
to  the  poor  and  humble— a  rare  thing 
among  politicians. 


-A — 


Lincoln  once  said,  '1  don't  think  much 
of  a  man  who  is  not  wiser  today  than 
he  was  yesterday." 


MONEY 
CROP! 


that's  just  about  the  most 
important  word  in  potato 
growing,  isn't  it?  And  if  you 
want  to  remove  all  doubt 
about  the  correct  fertilizer 
to  use  -  order  Dempwolf's. 
It  isn't  what  we  SAY  it  will 
do  -  it's  what  growers  tell  us 
it  HAS  DONE  for  them. 
This  year  -  use  Dempwolf 
Fertilizers  -  A  better  Yield 
in  Every  Field  -  since  1870. 
Send  for  a  copy  of  the  1940 
I    Fertilizer  Booklet. 

York  Chemical  Works 

YORK,  PA. 


Whiterock 

Pulverized 

Limestone 

Besides  being  swift  in  action,  it 
maintains  its  high  solubility  until 
every  bit  of  sour  soil  has  been  neu- 
tralized. 

Sweetens  sour  soil! 

Loosens  clay  soil! 

Tightens  sandy  soil! 

Order  your  WHITEROCK  now! 
Don't  wait  until  mid-season! 


Whiterock  Quarries 

Bellefonte,  Pa. 


Certified 

SEED 
POTATOES 

NORTHERN  MICHIGAN 
RUSSETS 

Fully  Certified:  Rigidly  inspected 
seed  produced  in  the  proven  section  best 
known  as  a  dependable  source  for  this 
variety.  The  same  uniform  certified 
seed  grade  typical  of  our  product. 

Special  Tag:  Economical  source  for 
profitably  lanting  all  new  seed.  This 
stock  includes  crops  of  some  of  our 
best  fields,  but  even  moisture  caused 
irregular  shape.  All  certification  in- 
spections the  same  as  Fully  Certified 
except  for  type. 


Cobblers 
Katahdins 


MAINE 

—  Mountains 

—  Chippewas 


Field  selection  of  certified  cr9ps 
eliminates  most  of  the  risk  i"  accepting 
eeed  from  a  large  producing  section  A 
dependable  source  from  a  definitely 
high  rating  grower  permits  confident 
plfnting.  Katlhdins  and  Chippewas  of 
this  class  are  becoming  scarce. 

Write  or  wire  us  for  infor- 
mation and  prices  on  your 
requirements  for  spring 
planting. 

"Every  bag  must  be  right** 


Doughertq  Seed  Growers 


Williamsport 


Penna. 


20 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


February,  1940 


NOTES  FROM  THE  FARM  SHOW 

(Continued  jrom  page  16) 

Members  of  the  Baking  Booth  crew 
were  as  follows:  Manager,  Ed.  Fisher, 
Coudersport,  Potter  County;  Joseph 
Young,  Clearfield  County;  Roy  Thomp- 
son, Pete  Bair,  Joe  Renko,  Wm.  Hart 
James  Rossman,  John  Gordonier,  Carl 
Thompson,  Earl  Swanson,  Jerry  Brigg- 
lea,  Don  Van  Wegen,  Walter  Wren,  Carl 
Graybill,  Milford  Clark  and  Clarence 
Crandall,  all  of  Potter  County;  Benja- 
min Bailey  and  Walter  Krieger  of  York 
County;  and  Charles  J.  Egnestz  of 
Harrisburg. 

The  most  revolutionary  piece  of  po- 
tato equipment  to  be  shown  for  the  first 
time   was   the    digger    arrangement 
worked    out    by    William    Templeton, 
Mercer  County.    In  a  few  words  it  com- 
bines the   potato   digger  directly  with 
the  power  unit,  eliminating  wheels  and 
numerous   other   attachments.   William 
Templeton  is  a  Mercer  County  potato 
grower  who  has  tried  to  simplify  the 
most  difficult  operation  connected  with 
potato    growing.     Potato    growers    will 
watch  with  much  interest  the  develop- 
ment of  this  idea  and  its  practical  appli- 
cation to  their  digging  problem. 

The  Baking  Potatoes  were  washed 
and  packed  in  the  Association  Blue 
Label  Bushel  Bags  by  Austin  Blakeslee, 
Blakeslee,  Pa.  Mr.  Blakeslee  has  the 
only  grower-owned  and  operated  pota- 
to washer  in  the  State.  Not  only  did  Mr. 
Blakeslee  wash  the  Bakers  and  pack 
them,  he  did  it  without  charge  as  an 
expression  of  his  interest  and  coopera- 
tion in  the  Association's  Program  for  the 
betterment  of  the  Potato  Growers  and 
the  Industry  of  the  State. 

i|e  9|e  9|(  >i<  >K  >|( 

Potato  Machinery  and  Equipment 
Exhibits  were  numerous  and  we  were 
particularly  impressed  with  the  fine 
spirit  prevailing  among  the  various 
dealers.  We  congratulate  them  on  the 
high  standard  of  business  ethics  under 
the  keenest  kind  of  competition  for  the 
potato  growers  business.  Seed  dealers 
report  an  increase  in  seed  potato  con- 
tacts and  sales.  This  is  as  it  should  be, 
as  the  success  of  thousands  of  Pennsyl- 
vania potato  growers  will  depend  on  the 
purchase  and  planting  of  new  disease 
free  seed  for  the  1940  crop.  Many  more 
will  wish  they  had  made  such  purchases 


when  they  come  to  dig,  grade,  and  mar- 
ket next  fall  and  winter. 


The  Baking  Potatoes  were  secured 
from  Robert  Getz,  Albrightsville  (Poco- 
no  Mountains)  Carbon  County.  Rodger 
Meckes  a  neighbor  of  Mr.  Getz  supplied 
20  bushel  of  this  supply.  They  were 
Rural  Russets  whose  baking  quality  has 
never  been  questioned  when  properly 
grown  under  favorable  conditions.  The 
Pocono  Mountains  is  one  of  the  places 
in  the  State  that  is  peculiarly  favorable 
for  their  production. 

:|c  9|c  He  >)(  4:  * 

It  came  from  many  sources  that  the 
Potato  Growers  had  two  of  the  most  at- 
tractive and  distinctive  signs  on  the 
floor  of  the  Show.  These  were  two  large 
electric  signs,  one  over  the  Association 
Booth,  PENNSYLVANIA  POTATO 
GROWERS;  the  other  over  the  Baking 
Booth  PENNSYLVANIA  BAKED 
POTATOES. 

^e  :ic  9i(  >N  ><<  * 

Pennsylvania  made  Potato  Chips 
were  on  sale  at  a  dozen  or  more  booths 
on  the  floor  of  the  Show.  Needless  to 
say  that  these  chips  were  made  from 
Pennsylvania  potatoes.  Authentic  fig- 
ures show  that  more  than  500,000  bush- 
els of  Pennsylvania  potatoes  are  made 
into  tasty  chips  annually.  By  labora- 
tory checks  and  by  actual  trial  runs  in 
chipping,  the  Chipping  people  report 
that  Cobblers,  and  Katahdins  are  satis- 
factory early  in  the  season  but  do  not 
make  a  desirable  chip  late  in  the  storage 
period.  White  Rurals  and  Russet  Rur- 
als  are  in  greatest  demand  by  the  chip- 
pers  during  winter  and  spring  months. 

)tC>|(  l|C  9|C  9|C  H( 

One  of  the  most  direct,  definite  and 
to  the  point  discussions  during  the  week 
was  that  given  by  A.  C.  Ramseyer  on 
spraying.    In  brief  Mr.  Ramseyer  said, 
"if  you  know  how  to  do  a  good  job  of 
spraying  one  acre,  it  is  not  difficult  to 
spray  1000  acres,  for  you  simply  multi- 
ply the  one  acre  by  a  thousand.     Mr. 
Ramseyer  has  not  deviated  one  bit  from 
the  original  teaching  as  to  lime,  time  of 
making    the    first    sprays,    number    of 
nozzles,   nozzle   adjustment,    timeliness 
of  application,  pressure,  etc.    He  is  not 
a  man  to  sacrifice  any  detail  that  will 
add  to  efficiency  or  success. 


Bean  Potato  Sprayers 


CUT    SPRAYING    COSTS      INCREASE    YIELDS      .SPRAY    FASTER 
BETTER  QUALITY  .  NO  WORRIES  .  MAKE  MONEY 

SPRAY  WITH  HIGH  PRESSURE 

No  grower  is  safe  unless  he  sprays  with  high  pressure.  High  pressure 
protects  you  against  excessive  spraying  costs,  low  yield,  delays  in  spray- 
ing, poor  quality  and  loss  of  money.  ,     T     •      ^     *u 

Decide  today  to  investigate  high  pressure  spraying  and  eliminate  the 

obsolete  low  pressure  system.  •  ^       ^      •  ^ 

Bean  line  of  high  pressure  potato  sprayers  offer  a  variety  of  price  and 
sizes  that  will  meet  your  requirements,  that  you  can  afford  to  invest  in, 
and  that  will  come  back  to  you  in  savings  in  a  larger  and  better  crop. 


Have  you  found  your  new  member 
to  the  Association? 


RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 

Cleans  as  it  grades.  Does  not  bruise  or  cut  the  potatoes  All  grading  is 
doS  on  rulbef  Much  more  accurate  and  when  you  are  finished  grading 
you  have  a  fine  looking  pack  that  will  sell. 

Investigate  this  Grader  at  once. 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co. 


Division  Food  Machinery  Corporation 


LANSING 


MICHIGAN 


J 


22 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


February,  1940 


Membership  Drive  Shows  Considerable  Gain 


During  the  month  of  January,  a  very 
substantial  gain  was  made  on  the  Asso- 
ciation membership  rolls,  and  not  witn- 
out  considerable  help  from  members 
who  were  doing  their  bit  to  enter  the 
name  of  a  neighbor  non-member. 

Dozens  of  one-time  members,  away 
from  the  Association  dunng  recent 
years,  also  came  back  to  the  fold  m  the 
past  month. 

The  Association  office  sincerely  re- 
grets that  all  of  the  contributors  were 
not  noted  during  the  Farm  Show  be- 
cause of  the  great  rush  there  of  gettmg 
names  on  the  record.  Many  contribu- 
tors brought  their  new  members  right 
to  the  Association  booth,  and  modestly 
failed  to  have  us  note  the  contribution. 
So  to  all  those  contributors  whose  names 
we  do  not  list,  our  hearty  congratula- 
tions for  a  fine  job. 

Names  of  a  number  of  contributors 
were  taken,  however,  and  these  are  list- 
ed, with  sincere  appreciation.  We  be- 
lieve that  many  of  these  listed  contri- 
buted more  than  what  we  are  crediting 
them  for  here,  but  we  can  only  list  those 
that  have  been  noted. 

Leroy  Eberly,  of  New  Holland,  Lan- 
caster County,  gave  the  Association 
drive  its  most  substantial  boost,  by 
bringing  five  new  members  to  the  Asso- 
ciation. ,         ^, 

Elam  S.  King,  of  Atglen,  Chester 
County,  also  sent  two  new  Association 

members. 

Jacob  K.  Mast,  of  Elverson,  Lancaster 
County,  also  contributed  two  new  mem- 
bers, to  add  to  the  many  he  has  already 
enrolled  in  the  past.  ^  ^,  • 

G.  Douglas  Jones,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
a  continual  and  loyal  supporter  of  the 
Association  turned  in  two  new  mem- 
bers during  the  Farm  Show. 

E.  R.  Spory,  of  Boswell,  Somerset 
County,  also  gave  two  new  members  not 
before  on  the  rolls. 

F  V.  Rohe,  of  Dushore,  Sullivan 
County,  rounded  up  another  two  new 

memberships.  ^,^  •  u*     -n      r-o,^ 

Robert  Getz,  of  Albrightsville,  Car- 
bon County,  also  contributed  two  new 
members  and  is  looking  for  more. 

The  following,  then,  in  compliance 
with  the  request  issued  by  the  manage- 
ment at  the  Annual  Meeting,— a  fine 
list  of  loyal  supporters— each  turned  in 
their  one  new  member: 


William     Beam,     Morgantown,     Berks 

County  „    1     r^       * 

Morris  S.  Kriebel,  Barto,  Berks  County 
C.    E.    Kemmerer,    Bethlehem,    North- 
ampton County       ,    ,  .  ^  ^        . 
Clinton  Geiger,  Neffs,  Lehigh  County 
Roger   Meckes,   Albrightsville,   Carbon 

County  ^.^      _    ,. 

R.  B.  Stutzsman,  Homer  City,  Indiana 

County  _        .     , 

J.     C.     McClurg,     Geneva,     Crawford 

County  .„        _-    , 

Oscar     Hostetter,     Thomasville,    York 

County  ^    _ 

Philip  C.  Antes,  Williamsport,  Lycom- 
ing County  ,  .  ,    ^       X 
J.R.Fetterolf,  Kempton,  Lehigh  County 
J.  Hansen  French,  Collegeville,  Mont- 
gomery County 
Joseph   H.   Fisher,    Boswell,    Somerset 

County  ^    _  ^, 

Don  Stearns,  Coudersport,  Potter 

County  ^         T    u-^u 

Fred    Zimmerman,    Kempton,    Lehigh 

County  ,  ^  .    ^       4. 

A.  C.  Harwood,  Wattsburg,  Erie  County 
Harlan  Phelps,  Liberty,  Tioga  County 
Ed  Fisher,  Coudersport,  Potter  County 
J.  M.  Lukehart,  Puxsutawney,  Jefferson 

County  ^  ^       X 

E  G.  Ifft,  Franklin,  Venango  County 
H  C.  Stockdale,  Ravenna,  Ohio 

The  entire  membership  joins  in 
thanking  the  above  men  for  their  coop- 
eration, and  in  welcoming  this  fine  list 
of  new  members  into  the  Association: 
(Some  of  these  are  not  literally  new  to 
the  Association,  but  have  been  away 
from  the  Association  for  several  years, 
and  then  returned  to  the  rolls) . 

Berks  County  : 

Andrew  G.  Kriebel,  Hereford,  Penna. 
John  P.  Moyer,  Bally,  Penna. 
Harvey  Schenkler,  Kutztown,  Penna. 

Bradford  County: 

H.  N.  Cobb,  Towanda,  Penna. 

Bucks  County  : 

Fred  P.  Fisher,  Quakertown,  Penna. 

Charles  Truscott,  Perkasei,  Penna. 

Butler  County : 

Roy  C.  Ferguson,  Valencia,  Penna. 

Cambria  County: 

George  Benshoff,  Johnstown,  Penna. 

Stenzle  Gittings,  Ebensburg,  Penna. 

(Continued  on  page  24) 


W 


u 


111 


a 


Animal  Base  Fertilizer 

and 
Raw  Bone  Manures 

Dependable  Quality  for  over  83  years  -  Farm,  Factory  or 

Warehouse  Delivery 


Oldest  Brands 

In 

AMERICA 


BAUGH  &  SONS  CO. 

20  S.  Del.  Ave. 

Philadelphia,  Pa. 


House  of  BAUGH"  founded  in  1817 


POTATO  GROWERS  it  pays  to  use  certified  seed 

HIGHER  quality  -  LARGER  YIELDS  -  MORE  PROFIT 


TWENTY  -  ONE 

YEARS  OF 

SUCCESSFUL 

POTATO 

MARKETING 


LOOK  FOR 
THE  SIGN 

OF 
QUALITY 


WE  OFFER  A  DEPENDABLE  SUPPLY  OF  CERTIFIED 


RUSSET  RURALS 
KATAHDINS 


IRISH  COBBLERS 
CHIPPEWAS 


GREEN  MOUNTAINS 
PONTIACS 


Michigan  Potato  Growers  Exchange^^nc. 

CADILLAC 


IL 


24 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


February,  1940 


MEMBERSHIP   DRIVE  SHOWS 

CONSIDERABLE   GAIN 

(Continued  from  page  22) 

Carbon  County: 

W  D.  Musser,  New  Bethlehem,  Penna. 
George  Seigworth,  Strattonville,  Penna. 
Elmer  T.  Meckes,  Albrightsville,  Penna. 

Chester  County  : 

Samuel  R.  Chalfont,  Dowington,  Penna. 
Frank  H.  Ellis,  3rd,  Elverson,  Penna. 
Gates  C.  Gilmore,  Westtown,  Penna. 
Elam  B.  Kauf f man,  Parkesburg,  Penna. 
Valentine  King,  Cochranville,  Penna. 
Laurence  Ritter,  Atglen,  Penna. 
Henry  K.  Umble,  Parkesburg,  Penna. 

Clarion  County: 

Grover  Delp,  New  Bethlehem,  Penna. 

Clinton  County : 

George  G.  Ramm,  Lock  Haven,  Penna. 

Columbia  County : 

Harold  Leiby,  Berwick,  Penna. 

John  Petro,  Catawissa,  Penna. 

Crawford  County: 

T  R.  Cain,  Conneaut  Lake,  Penna. 

D   L.  Crum,  Meadville,  Penna. 

Oscar  Swaney,  Meadville,  Penna. 

Cumberland  County: 

Mark     R.     Basehore,     Mechanicsburg, 

Ppnna 
S   D   Barehore,  Mechanicsburg,  Penna. 
J.  B.  Hulton,  Mechanicsburg,  Penna. 

Dauphin  County : 

Kenneth  Beachley,  Harrisburg,  Penna. 

Hyles  Hagy,  Harrisburg,  Penna. 

K.  W.  Lauer,  Harrisburg,  Penna. 

Erie  County : 

John  Barsukoff,  Albion,  Penna. 

W   G.  Harwood,  Wattsburg,  Penna. 

Sam  Kitcey,  Albion,  Penna. 

Mrs.    F.    G.    Mohring,    North    Girard, 

Penna.  ^     ,   ^ 

Harold  Osborne,  Waterford,  Penna. 
Chas.  L.  Weislogel,  Fairview,  Penna. 
Indiana  County: 
H  S.  Lute,  Barnesboro,  Penna. 
S.  Quay  Overdorff,  Indiana,  Penna. 

Jefferson  County : 

Dr.    J.    M.    Lukehart,    Punxsutawney, 

Penna.  _ 

Mike  Harrick,  Punxsutawney,  Penna. 

Lancaster  County : 

Elmer  Bucher,  Ephrata,  Penna. 

F.  S.  Bucher,  Lancaster,  Penna. 

Casper  S.  Eberly,  Ephrata,  Penna. 

Cyrus  B.  Ferguson,  Kirkwood,  Penna. 

Irvin  Graybill,  Stevens,  Penna. 

E.  K.  Hess,  Akron,  Penna. 

Paul  S.  Hiestand,  Marietta,  Penna. 


J.  Earl  Martin,  Mt.  Joy,  Penna 
Jeremiah  Martin,  New  Holland,  Penna. 
Tobias  Martin,  East  Earl,  Penna. 
Aaron  Nolt,  Bird-in-Hand,  Penna. 
Millard  Schoup,  Elverson,  Penna. 
J.  Carlton  Schult,  Elizabethtown, 

Penna.  _ 

Jesse  Stoltzfus,  Elverson,  Penna. 

Lebanon  County: 

H  L.  Basehore,  Annville,  Penna. 

Lyle  Beahm,  Annville,  Penna. 

Andrew  Klinefelter,  Lebanon,  Penna. 

Irwin  Krall,  Lebanon,  Penna. 

J  Mark  Kreider,  Lebanon,  Penna. 

Meyer  Milling  Company,  Lebanon, 

Penna.  _ 

Howard  Winters,  Cleona,  Penna. 

Mrs.  Sally  Zug,  Myerstown,  Penna. 

Lehigh  County: 

Frank  Tressler,  Conyngham,  Penna. 

Lycoming  County: 

T   C.  Barnfield,  Nisbet,  Penna. 

E.  J.  Waltz,  Montoursville,  Penna. 

Mercer  County: 

Robert  T.  Elder,  Grove  City,  Penna. 

Northampton  County : 

Fred  D.  Achenbach,  Pen  Argyl,  Penna. 

Dr  E  J.  Balliet,  Northampton,  Penna. 

Harold  Fehnel,  Bath,  Penna. 

Albert  C.Garr,  North  Pen  Argyl,  Penna. 

V  A  Houston,  Northampton,  Penna. 

C'  E.  Kemmerer,  Bethlehem,  Penna. 

Joseph  E.  Kemmerer,  Bethlehme, 

Penna 
Russell  S.  Uhler,  Bangor,  Penna. 
Laurence  C.  Wotring,  Pen  Argy,  Penna. 

Potter  County : 

Earl  Hyde,  Millport,  Penna. 

Schuylkill  County: 

Elvin  Huntzinger,  Hegins,  Penna. 

Earl  C.  Mengel,  Orwigsburg,  Penna. 

Arlen  F.  Seltzer,  Ringtown,  Penna. 

Lloyd  Snyder,  Valley  View,  Penna. 

Somerset  County : 

O.  D.  Barnett,  Boswell,  Penna. 

N.  L.  Diehl,  Somerfield,  Penna. 

H.  H.  Glessner,  Berlin,  Penna. 

Oscar  Good,  Boswell,Penna. 

Lester  J.  Lohr,  Boswell,  Penna. 

Peck  Brothers,  Meyersdale,  Penna. 

John  S.  Rhoades,  Stoyestown,  Penna. 

Sullivan  County: 

Joseph  D.  Murphy,  Dushore,  Penna. 

Susquehanna  County: 

Mrs.  F.  E.  Woodruff,  Montrose,  Penna. 

Tioga  County : 

Edward  Comstock,  Morris,  Penna. 

Venango  County: 

Floyd  Rice,  Diamond,  Penna. 

(Continued  on  page  26) 


COCKSHUTT  DISC  PLOWS 

The  famous  "No.  31"  COCKSHUTT  Disc 
Plow  with  overhead  beam  is  used  and  recom- 
mended by  leading  potato  growers  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  elsewhere.  Three  to  six  discs 
24"  to  28".  S  K  F  bearings.  Unusually  LIGHT 
draft. 


ALL  Dlows  are  regularly  equipped  with  spring  release  hitch.  Well  known 
Jo^atrgrTwers  havelouVthe  COCKSHUTT  No.  31  d^^^/^^^^*^^^^^ 
solution  to  their  plowing  problem.  Write  for  folders  and  names  of  users 
you  know?  Also  No.  1  COCKSHUTT  Disc  Plow  with  two  discs  for  smaller 

^'^^^'    Sold  by  all  dealers  of  the  EUREKA  Mower  Co.,  Utica,  N.  Y. 


DUANE  H    NASH 


District  Representative 


Haddonfield 


New  Jersey 


Modern  Marketing  Methods 
Call  for  Paper  Bags 

Attractively  Printed  Bags  Bring  Repeat  Orders 

HAMMOND  Betterbags 

Combine  High  Grade  Printing  with 
Essential  Strength  and  Quahty 


Hammond  Bag  &  Paper  Company 
Wellsburg,  W.  Va. 

Paper  Bags  for  Lime.  Limestone.  Fertilizer.  Flour.  Feed  and  Potatoes 


26 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


February,  1940 


I 


DR.  NIXON  COMMENTS  ON  IDEAS 
OBTAINED  FROM  FARM  SHOW 

(Continued  jrom  page  4) 
than    merely    preventing    their    bodies 
from  raveling  out  if  given  a  chance. 

Did  you  know, — 

— That  consistancy  and  conformity 
are  the  hobgoblins  of  little  minds?  Who- 
so would  be  a  designer  of  potato  equip- 
ment must  be  a  nonconformist.  A  rever- 
ence for  the  way  it  was  always  done  is 
the  other  terror  that  scares  us  from  self- 
trust. 

Confusus  say,  couldn't  hear  speakers 
at  convocation  (opening  night  at  the 
State  Show). 

Confusus  say,  announcers  voice  plain- 
ly heard  all  other  nights. 

Confusus  say,  better  let  announcers 
make  agricultural  speeches. 

Confusus  say,  political  speeches  no 
matter. 

Confusus  say,  if  convocation  night  to 
be  feature  night,  let  it  be  heard. 


evidence  of  the  disease,  but  the  tubers 
still  may  be  contaminated. 

From  the  evidence  accumulated,  by 
the  department's  Bureau  of  Plant  In- 
dustry the  principal  means  of  spreading 
the  disease  is  through  te  seed  stock. 
Although  it  may  also  be  carried  on  the 
hands,  old  bags,  graders,  planters  and 
other  equipment,  including  cellars  and 
storage  bins  in  which  infected  tubers 
were  stored. 


WATCH  SEED  STOCK  ! 
POTATO  GROWERS  TOLD 

Watch  Seed  Stock  Potato  Growers  Told 

According  to  the  State  Department 
of  Agriculture  the  Bacterial  ring-rot  dis- 
ease that  was  brought  into  Pennsyl- 
vania several  years  ago  on  seed  potatoes 
has  caused  losses  up  to  30%  fo  the  crop. 
It  has  become  so  serious  in  some  sections 
of  the  country  that  the  potato  acreage 
and  production  has  declined  as  much 
as  50%.  This  disease  is  undoubtely  the 
most  serious  of  any  that  the  Pennsyl- 
vania potato  industry  has  had  to  face 
for  many  years. 

The  department  cautions  Pennsylvan- 
ia potato  growers  to  make  a  thorough 
study  of  their  seed  source  even  though 
the  seed  stock  they  have  been  buymg 
has  been  certified.  No  seed  is  certified 
in  Pennsylvania  that  is  grown  on  farms 
where  plants  or  tubers  infected  with 
bacterial  ring-rot  as  been  found,  even 
though  the  diseased  tubers  were  found 
in  table  potatoes.  This  regulation  is  not 
being  followed  in  all  other  states  that 
are  supplying  Pennsylvania  with  cer- 
tified seed  potatoes,  although  it  is  gen- 
erally required  that  the  stocks  under 
certification  be  entirely  free  from  this 
disease.  Such  stocks  may  not  show  any 


MEMBERSHIP   DRIVE   SHOWS 

CONSIDERABLE   GAIN 

{Continued  from  page  24) 

Warren  County: 

Richard  D.  Abbey,  Warren,  Penna. 
W.  Lecant  Alcorn,  Corry,  Penna. 
Neils  Chrsitensen,  Columbus,  Penna. 
J.  P.  Fenstermacher,  Warren,  Penna. 
Carl  Garber,  Torpedo,  Penna. 
Howard  Garber,  Torpedo,  Penna. 
Stanley  Laurence,  Warren,  Penna. 
W.  C.  Leofsky,  Spring  Creek,  Penna. 
A.  P.  Lindell,  Russell,  Penna. 
Lottsville,  Milling  Company,  Bear  Lake, 

Penna. 
Allen  Marsh  Kinzua,  Penna. 
Ellis  L.  Martin,  Torpedo,  Penna. 
Gerald  R.  Owens,  Warren,  Penna. 
C.  V.  Pierce,  Torpedo,  Penna. 
J.  H.  Reagle,  Columbus,  Penna. 
Rouse  Hospital,  Youngville,  Penna. 
Carl  Spelling,  Bear  Lake,  Penna. 
Ralph  Way,  Russell,  Penna. 
C.  R.  York,  Warren  Penna. 
Westmoreland  County: 
George  G.  Connor,  Jeanette,  Penna. 
York  County : 

Roy  D.  Dubs,  Hanover,  Penna. 
V.  A.  Flinchbaugh,  Red  Lion,  Penna. 
Frank  W.  Knerr,  Bridgeton,  Penna. 
Eli  Williams,  York,  Penna. 

Out  of  State : 

Harry  S.  Buhrman,  Smithsburg,  Mary- 
land 
H.  A.  Warne,  Ridgefield,  N.  J. 
W.  E.  Flock,  Allentown,  N.  J. 
Irvin  Rohe,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
H.  J.  Evans,  Georgetown,  N.  Y. 
Curtis  L.  Cook,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
Jay  Saxton,  Avoca,  New  York 
Arthur  Jackson,  Vandalia,  Ohio 
John  K.  Graham,  Adams  Mills,  Ohio 
John  M.  Davis,  Coshocton,  Ohio 
W.  H.  Matthews,  Salem,  Ohio 
Edward  Switlinski,  Hudson,  Ohio 
A.  L.  Keller,  Morgantown,  West 

Virginia 
E.  F.  Schiele,  Racine,  Wisconsin 


.. 


Agrico  is  Manufactured  Only  by 
THE  AMERICAN  AGRICULTURAL  CHEMICAL  CO. 
Baltimore,  Md.  -  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 


__  Carteret,  N.  J. 


VISION 


This  Picker  Picked 

1,527,750 
Seed  Pieces! 


THE  LONG  LIVED 
PICKER  OF  THE 

IROMAQE 

AUTOMATIC 
POTATO   PLANTER 


This  picker  was  taken  from 
the  first  Four  Row  Iron  Age 
Potato    Planter    made,    and 
sold    to    A.     C.    Ramseyer, 
Smithville,  Ohio. 
The    Iron    Age    Automatic 
Picker  is  simple,  durable,  de- 
pendable,    accurate     and 
harmless  to  seed. 
Adjustable  for  seed  ranging 
in  size  from  \  to  4  ounces. 
These  pickers  are  almost  hu- 
man in  their  ability  to  pick  a 
piece  of  seed  every  time  the 
picker   arm   passes   through 
the  seed  chamber.  Each  pick- 
er arm  resembles  a  mechan- 
ical hand  i  n  its  precise  hand- 
ling of  the  seed. 
An    exclusive    IRON    AGE 
FEATURE. 

A.  B.  FARQUHAR  CO., 

Limited 

322  Duke  St.,  York,  Pa. 


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VOLUME  XVII  ..pr^'MiNT  STMiOH 


NUMBER  3 


aTATE. 


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MARCH 


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PuMldved  ^  the 

PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE 
POTATO  GROWERS  ASSOCIATION 

INCORPORATED 


^>k««'-»^% 


QUALITY   IN   THE  HILL.-The   aim   of  the 
potato  grower  should  be  a  good  yield  of  uniform 
quality  tubers.   Uniform  quality  of  well  shaped 
tubers  is  influenced  by  the  kind  of  seed  you 
plant-plant  good  seed  of  an  adapted  variety; 
condition  of  the  soil-provide  an  abundance  of 
humus,  well  distributed  with  the  soil;  depth  of 
planting-the  seed  pieces  should  be  3  to  4  inches 
below  the  level;  proper  cultivation  and  thorough 
spraying.    If  these  principles  and  practices  are 
adhered  to,  a  profitable  crop  of  potatoes  can  be 
grown  even  under  adversity. 


Potato  Seed  Fundamentals 

by  J.  B.  R.  Dickey,  Agronomist,  The  Pennsylvania  State  College 


One  of  the  principal  foundation  stones 
of  a  good  crop  of  potatoes  is  good  seed. 
If  the  seed  is  not  right,  or  not  handled 
rightly,  the  grower  is  handicapped  from 
the  start  and  cannot  expect  100  per  cent 
results  no  matter  how  favorable  soil,  cul- 
ture and  weather  conditions  may  be. 
Good  seed,  of  course,  assumes  seed  free 
from  disease,  preferably  seed  grown  in 
the  north  or  at  high  altitudes  where 
freedom  from  disease  and  the  essential 
vigor  of  a  crop  naturally  best  adapted 
to  cool,  moist  weather  are  most  easily 
maintained.  Seed  one  year  removed 
from  certification  may  be  satisfactory 
it  certified  seed  is  not  obtainable  or  be- 
yond the  grower's  financial  reach.  If 
one-year-removed  seed  is  to  be  planted 
it  is  a  safer  and  more  satisfactory 
proposition  if  produced  in  the  more 
northern  and  higher  altitude  counties 
where  summers  are  not  so  hot  and  dry. 

Variety 

Cobblers  still  seem  to  be  the  most 
satisfactory  early  variety  and  the  Nit- 
tany  Cobbler  is  popular.  Other  early 
varieties  have  not  gained  much  of  a 
place  in  Pennsylvania.  The  Chippewa  is 
rather  early,  but  later  than  the  Cobbler. 
It  is  a  beautiful,  smooth,  white  potato, 
but  is  susceptible  to  scab.  It  has  been 
subject  to  some  storage  troubles  but  is 
worth  trying  for  medium  early  market. 

The  Katahdin  has  risen  rapidly  in 
popularity  but  like  Cobblers  and  Chip- 
pewas  is  susceptible  to  scab.  It  is  smooth 
and  white  and  seems  remarkably  free 
of  second  growth,  growth  cracks  and 
hollow  heart.  Excellent  appearance 
has  overcome  its  somewhat  question- 
able cooking  quality.  The  potato  chip 
industry  seems  to  have  serious  trouble 
in  using  Katahdins  after  cold  weather 
sets  in.  The  Katahdin  makes  less  vine 
growth  than  the  Rurals,  which  may  be 
a  decided  advantage.  It  tends  to  set 
close  to  the  surface  so  should  be  planted 
deep  and  sometimes  requires  ridging  to 
prevent  sunburn.  Being  free  from  se- 
cond growthi  there  is  not  the  same  rea- 
son for  delaying  planting  of  Katahdins 
as  with  the  Rurals  and  Green  Moun- 
tains. 

White  or  Russet  Rurals  may  still  be 
the  safest  variety  for  the  average  grow- 
er in  spite  of  their  well-known  faults. 
If  one's  market   is  prejudiced  against 


Russets  the  next  best  bet  may  be  a  good 
white  Rural.  The  Rurals  and  Russets 
seem  the  best  keepers  and  most  popular 
with  the  chip  industry. 

There  are  a  few  new  varieties  which 
may  have  promise  but  most  of  them 
are  not  in  commercial  production  and 
not  tried  out  under  our  conditions. 

Storage 

Good  seed  should  have  the  first  set 
of  sprouts  just  nicely  visible  at  planting 
time.    Sprouted  seed  has  lost  vigor  and 
is  apt  to  make  too  many  stems  per  hill, 
especially  if  seconds  are  planted.    One 
cannot  keep  seed  potatoes  properly  in 
the  average  house  cellar,  and  certainly 
not  in   one   with   a   furnace.   To   delay 
sprouting  requires  low  temperature  in 
the  storage,  (below  40°).  This  is  often 
hard  to  maintain  as  the  weather  warms 
up     outside.     A     well-insulated    cellar 
serves  two  purposes;  namely,  prevent- 
ing freezing  and  maintaining  low  tem- 
perature in  spring.    When  the  storage 
starts  to  warm  up  and  the  potatoes  be- 
gin   to    sweat    and    sprout    in    March, 
much   might   often   be   done   by   open- 
ing everything  up  on  days,  (and  nights) , 
when  the  outside  temperature  is  low- 
er   than    the    inside    temperature,    but 
not    enough    below    freezing    to    make 
it   dangerous.    By   opening    everything 
up  on  such  cool  bright  days  and  letting 
the   wind   blow   through   one   can    dry 
out   a   lot  of   moisture   and    lower   the 
temperature  several  degrees.  When  out- 
side temperatures  are  higher  than  in- 
side the  storage   should   be   kept  shut 
tightly.  Keep  a  thermometer  in  the  stor- 
age where  a  large  volume  of  potatoes 
are  stored  in  a  very  small  space.  There 
is  need  for  some  change  of  air  to  pre- 
vent  smothering    and    internal    discol- 
oration; otherwise,  ventilation  is  largely 
a    matter    of    controlling    temperature 
and  removing  excess  moisture. 

Unless  one  has  a  really  good  storage 
the  best  way  to  keep  seed  potatoes  is 
in  a  properly  arranged  pit.  Pitting  is 
especially  good  where  one  wants  to  hold 
seed  in  a  dormant  condition  for  late 
planting.  They  will  often  come  out  in 
May  with  the  eyes  just  started.  It  is  no 
use  to  tell  how  to  pit  potatoes  now,  but 
your  County  Agent  can  give  you  di- 
rections next  fall.  If  done,  it  must  be 
done  right. 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


March,  19-30 


When  planting  is  to  be  delayed  tiU 
late  May  and  the  storage  is  so  warm 
that  seed  is  sprouting  rapidly-  s°""^ 
good  may  bo  done  by  spreading  the 
fubers  out  into  as  much  light  as  possible. 
This  tends  to  -ake  short  stocky  sprouts 
which  are  not  broken  off,  rather  tnan 
Tong  white,  brittle  sprouts.  Turning  and 
otherwise  moving  the  tubers  also  may 
help,  but  large-scale  operations  of  this 
sort  are  of  course  rather  impractical. 

Time  of  Planting 

Early  potatoes  should  be  planted  as 
early  as  possible  in  order  to  make  maxi- 
nium  growth  before  dry,  hot  weather 
stops  development.    When  to  plant  the 
ma?n  crop   is  something   of  a  gamble 
Highest  yields  in  a  favorable  season  will 
fesult  from  rather  early  planting  and 
growth  continued  as  long  as  possible. 
With  Rurals  and  Green  Mountains  early 
planting  often  leads  to  ill-shaped  tubers 
ff  August  drought  and  heat  check  but 
do  not  entirely  stop  growth.    In  an  ex- 
periment at  State   College  on  time   of 
planting   during  the   last  two  seasons, 
when  the  late  summer  continued  dry, 
the  earliest  planted  potatoes  made  the 
best  yield  and  the  lowest  percentage  ot 
small    tubers.      In    the    three    p™^.s 
years,   however,  planting   in  late  May 
lave  iust  about  as  large  total  yieMs  and 
usually  the  most  salable  crops^  Planting 
after  June  1st  always  reduced  both  the 
total  and  the  percentage  of  No.  1  stocK. 
The  yield  and  grade  with  Rurals  went 
down   more   rapidly   than   with   Green 
Mountains   after  June   1st.    Where  the 
season  is  longer,  planting  after  June  Is 
may  not  reduce  returns  so  rapidly,  but 
some  growers  are  certainly  over-doing 
the  late  planting  idea. 


Depth  of  Planting 

This  is  most  important,  especially 
with  Katahdins  which  set  shallow.  Po- 
tatoes planted  3  or  ^^mches  below  the 
level  of  the  field  will  develop  better, 
and  more  normally,  will  escape  sun- 
burn as  well  as  some  of  the  other  things 
which  reduce  quality,  and  will  almost 
invariably  make  better  yields.  Deep 
planting  depends  largely  on  deep  soil 
preparation.  No  planter  will  put  the 
seed  deeper  than  the  soil  has  been  torn 
up  with  something  such  as  a  good  spring 
harrow  run  as  near  plow  depth  as  pos- 
sible. 

Seed  Cutting 

The  safest  and  simplest  plan  is  ordi- 
narily to  get  the  seed  into  the  ground 


''  '"<ia^dr  often'resul    f^^^^^^ 
fhe 'planTer'boxlull  of  cut  seed  over  the 
noon  hour    Seed  cut  long  ahead  may  be 
corked  or  callused  over  by  holding  it 
fn  crates  or  baskets  for  about  a  week 
n  a  room  with  high  humidity  and  high 
emperature  (about  70°).  Few  have  faci- 
ftTes  for  doing  this.   The  best  place  to 
cork  it  over  is  in  the  warm,  moist  soil. 
Once  dr^ed  off  a  cut  surface  will  never 
grow  a  callus.    The  callus  stops  excess 
drying  and  resists  rots  ]ust  as  does  the 
natural  skin.    Callused  seed  will  with- 
stand   adverse    conditions    much     the 
same    as    will    small    potatoes    planted 
whole.  Cut  seed  held  in  bags  or  large 
piles  will  soon  heat  and  spoil. 

Seed  pieces  should  be  chunky,  with 
as  little  cut  surface  as  possible.  One 
and  one-half  ounce  pieces  are  about  as 
large  as  high  priced  seed  makes  econom- 
ically practicable  since  U  jounce  seed 
planted  32"  x  12"  will  require  about  24 
bushels  of  seed  per  acre. 

Small  tubers,  li  to  U  or  2  inches,  will 
make  good  seed  if  they  have  the  other 
necessary  qualifications,  but  the  prac- 
tice of  selling  the  No.  I's  and  planting 
the  No  2's  will  not  work  unless  the  No. 
I's  would  have  made  good  seed.  Seed 
smaller  than  U  inches  is  too  small  to  be 
satisfactory,  though  it  is  sometimes 
used.  "Seconds"  will  stand  more  ad- 
verse weather  in  the  ground  but  may 
best  be  planted  a  little  farther  apart  m 
the  row  to  give  room  for  the  several 
stems  often  produced.  Tubers  li  to  2  in 
size  may  be  cut  in  half  for  the  sake  of 
economy,  but  when  seed  is  cheap  all 
seconds  are  best  planted  whole. 

If  one  does  not  have,  or  cannot  get, 
good  seed  in  good  condition,  or  if  he  is 
not  able  to  care  for  it  or  plant  is  prop- 
erly, it  may  be  more  profitable  to  sell 
the  seed  as  table  stock  rather  than  to 
invest  the  other  expenses  and  labor  in- 
volved in  trying  to  grow  a  crop  where 
poor  stands,  lack  of  vigor  and  other 
factors  are  almost  bound  to  reduce  yields 
and  profits  below  cost  of  production. 
Poor  seed  is  always  poor  economy. 


When  ansewering  an  advertisement, 
please  favor  us  by  mentioning  that  you 
saw  the  advertisement  in  the  GUIDE 
POST- 


March,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


Timely  Observations  and  Suggestions 

L.  T.  Denniston,  Association 
Field  Representative 


You  are  only  a  spud  to  me 

Brown  skin  and  eyes  that  can't  see; 

On  a  hotel  menu 

You're  given  your  due. 
Though  you're  only  a  spud  to  me. 

Yes,  you're  only  a  spud  to  me, 
Despite  your  swell  family  tree; 

Creamed,  fried  or  baked. 

Your  taste  can't  be  faked. 
For  you're  only  a  spud  to  me. 

While  you're  only  a  spud  to  me. 
Your  names  lend  you  dignity; 

"Lyonaise"  on  one  day. 

The  next,  rissolee, 
Still  you're  only  a  spud  to  me. 

Shucks,  you're  only  a  spud  to  me. 
Disguised  at  times  though  you  be; 

As  "au  gratin"  or  boiled, 

My  tongue's  seldom  foiled, 
Since  you're  only  a  spud  to  me. 

Aw,  you're  only  a  spud  to  me. 
In  France  you're  a  ''pomme  de  terre", 
gee, 

"An  apple  of  earth" 

Arouses  my  mirth, 
'Cause  you're  only  a  spud  to  me. 

G'wan,  you're  only  a  spud  to  me. 
From  Idaho,  Maine  or  the  Quaker  State; 

Whether  "new"  or  just  mashed, 

Or  even  brown-hashed, 
Sure,  you're  only  a  spud  to  me. 

Oh,  you're  only  a  spud  to  me. 
But  at  meal-time  I  hail  you  in  glee; 

You  may  arrive  "diced". 

Or  even  come  "sliced". 
You're  still  just  a  spud  to  me. 


CAUSES  OF  POOR  STANDS.— That 
good  seed  results  in  better  stands  and 
increased  vigor  is  a  well  established 
fact.  A  good  stand  of  vigorous  plants 
is  one  of  the  first  steps  toward  a  good 
yield.  It  costs  no  more  to  prepare  the 
root  bed,  to  plant,  to  fertilize,  to  spray, 
to  cultivate  and  dig  an  acre  with  a  good 
stand  than  it  does  the  acre  with  a  poor 
stand.  The  use  of  good  seed  has  taught 
many  an  otherwise  careless  grower  to 
give  more  attention  to  seed  storage,  cut- 
ting, preparation  of  the  root  bed,  plant- 
ing, placement  of  fertilizer,  cultivation 
and  spraying.    Some  of  the  more  com- 


mon causes  of  "poor  stands"  are  listed 
below.  With  the  approach  of  planting 
season  it  will  be  well  to  read  these  over 
carefully  and  have  them  in  mind  as  the 
planter  starts  down  across  the  field 
some  weeks  from  now. 

1.  Poor  seed — Disease  free  seed  is  the 
first  step  towards  good  stands  of  vigor- 
ous plants. 

2.  Poor  storage— Storage  should  be 
such  as  to  prolong  dormancy  and  in  no 
way  allow  for  sprout  or  tuber  injury 
such  as  heating  or  freezing. 

3.  Careless  cutting— Each  seed  piece 
should  be  blocky  and  contain  at  least 
one  eye.  Cutters,  whether  they  be  the 
simple  knife  or  of  the  mechanically 
operated  type,  are  no  more  fool  proof 
than  the  man  who  operates  them.  Cheap 
labor  is  often  the  most  expensive  in  the 
end  on  this  job. 

4.  Seed  pieces  too  small — Seed  pieces 
should  not  be  less  than  an  ounce  in 
v/eight  and  for  economy  should  not  ex- 
ceed two  ounces.  Small  whole  seed  is 
more  certain  of  giving  a  good  stand 
than  small  cut  seed. 

5.  Exposing  cut  seed  to  hot  sun — The 
idea  is  to  plant  and  cover  seed  as  it  is 
cut. 

6.  Careless  planting — Straightness  of 
rows  and  proper  depth  are  important. 
Planters  are  not  foolproof.  The  operator 
should  be  of  fair  to  good  intelligence. 
Keep  the  hopper  well  supplied  with 
seed  and  fertilizer,  check  the  shoe  and 
cover  discs  for  dragging  clods  or  other 
obstructions.  Do  not  spill  fertilizer  in 
the  potato  hopper. 

7.  Defective  planter — See  that  the 
planter  is  in  proper  adjustment.  Make 
your  planter  do  your  planting  as  you 
desire  it  done.  Be  the  boss  of  the 
planter;  don't  allow  the  planter  to  boss 
you. 

8.  Fertilizer  injury — Fertilizer  should 
not  come  in  direct  contact  with  the  seed. 
Modern  planters  are  giving  more  at- 
tention to  fertilizer  distribution  or 
placement. 

9.  Planting  too  shallow  or  too  deep — 
Seed  should  be  planted  from  three  to 
four  inches  below  the  level  of  the  soil. 


^*;-;'';--'5-;;:''^--rt 


PREPARATION  OF  THE  ROOT  BED 


March,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


With  the  approach  of  planting  season,  the  potato  grower  should  give  most  serious 
^«cirfrratiorto  the  preparation  of  the  root  bed.  Plowing  or  working  the  soil  too 
r*  ^r  too  drv  are  nSr  conducive  to  good  planting  conditions  and  may  result 
^  unfavorable  worScond^  of  the%oil  for  the    remainder   of    the    season. 

Loosenesfand  d^^^^^^^  soil  for  planting  are  desired.    The  litter  or  organic  mal- 

hr^hould  be  we^^^  throughout  the  depth  of  the  soil  .  The  above  pic- 

ures  taken  on  tl^e  farm  ^^  Evan  D.  Lewis,  Johnstown  Cambria  County  show  a 
mist  ideal  roo"  bed  and  planting  conditions.  Note  the  loose  friable  conditions  of 
^^fsc^^r^ie  dlstrfbution  of  organic  matter,  depth  of  planting  and  the  ideal  condi- 
tion of  the  field  after  planting.    (Photographed  by  Martin  Myers). 


As  you  start  to  plant,  level  off  a  short 
space  and  see  if  you  are  planting  the 
proper  depth. 

10.  Root  bed  too  fine  or  too  compact — 
The  ideal  root  bed  is  one  that  is  loose 
but  fairly  coarse.  Work  the  soil  up 
rather  than  down.  Pulverizing  or  com- 
pacting the  soil  should  be  avoided. 

11.  Failure  to  open  soil  after  planting 
— Open  the  soil  with  the  weeder  or 
harrow  as  soon  after  each  rain  as  pos- 
sible. 

12.  Harrowing  too  deep  after  plant- 
ing— Harrowing  out  seed  after  planting 
is  mostly  due  to  too  shallow  planting. 
The  springtooth  harrow  is  an  elegant 
tool  for  breaking  the  soil  where  seed  is 
planted  the  proper  depth. 

SOME  FIGURES  ON  THE  VALUE  OF 
PLANTING  GOOD  SEED— The  follow- 
ing figures  were  presented  by  my  father, 
Thomas  Denniston,  Slippery  Rock,  But- 
ler County.  He  is  an  ardent  follower 
of  the  principles  of  potato  production 
laid  down  by  Terry,  Fritch,  and  Nixon. 
The  figures  given  here  are  not  from  an 
idle  dream  of  theory,  but  are  based  on 
numerous  checks  and  records  over  a 
period  of  years. 

•1  find  very  little  difference  in  the 
yield  or  quality  of  the  crop  produced 
from  the  very  best  northern  grown  dis- 
ease-free-seed and  that  produced  from 
seed  one-year-removed  from  a  good 
northern  source.  However,  under  my 
conditions  (Northern  Butler  County), 
to  use  the  seed  longer  means  an  ever 
decreasing  yield  of  inferior  quality. 

A  number  of  years  ago  I  came  to  the 
conclusion    that    it   payed   me   well   to 
plant  nothing  but  the  best  of  northern 
seed.    This   seed   on   the   average   cost 
me  $12.  per  acre  more  than  local  seed. 
Let  us  compare  this  new  disease-free- 
seed     with     seed     two-years-removed 
which  on  the  average  I  find  will  not 
give  within  50  bushels  per  acre  as  high 
a  yield.  Let  us  assume  yields  of  400  bu. 
and  350  bu.  per  acre  respectively  for  the 
two  sources  of  seed.    It  is  my  exper- 
ience that  I  can  secure  80%  U.  S.  No.  1. 
potatoes  on  the  direct  northern  seed  as 
against  70%  U.  S.  No.  1.  on  the  local 
two-year  seed.  The  20%  off  grade  stock 
in  the  former  will  run  on  the  average 
IS':;   seconds,  5%  pick  outs    The  30% 
off  grade  in   the  latter  will  run  20  , 
seconds  and  10%  pick  outs. 

Now  let  us  assume  that  potatoes  are 


$1.  per  bushel  for  U.  S.  No.  1.  stock 
and  assume  that  pick  outs  and  seconds 
are  each  worth  $.60  per  bu.  But  one 
thing  we  must  take  into  account,  with 
good  storage,  I  can  get  as  much  (for 
seed)  for  my  number  2's  or  B's  out  of 
my  new  northern  seed  as  I  do  for  the  U. 
S.  No.  1.  or  $1.  per  bushel. 

Now  let  us  compare  the  two  on  the 
basis  of  these  facts. 

Northern  disease-free-seed: 

Total    yield 400  bu. 

Yield   U.    S.   No.    1 320 

Yield  U.  S.  No.  1  Size  B     60   . . . 

Yield  pick  outs 20   ... 

Total    receipts 

Less  additional  seed  cost. 


•    •   •    • 


$320. 

60. 

12. 
.$392. 

12. 
$380. 


Local  seed: 


bu. 

$245. 
42. 
21. 
$308. 
seed  $72. 


Total   yield 350 

Yield  U.   S.   No.    1 245 

Yield  U.  S.  No.  1  Size  B.    70 

Yield  pick  outs 35 

Total    receipts 

Difference  in  favor  of  northern 

I  have  not  been  troubled  during  these 
years  with  stem  end  discoloration  of 
which  we  hear  so  much  and  of  which 
so  many  growers  are  complaining. 
Whether  the  continued  policy  of  plant- 
ing nothing  but  the  best  northern  seed 
is  responsible  for  my  being  free  of  this 
trouble  I  do  not  know.  I  am  firmly  con- 
vinced that  by  planting  good  seed  and 
giving  the  best  care  and  culture  pos- 
sible we  can  grow  as  good  potatoes  as 
can  be  grown  anywhere  in  the  country. 

ON  BUYING  SEED  POTATOES— Here 

are  a  few  guiding  questions  to  ask  your- 
self when  it  comes  to  buying  seed  for 
planting  the  1940  crop:— 

1.  Was  the  seed  I  am  about  to  buy 
produced  in  a  proven  seed  area,  or  at 
least  no  older  than  one-year-removed 
from  such  a  proven  area? 

2.  Were  the  fields  in  which  it  was 
produced  thoroughly  rogued  during 
the  growing  season  to  remove  diseased 
plants?  (or)  Was  the  seed  planted  so 
free  of  disease  and  from  a  recognized 
foundation-seed-source  so  as  to  insure 
a  very  low  disease  content? 

3.  Was  the  seed  carefully  harvested 
and  stored  under  favorable  conditions 
conducive  to  preserving  its  vitality, 
keeping  it  dormant  and  firm  for  plant- 
ing? 

(Continued  on  page  20) 


8 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


March,  194U 


March,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


9 


THE  GUIDE  POST 

Published  monthly  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Cooperative  Potato  Growers,  Inc. 

OFFICERS 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  Emlenton  ..President 
Roy  R.  Hess,  Stillwater   . . .  .Vice-Pres. 

E.  B.  Bower,  Bellefonte, 

Sec'y-Treas.  and  Gen.  Mgr. 


DIRECTORS 

Jacob  K.  Mast Elverson,  Chester 

P.  Daniel  Frantz Coplay,  Lehigh 

Hugh  McPherson Bridgeton,  York 

John  B.  Schrack Loganton,  Clinton 

Roy  R.  Hess Stillwater,  Columbia 

Ed.  Fisher Coudersport,  Potter 

Charles  Frey   North  Girard,  Erie 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.l,  Emlenton,  Venango 
R.  W.  Lohr   Boswell,  Somerset 

Annual  membership  fee  $1.00.  This  in- 
cludes the  Guide  Post. 

All  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary -Treas- 
urer and  General  Manager,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania. 


Days  of  March 

WARNING 

I  looked  out  over  my  garden 

And  saw  a  gray  chicadee 
Eating  the  purple  berries 

On  a  dark  green  cedar  tree— 

A  friendly  cedar  tree. 

I  thought  he  seemed  to  listen, 
And  like  the  dripping  sound 

The  melting  snow  was  making, 
To   something   underground- 
Some  listener  underground. 

It  may  be  some  one  answered 
With  words  I  do  not  know 

(I've  never  heard  a  crocus  bulb 
Stir  under  the  soft  snow- 
Under  the  melting  snow). 

But  bulbs  and  roots  are  waiting 
And  hear  the  melting  song; 

In  musical  slow  numbers 
It  says:  ''It  will  not  be  long- 
It  will  not  be  very  long." 

— Louise  Driscoll. 


OUR  PRESIDENT  SAYS— 

Siens  of  Spring  are  all  about  us  these 
days-Snow  is  melting  and  runnmg 
offfMaple  sugar  is  in  the  m^^ing;  and 
Robins  are  returnmg  to  the  farms 
again;  but  the  surest  and  best  sign  we 
see  of  Spring  as  we  journey  among  the 
potato   growers    of    Pennsylvania    are 

the  old  potato  Pla^,^/^^^f;\^^fu^c^ 
from  under  the  chalf  piles  on  the  back 
of  the  barn  floors,  cleaned  up  and  check- 
ed over  for  new  parts  needed.  What  s 
that*^  Should  have  been  done  last  year 
before  putting  the  planters  away? 
Granted!  But  better  done  now  than 
waiting  until  the  seed  is  half  cut  and 
the  ground  all  ready. 

Good  potato  growers  are  also  busy 
spreading  out  the  seed  pile  so  sprouting 
may  be  held  to  a  minimum,  as  they 
know  that  many  careless  people  lose 
a  good  percentage  of  their  Prospective 
crops  before  they  even  plant  them  by 
using  badly  sprouted  seed. 

And  what  a  contented  feeling  we 
have  as  we  look  over  our  storage  and 
think  how  simple  it  was  to  sell  our  last 
year's  crop.  Just  a  matter  of  packing 
in  Blue  Label  pecks,  writing  the  State 
Office  at  Bellefonte  to  sell  them,  truck- 
ing them  to  market,  and  getting  direct 
our  check  back,  in  full,  in  only  a  few 
days. 

What  a  fortunate  lot    of    people    we 
Pennsylvania  Potato  Growers  are. 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  President. 

NEW  USES  FOR  POTATOES 

The  National  Farm  Chemurgic  Coun- 
cil in  a  recent  news  bulletin,  issued 
February  10,  1940,  published  the  follow- 
ing interesting  information  on  new  uses 
for  potatoes: 

"Potatoes   may   occupy   a   prominent 
place  in  the  life  of  man,  but  they  prom- 
ise to  become    increasingly    important 
through  the  experiments  of  Herman  C. 
Nielsen,     an  industrial  research  chem- 
ist who  has  produced  some  twenty-four 
by-products  from    them    in    the  labor- 
atory  maintained   in   the  basement   of 
his  summer  home  at  Trufant,  Michigan. 
"Included   in   the    articles    produced 
are  starch,  flour,  flakes,  crumbles,  water 
paste,   acoustic  plaster,   pancake   flour, 
imitation     stone,     plastic     wood,     wall 
board,  floor  tiles,  wall  finish,  cloth  siz- 
ing, paper  glaze,  wall  paper  cleanser, 
caustic  potash,  gin  and  cologne  spirits. 
(Continued  on  page  13) 


The  Life  Story  of  a  Seed  Potato 


by  A.  Certified  Spud 


The  story  of  how  I  came  to  be  classed 
as  a  certified  spud  started  one  spring 
day  when  I  was  scooped  up  from  a  po- 
tato bin  and  cut  into  pieces,  trucked  out 
to  a  field  on  top  of  a  mountain  and 
planted.  This  really  wasn't  as  bad  as  I 
thought  it  would  be,  because  I  was 
planted  in  nice  soft  ground  where  I 
could  get  lots  of  food  and  moisture. 

In  a  short  time  I  started  to  grow  and 
in  less  than  two  weeks  I  peeped  through 
the  ground.  During  all  this  time  I  was 
cultivated  and  my  bed  kept  in  a  loose 
and  refreshing  condition. 

It  seemed  after  I  developed  my  first 
leaves  life  was  just  one  blamed  thing 
after  another.  If  it  wasn't  the  sprayer 
or  cultivator  it  was  the  cold  steel  teeth 
of  the  weeder  scratching  past  me.  I  felt 
bad  the  first  time  this  happened  and 
found  it  was  only  the  beginning  of  this 
weeding  business  and  each  time  the 
weeder  passed  over  me  I  felt  sure  that 
my  end  had  come.  The  weeder  did  me 
no  injury  however,  and  I  soon  learned 
that  it  scratched  out  all  the  small  weeds 
that  were  trying  to  get  started  and  rob 
me  of  my  food  supply.  This  gave  me  a 
better  chance  until  finally  I  grew  to 
such  a  size  that  I  shaded  the  ground 
around  me  and  weeding  was  no  longer 
necessary. 

When  i  came  through  the  ground 
about  the  time  you  could  see  that  rny 
brother  spuds  and  I  were  planted  in 
rows  I  received  my  first  baptism  of 
spray  that  kept  the  blight  spores  and 
insects  from  attacking  me.  This  spray- 
ing operation  kept  up  quite  regularly 
until  the  frost  killed  all  my  leaves.  I 
got  so  that  I  really  enjoyed  the  fine  mist 
from  the  sprayer  since  it  refreshed  and 
cleansed  me  during  the  hot  days  in  July 
and  August.  ^,         , 

My  trials  and  tribulations  really  got 
under  way,  however,  when  I  reached  a 
height  of  about  ten  inches.  At  that  time 
an  expert  from  the  State  College  Exten- 
sion Service  came  along  with  the  county 
agent  and  a  fellow  that  called  himself 
a  potato  roguer.  They  stopped  :mc[ex- 
an.ined  me  and  the  expert  pointed  to 
one  of  my  brothers  and  said  he  has  leat- 
roll  or  mosaic  or  something  like  tnai. 
The  roguer  pulled  him  out  and  rtucK 
him  in  a  bag  and  carried  him  out  of  the 
field.  These  fellows  made  a  study  ot 
our  health  and  diseases  and  about,  every 


two  weeks  the  roguer  came  through 
and  pulled  out  those  of  my  brothers 
who  were  ailing  or  diseased  and  carried 
them  away. 

One  day  during  late  August  another 
fellow  came  along  who  wasn't  very  im- 
posing but  as  soon  as  he  stopped  to  look 
at  me  I  knew  he  understood  his  s^juds. 
This  person  I  could  tell  was  a  scientist. 
When  he  saw  how  vigorous  r.nd  sound 
I  was  he  decided  he  wanted  one  of  the 
members  of  my  family  to  cross  with  a 
wild  potato  that  he  brought  to  Pennsyl- 
vania   from    South  America.     He  saw 
that  I  was  from  a  prolific  family  so  he 
selected  my  Grandad  and  crossed  him 
with  this  wild  South  American  senorita. 
This  damsel  had  color  and  the  vigor  of 
youth  in  her  veins.     While  it  was    too 
much  for  Grandpa,  for  he  nassed  out  of 
the  picture  after  the  cross  \^'as  made,  it 
sure  made  me  feel  good  to  think  that  a 
member  of  my  family  should  be  select- 
ed by  this  "Potato  Wizard"    for    a    re- 
search project  at  Camp  Potato  to  start 
a  new  family  of  spuds. 

The  fellow  that  really  gave  me  the 
jitters  though  was  the  state   -.aspector 
from  the  Department  of  Agriculture  at 
Harrisburg.     He  was  the  first  to  come 
aroimd  and  examine  me  and  the  last 
one  to  look  at  my    leaves   before    they 
were  frosted.    He  always  carried  a  rec- 
ord book  under  his  arm    and    a  pencil 
over  his  ear.    The  first  time  he  examin- 
ed me    was    before    the    roguer    came 
through.   He  felt  at  my  leaves  and  no- 
ticed how  smooth  and  velvety  they  were. 
As    he    walked    along    he    frequently 
made  notes  on  my  health.  On  each  side 
of  the  field  in  which  I  grew  he  looked 
over  the  fence  for  other  potatoes  that 
might  be  diseased  and  in  this  way  con- 
taminate  the   pure   blood   that   flowed 
through  my  veins.  After  the  second  ro- 
guing  he   came   around   again   making 
further  examinations  on  my  thrift  and 
vigor  as  well  as  the  care  and  attention 
that  had  been  given  to  me.  After  the  ro- 
guer gave  me  the  final  once  over  the 
inspector  came  through  again  and  while 
he  did  not  find  any  disease  he  pulled  up 
several  of  my  brothers  and  sacrificed 
them,  as  he  said  to  my  boss,  on  the  altar 
of  science.  Each  one  of  these  brothers 
was  cut  up  and  examined  for  internal 
discoloration.  After  this  inspection  he 
(Continued  on  page  22) 


10 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


March.  1940 


A  Short  Story  in  Fundamentals 

(Editor's  note:  A  True  incident  of  the  1938-1939  Season.    Names  are  fictitious) 


*'Maw,  I  just  can't  let  these  potatoes 
go  for  40c  to  that  huckster,  Reuben 
Goldberg.  He  says  the  market  is  off 
five  cents,  but  45  was  too  low  for  the 
last  load." 

''No  Paw,  it  doesn't  seem  right  to  let 
all  your  potatoes  go  for  less  than  it  cost 
to  raise  them.  You  grew  such  nice  ones 
last  summer,  too.  I  hoped  these  last 
ones  would  bring  more  money  and  not 
less." 

Following  this  conversation  between 
farmer  John  Brickter  and  his  wife  a  car 
drove  in  the  lane,  a  man  alighted,  came 
over  to  John  and  his  wife,  and  intro- 
duced himself  as  Mr.  Spool  of  the  State 
Department  of  Agriculture. 

'Is  this  Mr.  Brickter?  Glad  to  know 
you— and  Mrs.  Brickter  too.  Was  ad- 
vised by  the  County  Agent  that  you  had 
about  500  bushels  of  potatoes  left  which 
the  truckers  were  "stealing."  With  a 
little  closer  grading  than  the  truckers 
require,  believe  you  can  realize  more 
for  your  stock  if  you  pack  in  the  state 
association  bag." 

Mr  Brickter  was  interested  in  the 
idea  of  grading  closer  for  a  greater  re- 
turn and  asked  a  number  of  questions 
of  Mr  Spool  relative  to  the  grades,  cur- 
rent market  quotations  and  the  proper 
method  of  packing  potatoes  to  comply 
with  the  best  trade  practices  and  the 
Potato  Law. 

Following  Mr.  Spool's  visit,  farmer 
Brickter  called  Mr.  Bower  at  Bellefonte 
for  some  labeled  bags  and  for  an  order 
to  deliver  1000  pecks  to  the  warehouse 
of  a  nearby  retail  distributor.  When 
the  bags  arrived  in  a  few  days  he  pro- 
ceeded to  pack  the  potatoes  according 
to  instructions  of  the  local  inspector, 
who  was  called  in  to  assist.  The  spuds 
were  graded  and  trucked  ten  miles  to 
the  receiving  station. 

A  few  days  later  John  came  in  from 
the  mail  box  with  the  morning  paper 
and  other  mail  in  his  hand.  He  was 
busy  examining  one  particular  letter  as 
he  sauntered  along.  Then  he  started  a 
quicker  pace  and  bursting  into  the 
kitchen,  exclaimed  "Well,  Maw  here's 
the  check  for  those  potatoes,  $240.00  it 
amounts  to.  It  says  here  they  brought 
24c  a  peck,  that  is  96c  a  bushel.  Had  no 


idea  when  I  talked  with  Mr.  Bower  on 
the  phone  that  they  were  bringing  that 
much.  That's  more  than  twice  what 
Goldberg  offered  and  I  can  get  60c  a 
hundred  for  the  pick-outs." 


WHAT  I  LIVE  FOR 

I  live  for  those  who  love  me, 

Whose  hearts  are  kind  and  true; 
For  the  Heaven  that  smiles  above  me. 

And  awaits  my  spirits,  too. 
For  all  human  ties  that  bind  me. 

For  the  task  my  God  assigned  me, 
For  the  bright  hopes  left  behind  me, 

And  the  good  that  I  can  do. 

I  live  to  learn  their  story, 

Who  suffered  for  my  sake; 
To  emulate  their  glory, 

And  follow  in  their  wake; 
Bards,  patriots,  martyrs,  sages. 

The  noble  of  all  ages. 
Whose   deeds   crown   History's   pages» 

And  Time's  great  volume  make. 

I  live  to  hail  that  season, 

By  gifted  minds  foretold. 
When  men  shall  live  by  reason, 

And  not  alone  by  gold; 
When  man  to  man  united. 

And  every  wrong  thing  righted. 
The  whole  world  shall  be  lighted. 

As  Eden  was  of  old. 

I  live  for  those  who  love  me, 

For  those  who  know  me  true; 
For  the  Heaven  that  smiles  above  me. 

And  awaits  my  spirit,  too; 
For  the  cause  that  needs  assistance, 

For  the  wrongs  that  need  resistance, 
For  the  future  in  the  distance. 

And  the  good  that  I  can  do. 

—from  McGuffey's  Readers 


A  mule  we  find, 

Two  legs  behind 
And  two  we  find  before. 

We  stand  behind 

What  the  two  behind 
Before. 

(Contributed  by  J.  K.  Mast  who  warns, 
stay  away  from  mules!) 


March,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


11 


1 


POTATO  CHIPS 


In  winter  I  am  stern  and  strong 
My  thoughts  are  cold  and  high 
My  intellect  is  thawing  now 
Three  cheers  for  spring  say  I! 

The  above  ditty,  not  because  spring  is 
here,  but  because  a  few  bright  days  and 
birds  singing  outside  the  bedroom  win- 
dow of  an  early  morning  starts  up  that 
old  hankering  in  the  old  bones  for 
spring. 


down  on  his  meat  and  bun  orders,  took 
down  his  advertising  signs,  and  no 
longer  bothered  to  stand  out  on  the 
highway  to  sell  his  hot  dogs.  And  his 
hot  dog  sales  fell  almost  overnight. 

"You're  right,  son,"  the  father  said  to 
the  boy.  "We  certainly  are  in  the  mid- 
dle of  a  great  depression." 


Much  has  been  written  about  the 
"Bacterial  ring  rot"  or  "Bacterial  soft 
rot"  but  another  blast  from  this  column 
will  do  no  harm.  The  disease  spreads 
with  the  seed  and  the  cutting  knife  is  an 
important  means  of  spreading  the  bac- 
teria from  diseased  to  healthy  tubers. 
That  means  small  tubers  which  do  not 
have  to  be  cut  will  make  better  planting 
stock  in  case  of  any  doubt.  Better  not 
to  have  any  doubt,  however,  by  secur- 
ing seed  stock  from  sources  known  to  be 
absolutely  free  from  contamination. 

From  "Feedstuff"  comes  the  follow- 

Origin  of  a  Depression 

There  was  a  man  who  lived  by  the 
side  of  the  road  and  he  sold  hot  dogs. 

He  was  hard  of  hearing,  so  he  had  no 
radio. 

He  had  trouble  with  his  eyes,  so  he 
read  no  newspapers. 

But  he  sold  good  hot  dogs.  He  put 
signs  up  on  the  highway,  telling  how 
good  they  were. 

He  stood  on  the  side  of  the  road  and 
cried,  "Buy  a  hot  dog,  mister?'  And 
people  bought. 

He  increased  his  meat  and  bun  orders. 
He  bought  a  bigger  stove,  to  take  care 
of  his  trade.  He  finally  got  his  son  home 
from  college  to  help  him. 

But  then  something  happened.  His 
son  said,  "Father,  haven't  you  been  lis- 
tening to  the  radio?  Haven't  you  been 
reading  the  newspapers?  There  s  a  big 
depression  on.  The  European  situation 
is  terrible.  The  domestic  situation  is 
worse.    Everything's  going  to  pot. 

Whereupon  the  father  thought,  ''Well, 
my  son's  been  to  college,  he  reads  the 
papers  and  he  listens  to  the  raf  ^^^^^^^ 
ho  ought  to  know."    So  the  father  cut 


Sometimes  one  hears  the  statement 
that  buyers  don't  regard  grades  in  buy- 
ing produce.  Fact  of  the  matter  is  that 
456,000  carloads  of  produce— nearly  half 
a  million  mind  you— were  packed  ac- 
cording to  the  U.  S.  grades  and  certified 
by  shipping-point  inspectors  in  1939. 
That's  about  half  of  all  the  produce 
grown  so  the  buyers  are  considering 
grades  to  a  remarkable  degree. 

Although  many  investigators  have 
studied  the  factors  affecting  the  cooking 
quality  of  potatoes,  many  confusing  re- 
sults have  occurred.  Everyone  doesn't 
agree  on  what  constitutes  "Good  cook- 
ing quality"  so  we  don't  even  all  start 
from  the  same  place.  But  be  that  as  it 
may  most  people  prefer  potatoes  to  cook 
mealy  and  on  that  basis  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing to  be  pretty  well  agreed  on  by 
the  experimenters: 

1  Fertilizer  applications  can  be  var- 
ied to  maintain  both  high  quality  and 
yield. 

2  High  potash  ratios  decrease  cooking 
quality  while  high  phosphorus  ra- 
tios improve  quality  and  increase 
yields  slightly. 

3.  Small  amount  of  boron  in  the  ferti- 
lizer seems  to  improve  the  appear- 
ance of  the  potatoes,  but  does  not  im- 
prove cooking  quality. 

4  Climatic  and  soil  conditions  are 
probably  more  important  than  fer- 
tilizer ratios  in  affecting  quality. 

The  cooperative  movement  offers  the 
best  defense  for  the  continuation  of  de- 
mocracy. This  movement  by  returning 
savings  to  farmers  raises  their  purchas- 
ing power.  Dictators  thrive  on  the 
breakdown  of  the  economic  structure 
which  breaks  down  when  the  purchas- 
ing power  of  the  people  fails.  Support- 
ing the  cooperative  movement  guar- 
antees support  for  our  democratic  in- 
stitutions. 


12 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


March,  1940 


Increased   sales   of   certified   seed   to 
South  America  from  the  United  States 
and  Canada  are  forseen  this  year  by  the 
U.   S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture.     Certified 
seed  stock  purchased  for  Argentma  in 
recent  years  has  mostly  been  imported 
from    Canada,    Denmark,    The    United 
States,    The   Netherlands   and   Estonia. 
Because  that  from  the  U.  S.  and  Canada 
has  been  most  satisfactory  and  because 
of  the  hostilities  in  Europe  it  is  expected 
that  few  if  any  potatoes  will  be  import- 
ed from  Europe  and  that  imports  from 
the  U.S.  and  Canada  will  be  used  almost 
entirely  for  the  1939-40  crop.    This  will 
be  a  sizeable  factor  for  the  U.S.  certified 
seed  growers  who  shipped  only  32,000 
bushels  to  Argentina  during  the  entire 
1938-39  season  and  have  shipped  more 
than  200.000  bushels  to  date  this  season. 


The  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture  reports 
that  from  present  indications,  a  1940 
crop  of  potatoes  of  384,000,000  bushels 
may  be  expected  with  average  yields. 
Since  there  has  been  a  decline  in  per 
capita  consumption  the  production  most 
likely  to  result  in  parity  prices  is  about 
360,000,000.  Therefore,  barring  unusual 
weather  conditions  there  may  be  ap- 
proximately 25,000,000  bushels  more 
than  will  bring  satisfactory  returns  to 
growers. 


Those  who  did  not  read  the  article  on 
Pennsylvania  certified  seed  by  K.  W. 
Lauer  in  the  March  issue  of  the  "Penn- 
sylvania Co-op  Review"  should  get  to 
see  a  copy.  The  historical  and  current 
facts  about  this  essential  state  service 
arc  related  in  a  most  interesting  style. 


getting  nation-wide  attention.  Hardly 
a  day  goes  by  when  inquiries  do  not 
come  by  mail  from  points  near  and  far 
about  these  activities.  In  a  few  days 
recently,  requests  for  information  were 
received  at  the  Bellefonte  office  from 
many  points  in  Penna.  and  from  North 
Carolina,  Canada,  New  York,  Ohio,  and 
the  New  Jersey  State  College  of  Agri- 
culture, which  requested  a  complete  set 
of  the  1939  "Guide  Posts"  and  full  par- 
ticulars about  Camp  Potato. 


Was  interested  to  know  that  Roger 
Meckes  of  Albrightsvillc,  who  furnished 
some  of  the  baking  potatoes  at  the  1940 
Farm  Show,  is,  besides  being  a  large 
producer  of  potatoes,  quite  a  factor  in 
the  Christmas  tree  trade  in  Eastern 
Penna.  cities.  Mr.  Meckes  travels  to  the 
wilds  of  Canada  each  year  where  he 
purchases  as  many  as  65  carloads  of 
Christmas  trees  yearly,  which  are  sold 
in  Philadelphia  and  other  Eastern 
Penna.  markets.  That's  quite  a  nice 
little  sideline,  I'd  say! 


The  Pennsylvania  Potato  Program, 
Camp  Potato,  the  "Guide  Post"  and  oth- 
er activities  of  the  Pennsylvania  Coop- 
erative Potato  Growers  Assn.  are  really 


Which  brings  to  mind  that  Dr.  Nixon 
recently  addressed  the  New  Jersey  po- 
tato growers  at  their  annual  meeting  at 
Trenton,  where  he  discussed  activities 
of  the  Marketing  Program  and  Camp 
Potato  before  an  interested  audience. 


Have  received  word  that  fruit  grow- 
ers of  New  Jersey  have  during  the  past 
winter  carried  on  successfully  a  direct 
apple  selling  campaign,  patterned  some- 
what along  the  same  lines  as  the  Penna. 
Potato  Program.  In  fact  it  has  proved 
so  successful  that  fresh  vegetables  such 
as  corn,  peas,  beans,  and  asparagus  may 
be  added  to  the  program  next  summer. 


Governor  Lehman  of  New  York  State 
recently  made  the  following  statement: 

"Great  Progress  has  been  made  in  co- 
operative buying  and  selling  by  farmers 
during  the  past  decade.  Farmer-owned 
co-operatives  are  for  the  most  part  in 
sound  condition  and  rendering  a  great 
service  to  producer  and  consumer  alike. 
I  have  repeatedly  expressed  my  confi- 
dence in  cooperative  action  for  farmers 
and  my  belief  that  most  of  the  problems 
of  agriculture  will  ultimately  be  solved 
by  farmers  themselves  working  togeth- 
er in  cooperative  associations.  The  State 
through  legislation  should  continue  to 
do  whatever  it  can  to  strengthen  this 
movement." 


Sometimes  deliveries  of  Blue  Labels 
are  accepted  by  retail  distributors,  even 
though  not  up  to  the  grade  specifica- 
tions, whereby  the  growers  may  feel 
that  he  has  gotten  away  with  something. 
That's  not  the  right  attitude  as  con- 
tinued deliveries  of  inferior  quality 
where  the  best  quality  is  represented 
will  kill  any  marketing  program  or  es- 
tablished brand  or  trade-mark  deader 
than  the  old  "Dodo  Bird." 

"Bill    Shakespud." 


March,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


13 


POTATO  OUTLOOK 


By    the  "Observer' 


Strange  as  it  may  seem    the    potato 
market   has   weakened   a   little   in   the 
past  month,  yet  the  market  is  funda- 
mentally   stronger.      That   sounds   like 
a   contradictory    statement   which  may 
require    further     explanation.     During 
the  month  of  February  the  going  quota- 
tions in  the    Philadelphia    market    de- 
clined 10  to  15c  a  cwt.  and  were  slightly 
lower   in   Pittsburgh   and   at   principal 
producing  sections  of  the  country.    Al- 
so, during  the  month,  the  visible  supply 
of  potatoes  available  to  the  first  of  May 
decreased  considerably  more  than  nor- 
mal.    Shipments  during  February  con- 
tinued heavy  to  further  deplete  the  sup- 
ply of  the  late  crop,  while  the  severe 
cold  spell  in  the  south  delayed  the  early 
crop  to  the  extent  that  no  worth-while 
competition  from  that  source  may  be 
expected   before   May    1st.     Ordinarily 
the  volume  of  the  early  crop  begins  to 
be    heavy    enough    by    the    middle    of 
March  to  have  a  considerable  bearing 
on  the  market  level.    During  1939,  6,406 
cars    of   new    potatoes    where   shipped 
prior  to  May  1st,  while  in  1938,  10,716 
cars  moved.     To  March  1st,  this  year, 
only    700    cars    of    new    potatoes   have 
moved,  and,  because  of  the  set-back  be- 
cause of  freezing  temperatures  in  Flori- 
da, Texas,    Louisianna,    Alabama    and 
Mississippi  no  heavy  volume  is  expect- 
ed from  southern  states  until  the  late 
crop  is  pretty  well  out  of  the  way,  early 
in  May. 

Shipments  from  Maine,  which  were 
slow  early  in  the  season,  have  picked  up 
so  that  to  date  they  are  only  1000  cars 
below  the  same  time  last  year.  Idaho, 
Colorado,  New  York.  North  Dakota, 
Washington  and  Nebraska  shipments 
all  exceed  those  of  last  year  to  March 
1st  with  Minnesota  running  slightly  be- 
low last  year  and  Michigan  shipments 
much  less.  With  heavy  shipments  reg- 
ularly from  most  heavy  producing 
states,  the  market  has  held  remarkable 
strength,  probably  because  the  trade 
realizes  the  available  supply  of  old 
stock  cannot  last  much  longer  and  be- 
cause the  competition  from  the  new 
cannot  be  much  of  a  factor  for  nearly 
two  months.  The  seed  potato  market 
has  been  active  with  demand  strong, 
particularly  for  certified  stock  on  which 
a  shortage  has  developed.  This  always 
affects  the   table   stock   market,    since 


better  quality  table  stock  is  then  divert- 
ed into  the  seed  market.  The  increased 
demand  for  certified  seed  stock  this 
year  has  been  due  to  a  number  of 
causes.  First,  the  1939  production  was 
not  large,  second,  a  normal  increase  in 
the  use  of  certified  seed  each  year,  third, 
the  cold  wave  in  the  south  which  froze 
much  seed  in  storage  or  just  planted 
and  fifth,  greatly  increased  shipments 
to  South  America  because  of  war  con- 
ditions in  Europe. 

It  does  not  necessarily  follow  that  it 
will  pay  everyone  to  hold  all  stocks  an- 
ticipating an  extremely  high  market 
late  in  the  season.  The  market  is  al- 
readv  at  a  higher  level  than  a  year  ago 
(about  50c  a  cwt.)  which  means  greater 
resistance  to  rapid  or  substantial  price 
advancements.  Also  greater  sale  of 
size  B  and  off  ^rade  stock  may  be  ex- 
pected, than  if  the  market  were  at  a 
lower  level,  to  further  increase  the 
available  market  supply.  In  other 
words,  conditions  look  quite  favorable 
for  a  stronger  market  late  in  the  season, 
although  a  sufficient  advance  to  offset 
heavy  losses  from  late  storing  are  not 
assured,  or  at  least  may  be  considered 
very  speculative. 

NEW  USES  FOR  POTATOES 

(Continued  jrom  page  8) 

He  also  discovered  that  the  probable 
reason  for  lots  of  potatoes  turning 
black  or  discoloring  in  cooking  is  that 
they  are  grown  on  land  deficient  in 
potash.  Apply  fertilizer  of  high  potash 
content,  he  says,  and  plow  under  green 
manure  crops. 

"He  believes  the  by-products  could 
be  produced  economically  from  pota- 
toes in  surplus  and  low-price  years. 
Potato  growers  will  look  forward  to  the 
time  when  such  markets  are  available 
to  them." 

(This  clipping  through  the  courtesy 
of  G.  Douglas  Jones,  of  Cleveland,  O.) 

Smiling  Out  Loud 

"Willie,  you  know  you  musn't  laugh 
in  the  classroom." 

"I  know,  ma'am,  but  I  was  smiling 

and  the  smile  burst."  ..  ^    . 

.    Cincinnati  Post 


tji 


14 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


March,  1940 


Ohio  Marketing  Meeting  of  Unusual  Interest 


President  J.  A.  Donaldson,  Director 
Ed  Fisher,  General  Manager,  b.  B- 
BoWer,  and  the  writer,  in  connection 
with  another  matter,  incidentally  sat  n 
on  an  open  meeting  of  an  Ohio  Potato 
Growers  Association  last  week. 

A  phenominal  thing  occurred  in  this 
meeting  which  had  never  happened  in 
all  the  meetings  of  a  similar  nature  in 
Pennsylvania. 

First,  an  actual  consumer,  who  was 
interested  only  from  a  consumer  s  view- 
point, spoke  extemporaneousl.y  on  the 
quality  of  potatoes  put  up  in  the  Ohio 

^^i^S,  fpttato  dealer  who  purchases 
outright  large  quantities  of  Ohio  pota- 
toes spoke  extemporaneously  on  the 
marketing  of  potatoes  from  his  view- 

^°Third  two  large  chain  store  rcpre- 
sentSes,"who  purchase  and  distribute 
large  quantities  of  potatoes  spoke  ex- 
temporaneously in  favor  of  identified 
consumer  packages. 

Fourth,  growers  who  had  actual  ex 
peHence  in  packing  and  selling  identi- 
fied consumer  packs  spoke  extempor- 
aneously in  favor  of  marketing  their  po- 
tatoes in  this  manner. 

And  finally,  a  grower  who  had,  as  ne 
saw  a  good  market  for  his  potatoes  put 
no  "Farmer's  grade"  in  any  kind  of  bag 
Z  /-sTburllp  preferred)  spoke  ex- 
temporaneously against  consumer  pack- 

^^fhe  only  other  channel  of  trade  not 
represented  at  this  meeting  was  the 
commission  merchant. 

Here  we  witnessed  the  aims  and  as- 
r^irntfonrof  the  representatives  of  every 
Ee  o  the  potato  industry  from  the 
S,  nHucer  to  the  consumer,  inclusive. 
^  The  significant  thing  was  that  even 
the  consumer  did  n°t  complain  that  he 

•  ^  tnn  much  for  his  identified  con- 
Lmer  package.  He  did  infer,  however, 
fh^t  he  had  been  over  sold  on  the  pack- 
aee  He  indicated  that  the  tubers  in  the 
nackaees  were  not  as  large  and  smooth 

S=r^fwSThe-g%^u^n^°.^rn|^ 

Hl^saTdfhie'Jerrsmall  tubers  in  the 
"fckage  How  small,  and  how  many? 
?«?K»n  i^  a  tuber  small?  Everything  is 

^^/♦?vf  savs  Einstein.  All  tubers  are 
relat  ve,  says  tms  elephants, 

small  when  comparea  w  ^  „\  ^ 
This  package  was  ^  G^ate  Way  orana 
and  I'll  bet  my  bottom  dollar  tnai  mt 


tubers  in  the  package  were  up  to  the 
minimum  set  for  this  grade  The  moral 
^  d^not  over  sell  the  identified  pack- 
aee  The  aim  is  an  attractive,  practical 
nick  economical  for  the  consumer  to 
^rrchase°"economical  for  the  produce^ 
to  pack,  and  a  pleasure  for  the  distri 
butor  to  sell,  and  purchased  at  a  stand- 
ard price  for  a  standard  article  commen- 
surate with  supply  and  demand. 

The  potato  buyer,  or  speculator,  im- 
plied one  philosophy,  that  of  Purchas- 
fng  as°ow  as  possible  and  selling  as  high 
Vi  Dossible.    This  is  a  one-sided  phil- 
oIoDhv  for  the  grower  is  in  no  position 
?o  barter     Potatoes  are   a  surplus  on 
every  potato  growers'  farm;  cash  is  a 
deficiency.   "A  surplus  commodity  can- 
norbrso^d  at  a  profit  to  the  consumer^ 
Hence,  the  tendency  is  for    he  grower 
to  under-price  his  crop,  out  of  sheer 
pressure  from  creditors,  fear  of  losing 
a  sale   ienorance,  or  because  he  is  out 
Smarted   There  is  one  service  the  specu- 
S  renders  and  that  is  the  tendency 
to   remove   surplusses   from   congested 

^Tnd  now  to  the  grower  who  always 
haV  a  "good"  market:   "I  don  t  have  to 
(?rade    the  eye  is  the  market,    i  aon  i 
have  to  sell  an  adopted  brand;  my  brand 
^s\'  4-8-7'burlap  sa\k.  I  always  go  ri^h^ 
along  with  my  load  and  sell  it  to  my 
customer.    Personality  enters  into  the 
Hoal  "    There  is  no  standard  price  lor 
such  an  unstandardized  package  or  such 
an    unstandardized    Personality.     This 
system  of  bartering  has  been  in  opera 
tion  a  great  many  years.  It  is  at  its  oesi 
''South  of  the  Border."  As  a  system  of 
marketing,  it  thrives  best  among  the 
ignorant,  and  of  course,  can  only  oper 
ate  in  deficiency  Producing  areas 

The  problem  still  remains,  how  can 
food  be  produced  and  distributed  to  the 
consumer  so  that  both  the  producer 
and  the  consumer  may  live. /hen  one 
group  is  in  dire  need  of  fpod,  and  the 
other  group  has  over-production  star 
?ng  thim  in  the  face.-Reported  by  Dr. 
E.  L.  Nixon. 


Well  Fed 

Harold— "You  say  you  were  once  cast 
away  on  a  desert  island  entirely  with- 
out food?   How  did  you  live?" 

Charles— "Oh!  I  happened  to  have  an 
insurance  policy  in  my  pocket  and  I 
found  enough  provisions  in  it  to  keep 
me  alive  'till  I  was  rescued." 


March,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


15 


\ 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 


by  Inspector  Throw-out 


The  banker  was  giving  the  local 
minister  a  lecture  on  business  methods, 
scoring  the  clergy  in  general  for  mis- 
management. 

*T  suppose  you  are  right,"  comment- 
ed the  minister,  "but  I  have  yet  to 
learn  of  the  Bishop  closing  any  of  the 
churches." 


"That's  the  name  it  goes  by  in  these 
hills,"  said  the  native. 

"You  ought  to  rechristen  it,"  said  the 
traveler.  "It  tastes  like  bottled  sun- 
stroke." 


->- 


A  grapefruit    is  a  lemon  that   had   a 
chance  and  took  advantage  of  it. 


They  sat  within  the  parlor  dim 
and  this  is  what  she  said  to  him: 
"George,   dear  if  you  can  not  behave 
I  wish  you'd  go  and  get  a  shave." 


Mark  Twain  once  debated  polygamy 
with  a  Mormon.  The  Mormon  clainied 
polygamy  was  perfectly  moral  and  de- 
fied Mark  to  cite  any  passage  of  Scrip- 
ture which  forbade  it. 

**Well,"  said  Twain,  "how  about  that 
passage 'that  tells  us  no  man  can  serve 
two  masters?" 

. ^ 

"What's  a  necessary  evil,  Pa?"  asked 
a  ten-year  old  boy. 

"One  we  like  so  much  we  don  t  care 
about  abolishing  it,  my  boy,"  the  wise 
father  replied. 

"Seest  thou  a  man  dilligent  in    his 
business?    He  shall  stand  before  kmgs 
—But  the  other  fellow    will    be    found 
sitting  with  the  queens. 

George  Bernard  Shaw  is  known  to  be 
a  past  master  at  the  ready  retort  and  a 
young  lady  who  was  conversing  with 
him  tells  this  one.  They  were  watching 
a  group  of  children  when  she  felt  moved 
to  remark:  ,  ,„ 

"What  a  wonderful  thing  is  youth! 

"Yes,  and  what  a  crime  it  is  to  waste 
it  on  children." 

If  you  don't  like  the  work  you  are 
doing  be  frank  with  your  superiors  and 
tell  them  so,  because  through  your  ne- 
glect your  fellow  mortals  will  suffer. 

"And  they  call  that  stuff  moonshine," 
the  mountain  traveler  exclaimed  after 
his  first  drink. 


"No,"  said  the  editor,  "we  cannot  use 
your  poem." 

"Why?"  asked  the  poet.     "Is    it    too 

long?"  ,     , 

"Yes,"    hissed    the    editor.^^  "It's   too 
long,  too  wide  and  too  thick." 

There  are  twenty-four  hours  in  every 
day.  And  they  belong  to  everybody. 
What  one  man  does  with  them  and 
what  some  other  man  does  with  them 
makes  all  the  difference  between  a  big 
success,  a  little  success  or  a  failure. 
> 

Don't  feel  sorry  for  yourself.  Feel 
sorry  for  the  folks  who  have  to  live  with 
you. 


There  are  two  kinds  of  men  that  will 
always  have  more  or  less  trouble  un- 
derstanding women — married  men  and 

single  men. 

> 

A  cross  the  cut  the  other  day 

A  naughty  breeze  came  playing, 

And  ruffled  high  a  shortened  skirt. 

The  silk  hose  displaying. 

Reform  has  settled  on  the  land — 

We  mustn't  smoke  or  chew; 

Nor  take  a  drink  or  shake  a  shim 

Nor  watch  the  burlesque. 

For  naughty  things  will  all  be  banned 

And  scarce  be  those  who  sinned. 

Yet  fervently  we  raise  this  wish — 

Please  leave  a  little  wind. 


It  isn't  the  man  who  smiles  that  counts, 
When  everything  goes  dead  wrong, 
Nor  is  it  the  man  who  meets  defeat, 
Singing  a  gay  little  song; 
The  song  and  the  smile  are  well  worth 

while, 
Provided  they  aren't  a  bluff, 
But  here's  to  the  man  who  smiles  and 

sings, 
And  then— PRODUCES  THE  STUFF. 

4 < 

There  are  meters  of  voice 
And  meters  of  tone; 
But  the  best  of  all  meters 
Is  meet'er  alone. 

(Continued  on  page  26) 


16 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


March,  1940 


Grower  to  Grower  Exchange 

cation. 


QUALITY  SEED  POTATOES:  Russet 
Rurals,  White  Rurals,  Cobblers  and 
Nittanys.  Certified  Seeds  and  one  year 
from  certified.  All  grown  from  north- 
ern foundation  seed.  Ideal  storage.  All 
seed  will  be  graded  and  packed  in  Asso- 
ciation bushel  paper  bags.  I  am  pur- 
chasing a  new  eight  row  sprayer,  there- 
fore am  offering  for  sale  a  six  row  used 
power  sprayer.  Thomas  Denniston, 
Slippery  Rock,  Pennsylvania.  (Butler 
County.) 

AVAILABLE:  Copies  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Nix- 
on's book,  "The  Principles  of  Potato 
Production,"  $1.25  per  copy.  Write  for 
your  copy  today,  to  Association  office, 
Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania. 

SPRAYER:  One  ten-row  Bean  truck 
sprayer,  five  hundred  gallon  capacity. 
Sprayer  complete  without  truck.  If  in- 
terested, write  Lynn  Sill,  R.  F.  D.  No.  3, 
Corry,  Penna.  (Erie  County) 

SEED  POTATOES:  Seconds  grown 
from  Potter  County  disease-free  foun- 
dation seed  stock.  Rural  Russets.  Free 
from  blight,  stem-end  discoloration  and 
other  injury.  Firm  and  vigorous  sprouts 
assured  due  to  being  well  stored,  Will  be 
well  graded  and  packed  in  bushels  or 
100  lbs.  Price  reasonable,  $1.50  per  hun- 
dred for  one  year  from  certified,  $1.10 
per  hundred  for  two  years  from  certi- 
fied. Contact  Lynn  Sill,  R.  F.  D.  No.  3, 
Corry,  Pa. 

DIGGER  FOR  SALE:  One  single  row 
take  off  digger.  Good  repair.  Will  sell 
reasonably.  Write  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon, 
State  College,  Penna. 


SPRAY  BOOM  FOR  SALE:  John  Bean 
Spray  boom.  Complete  without  nozzles. 
10  row.  Good  condition.  Will  sell  cheap. 
Ed.  Fisher,  Coudersport,  Pa. 

PICKER.PLANTER     FOR    SALE:     2- 

Row  automatic  Picker-Planter.  Iron 
Age.  Good  condition.  Write  for  details. 
J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  D.  No.  1,  Emlenton, 
Penna.     (Venango  County). 

SEED  POTATOES:  Rural  Russets  and 
Chippewas,  U.  S.  No.  1,  and  U.  S.  No.  1, 
Size  B,  or  seconds.  Free  from  stem  end 
discoloration  and  other  blemishes.  Con- 
tact Robert  Getz,  Albrightsville,  Penna. 
(Carbon  County) 

SPRAYER  FOR  SALE:  4  or  6  row  en- 
gine or  power  take-off  sprayer.  If  in- 
terested, write  J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  F.  D. 
No.  1,  Emlenton,  Penna.  (Venango 
County)  for  details. 

PLANTER  FOR  SALE:  Two-row  Iron 
Age  automatic  Planter;  picking  attach- 
ments. In  perfect  condition.  Will  sell 
reasonably.  Contact  Ed.  Fisher,  Coud- 
ersport, (Potter  County)  Penna. 

SPRAYER  FOR  SALE:  Horse  drawn 
traction  sprayer  4-Row  boom.  Good 
condition.  Write  J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  F. 
D.  No.  1,  Emlenton,  (Venango  County) 
Penna. 

SEED   POTATOES  FOR   SALE:   U.   S. 

No.  1,  Size  B  Russets  and  Nittany  Cob- 
blers. 90c  a  bushel.  Contact  Ivan  Mil- 
ler, R.  F.  D.  No.  3,  Corry,  (Erie  County) , 
Penna. 


HAVE  YOU  CHECKED 
YOUR  1940  PLANS? 


Have  you  checked  v^ith  your  county  agent  or  experiment 
station  to  make  sure  that  your  plans  for  fertilizing  potatoes 
this  year  are  in  line  with  their  latest  fertiUzer  recom- 
mendations for  potatoes?  Experiment  stations  frequently 
change  their  recommendations  as  a  result  of  their  in- 
vestigations and  the  adoption  of  new  standardized  high 
analysis  fertilizer  grades.  The  increasing  importance  of 
fertilizers  well  balanced  with  potash  to  produce  the  desired 
plant  growth  and  yield  of  high  quality  potatoes  is  being 
emphasized. 

Analyses  high  in  potash  which  are  proving  popular  in- 
clude: 5-10-10  and  5-10-12  in  the  Mid-Atlantic  States;  4-8-10 
and  8-16-20  in  New  England;  and  3-9-18  and  3-12-12  in  the 
Midwest.  Rates  of  apphcation  depend  upon  the  plant  food 
available  in  the  soil  and  the  high  plant-food  requirement 
of  the  expected  yield.  To  guard  against  potash  deficiency, 
plan  to  apply  enough  fertilizer  to  supply  at  least  200  lbs.  of 
actual  potash  per  acre.  You  will  be  surprised  when  your 
fertilizer  dealer  tells  you  how  little  extra  it  will  cost. 


Write  us  for  additional  information 
and  free  literature  on  the  profitable 
fertilization  of  crops. 


flmerican  Potash  Institute,  Inc, 


Investment  Building 


Washington,  D.  C. 


*#g!wi>i<:<l 


18 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


March,  1940 


Membership  Drive  Continues  Gain  with  Help 

from  Loyal  Supporters 


Jacob  K.  Mast,  of  Elverson  (Chester 
County,  and  Robert  Getz,  of  Albrights- 
ville    (Carbon  County),   share   honors 
this  month  for  contributing  the  most 
new  members  to  the  Association.    Each 
of  these  boosters  forwarded  the  Asso- 
ciation office  six  new  members     These 
two  men,  during  the  course  of  the  Asso- 
ciation drive,  have  continuously  boosted 
and  sought  new  members  for  the  Asso- 
ciation    Both  have  sent  in  dozens  dur- 
ing the  period,  and  we  thank  them  for 
ourselves  and  the  membership. 

Four  fine  boosters  tied  for  second 
place  this  month,  when  each  contributed 
fwo  new  members.  These  supporters 
are  A  J.  Henninger,  Allentown  (Le- 
high County),  Wayne  A.  Hindman, 
Corsica,  (Clarion  County) -J-  A-  Don 
aldson,  Elmenton  (yenango  County ) , 
and  Norman  C.  Strohl,  Lehigh  ton,  (Car- 
bon County).  All  of  these  men  too 
have  many  times  in  the  past  contributed 
To  Ihe  Association,  and  their  new  mem- 
bers are  greatly  appreciated. 

Warren  C.  Bond,  of  Kempton  (Berks 
County) ,  located  his  new  member  dur- 
ing the  month,  as  did  Hiram  A.  Frantz, 
of  Coplay  (Lehigh  County)  and  Frank 
Lindner,  of  Ringtown,  (Schuylkill 
County).  These,  too,  are  most  grate- 
fully acknowledged. 

Several  new  members  came  to  the 
Association  unsolicited,  and  renewals, 
fecent  and  long  past  due  former  mem- 
bers came  in  steadily  during  the  month 
to  top  any  previous  membership  renew- 
a°  during  the  month  of  March  since  the 
ooenine  of  the  present  Association  office 
""^lacKd  every  one  of  these  renewed 
members  is  heartily  welcomed  back  to 
I5ie  Association,  though  space  does  not 
permit  listing  them. 

Many  of  you  members  have  still  to 
find  your  new  member  for  the  Associa- 
^on.  It  is  not  too  late  to  dp  so.  Find  one 
anS  mail  his  name  and  his  membership 
fee  to  the  Association  office  today. 

From  the  contributions  of  the  month, 
we  have  the  pleasure  of  greetmg  the  fol- 
lowing new  members: 
Amos  K.  King,  Gordonville,  Lancaster 

S.    K°"Knig,    Gordonville,    Lancaster 
County 


Isaac     Beiler,     Elverson,     Lancaster 

T  evi  BeUer  Elverson,  Lancaster  County 
Efmefammerman,  East  Earl,  Lancaster 

John^°Schreiner,    Ephrata,     Lancaster 

Frank°"sSeitzer,    Lehighton,     Carbon 

William"  Baumbardner,     Kunkletown, 

Monroe  County 
Robert    Shupp,    Kunkletown,    Monroe 

Earnest"ia-eger,  Kunkletown,   Monroe 

Walter^Kibler,   Albrightsville,   Carbon 

County  .  ,  ,     ...      „„„ 

Nathan  Altemose,  Albrightsville,  Car- 
bon County 
W.     H.     Smith,     Catasauqua,     Lehign 

County  T    u;«u 

Herbert  E.  Ralston,  Allentown,  Lehigti 

County  ^, 

C.   D.   Anderson,   Lickingville,   Clarion 

C.  A?^Sdgworth,  Lickingville,  Clarion 

County  ^        , 

E  F  Stuck,  Fertigs,  Venango  County 
Ernest  Atwood,  Kent,  Ohio 
Eugene  E.  Christman,  Lehighton,  Car- 
bon County  r-^^Kr^n 

Alton    F.    Smith,    Palmerton,    Carbon 

RaySond^^M.     Greenwalt,     Kempton, 

Berks  County  t    u-  v, 

George  Rabenold,  Coplay,  Lehigh 

Robert  A.  Dresher,  Ringtown,  Schuyl- 
kill County  ^        , 
F  R  Zerf oss,  Dallas,  Luzerne  County 
Alfred  Rice,  Dallas,  Luzerne  County 


"A  truth  that's  told  with  bad  intent- 
Beats  all  the  lies  you  can  mvent 

William  Blake 


*'God    knows,    I'm    not    the    thing    I 
should  be.  Nor  am  I  even  the  thing  1 

could  be — "  ^  ^      ^  _ 

Robert  Burns 


"All  the  world  is  queer  save  thee  and 
me    and  even  thou  art  a  little  queer. 
'  Robert  Owen 


Bean   Potato  Sprayers 


I 


CUT    SPRAYING    COSTS      INCREASE    YIELDS      .SPRAY    FASTER 
BETTER  QUALITY  .  NO  WORRIES  .  MAKE  MONEY 

SPRAY  WITH  HIGH  PRESSURE 

No  grower  is  safe  unless  he  sprays  with  high  pressure.  High  pressure 
protects  you  against  excessive  spraying  costs,  low  yield,  delays  in  spray- 
ing, poor  quality  and  loss  of  money.  J     T     •      .     4U^ 

Decide  today  to  investigate  high  pressure  spraying  and  eliminate  the 

obsolete  low  pressure  system.  -  j.      t      -      ^ 

Bean  line  of  high  pressure  potato  sprayers  offer  a  variety  of  price  and 
sizes  that  will  meet  your  requirements,  that  you  can  afford  to  invest  in, 
and  that  will  come  back  to  you  in  savings  in  a  larger  and  better  crop. 


RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 

riPans  as  it  grades.  Does  not  bruise  or  cut  the  potatoes  All  grading  is 
done  ^ruUef  Much  more  accurate  and  when  you  are  fimshed  grading 
you  have  a  fine  looking  pack  that  will  sell. 

Investigate  this  Grader  at  once. 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co. 


Division  Food  Machinery  Corporation 


LANSING 


MICHIGAN 


I 


20 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


March,  1940 


TIMELY    SUGGESTIONS  ^,^,,^ 

AND  OBSERVATIONS 

(Continued  from  page  7) 

4.  Is  the  variety  I  am  about  to  buy 
one  adapted  to  my  soil  and  climatic 
conditions? 

5.  Is  the  grower  or  agency  from 
whom  you  are  buying  dependable  and 
reliable?  Is  his  word  good?  Have  you 
reason  from  past  experience  to  trust 
him  or  do  you  have  reliable  references 
to  this  point? 

So  much  of  the  success  or  failure  of 
the  1940  crop  depends  on  the  seed  you 
plant  that  you  cannot  afford  to  gamble 
or  take  a  chance  on  an  unknown  source, 
seed  that  may  be  run  out  or  badly  di- 
seased, seed  that  has  lost  its  vitality  by 
being  poorly  stored,  a  variety  unadapt- 
ed  to  your  soil  or  climate,  or  chance 
dealing  with  an  undependable  or  un- 
reliable seed  grower  or  agency. 


;^.  ;^ 


^m- 


-El/Ni 


K». 


This  Planter  Is  Hitched  Too  High. 
(Note  discussion  here  on  means  of 
planting  proper  depth.) 

ON    PLANTING    DEPTH— There    are 

five  major  factors  involved  in  failure 
to  plant  seed  at  the  proper  depth: 

1.  Seed  bed  too  firm  or  compact. 

2.  Planter  tongue  hitched  too  high. 

3.  Lack  of  proper  planter  adjustment. 

4.  Worn  out  opening  discs  or  shoe. 

5.  Failure  of  grower  to  check  depth 
of  planting. 

If  the  seed  bed  is  too  firm  or  compact 
it   will  not  matter  how   properly   the 


tongue  is  hitched,  how  correctly  the 
planter  is  adjusted  or  how  new  the 
opening  discs  or  shoe  may  be,  you  will 
not  do  a  good  job  of  planting.  The  only 
satisfactory  way  to  correct  this  situa- 
tion is  to  replow  before  planting. 

You  will  find  a  picture  appearing  on 
this  page  showing  a  planter  hitched  too 
high.  As  you  can  see  this  raises  the 
opening  discs  almost  out  of  the  ground 
on  this  particular  planter.  There  is 
more  danger  of  the  hitch  being  too  high 
on  a  tractor  hitch  as  it  is  hard  to  realize 
where  the  point  of  the  tongue  would 
be  if  it  were  there.  There  is  need  of  a 
rule  for  making  the  planter  tractor 
hitch  as  to  height.  One  thing  sure,  if 
the  opening  discs  are  not  doing  their 
job  the  hitch  is  too  high. 

All  modern  makes  of  planters  have 
adjustments,  (to  the  front  of  the  open- 
ing discs  or  shoe),  for  lowering  the 
opening  attachment.  If  the  hitch  is  not 
too  high  and  you  still  are  not  getting 
proper  depth  you  may  need  to  change 
this  adjustment. 

There  are  thousands  of  planters  over 
the  State  on  which  the  opening  discs 
and   shoes   are   badly    worn,    in    many 
cases  worn  out.    New  discs  are  not  ex- 
pensive if  you  can    realize    the    good 
they  will  do  in  helping  to  reduce    sun- 
burn,  and   assuring   a   higher  yield   of 
better  shaped  tubers.    A  worn  shoe  can 
be  put  in  good    condition    by    having 
your  local  black-smith  or  welder,  weld 
iwo  or  three  inches  to  it.    If  dirt  is  con- 
tinually running  over  the  sides  of  the 
shoe    thereby    preventing    or    interfer- 
ing with  the  proper  spacing  or  depth  of 
the  seed  you  should  (first)  make  sure 
that  the  opening  discs  are  doing  their 
job  of  really  opening  the  furrow  and, 
(second)    check   the    condition    of    the 
shoe  and  if  badly  worn  weld  a  piece  to 
it. 

Before  completing  the  first  round 
with  the  planter  this  season  get  off  and 
level  the  ground  behind  the  planter  and 
measure,  not  guess,  the  deoth  of  the 
seed.  If  the  seed  is  less  than  3  inches 
below  the  level  you  are  planting  too 
shallow.  Recommendations  on  depth 
of  planting  based  on  tests  and  records 
has  been  3  to  3i  inches  on  heavy  soils 
and  3i  to  4  inches  on  the  lighter  soils. 

ON  SELLING  SEED— By  March  each 
year  a  lot  of  seed  growers  over  the 
State  become  anxious  as  to  whether  or 
not  all  their  seed  is  going  to  find  a  mar- 
ket. There  are  thousands  of  growers 
(Continued  on  page  22) 


Low  Cost 
High  Returns 


— is  the  shortest  way  to  say 
"Dempwolf  Fertilizers — for 
Potatoes."  Large,  profitable 
crops  are  produced  only 
when  the  potato  plant  main- 
tains a  vigorous,  continuous 
growth. 

Dempwolf  Fertilizers  help 
to  insure  this — and,  since 
1870,  have  given  potato 
farmers  A  Better  Yield  in 
Every  Field. 

York  Chemical  Works 

YORK,  PA. 


Farmers  who  know  the  value  of 
using  only  the  best  Spraying  and 
dusting    hydrate    obtainable    use 

^^MICRO-MESH" 

—it  stays  in  suspension  better  in 
the  spray  tanks  and  covers  more 
leaf  surface  in  etiher  spraying  or 
dusting  operations. 

Use  Micro-Mesh  this  season.  Also 
you  can  spray  to  advantage  with 
our  325  Mesh  Hydrated  Lime. 


Whiterock  Quarries 

Bellefonte,  Pa. 


NORTHERN  MICHIGAN 
RUSSET 

SEED 
POTATOES 

Fully  Certified:  The  safe  and  de- 
pendable late  variety  that  seed 
source  tests  show  will  outyield 
and  better  resist  scab  than  any 
other.  Grown  and  shipped  direct 
from  its  native  soil  and  climate 
which  demonstrations  have  prov- 
en unexcelled  for  vigorous  foun- 
dation stock.  Uniform  typey  tub- 
ers graded  to  ten  ounces  which 
guarantees  economical  planting. 


APPROVED     \ 


Special  Tag:  Of  definite  interest 
to  growers  packing  "Blue  Labels" 
or  U.  S.  No.  I's,  since  lower  price 
permits  planting  all  new  seed, 
which,  with  average  moisture, 
fully  decreases  amount  of  "throw- 
outs"  sufficiently  to  make  this 
practice  profitable.  Includes  crops 
of  some  of  our  best  fields.  Irregu- 
lar shape  due  entirely  to  uneven 
moisture.  Graded  to  ten  ounces, 
no  roughs  or  culls.  All  certifica- 
tion inspections  the  same  as  Fully 
Certified  except  for  type. 

Write  or  wire  us  for  infor* 
mation  and  prices  on  your 
requirements  for  spring 
planting. 

'*Every  bag  must  be  right" 

Dougherty  Seed  Growers 

Williamsport  Penna. 


22 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


March,  1940 


TIMELY    SUGGESTIONS        _^,^„^ 

AND  OBSERVATIONS 

(Continued  from  page  20) 

who  need  good  seed  and  thousands  of 
them  who  would  buy  if  the  seed  was 
more   readily    available    to   them.     We 
have  not  yet  arrived  at  a  workable  sys- 
tem of  seed  distribution  for  our  own 
growers.     The  bulk  of  the  seed  sold  in 
Pennsylvania   from   outside   sources   is 
is  sold,  not  just  offered.    Modern  sales 
methods  are  used.    These  sales  methods 
involve:  A  good  product  properly  grad- 
ed and  packed,  advertising,  publicity, 
market  and  grower  contacts,  informa- 
tion  on   price,   information   on  storing, 
handling  and  delivery,  and  a  follow  up 
on  the  part  of  the  seed  grower  as  to 
satisfied  or  dissatisfied  customers. 

The  movement  of  any  product  is  de- 
pendent on  getting  it  before  the  public. 
This  can  be  accomplished  by  exhibits 
and  displays  of  the  product,  personal 
agents  calling  on  prospective  buyers, 
personal  letters  or  cards  carrying  a 
sales  story,  posters  or  pamphlets  giving 
sales  information,  ads  in  local  and 
trade  papers  or  journals,  and  coopera- 
tion with  or  selling  through  local  or 
state  agencies  who  are  operating  in 
potential  sales  areas. 

It  goes  without  saying  that  satisfied 
customers  as  to  quality  of  product  and 
price  goes  a  long  way  to  continued 
sales  of  seed  potatoes.  I  know  of  a 
grower  who  has  kept  a  complete  list  of 
all  seed  buyers  over  the  past  12  years. 
By  letting  these  buyers  know  what  he 
has  for  sale,  grading  and  packing  in 
clean  bushel  paper  bags  and  selling  at 
a  reasonable  premium  above  table 
stock  in  his  area,  he  has  been  able  to 
move  his  entire  crop  at  the  storage  each 
year. 


THE  LIFE  STORY 

OF  A  SEED  POTATO 

(Continued  from  page  9) 

had  a  long  talk  with  my  boss  which 
didn't  interest  me  very  much  since  I 
was  getting  sleepy,  although  as  I  dozed 
off  into  my  dormant  state  I  wondered  if 
I  ever  would  be  called  a  certified  spud. 
As  I  lay  dozing  there  in  the  soil  one 
day  I  faintly  heard  the  put- put-put  of  a 
tractor  passing  over  me.  All  of  a  sud- 
den I  w^as  heaved  out  of  the  ground  and 
carried  over  a  potato  digger  that  jarred 
me  around  somewhat  but  which  did 
me  no  harm  since  my  boss  had  padded 


the  digger  with  rubber.  After  being  so 
unceremoniously  yanked  out  of  the 
ground  I  thought  my  end  had  come  for 
sure,  but  after  I  was  placed  in  a  dark 
cool  storage  with  my  brothers  I  im- 
mediately dozed  off  into  my  dormant 

state  again. 

After  remaining  dormant  until  spring 
I    heard   my   brothers    whispering   one 
day  about  some  person  that  was  looking 
us  over.  I  whispered  to  my  brother  ask- 
ing who  this  fellow  was.    He  told  mo 
that  he  overheard  my  boss  say  it  was 
the    state    inspector    giving   us    a    tmal 
health  examination  before  we  were  to 
be  graded  and  sacked  in  new  bags  tor 
shipment  as  certified  seed.    This  fe.low 
picked  me  up  and  I  thought  I  was  about 
to  be  tossed  aside  when  he  said  to  my 
boss,  "Now  there's  a  fine  looking  spud  , 
and  placed  me  back  in  the  bin.    That 
really  made  me  feel  good  and  I  con- 
cluded the  state  inspector  wasn't  such 
a  bad  egg  after  all.  He  picked  out  a  few 
of   my    unfortunate   brothers    however 
who  had  opened  their  eyes  too  early  and 
said   "They  had  sprouted  and  lost  their 
vigor   and  vitality".  These  he  said  with 
a  few  others  that  had  worms  and  scab 
or  were  otherwise  unsound  should  be 
cast  aside  when  we  were  graded.   Since 
I  was  sound  of  body  I  was  accepted  for 
certification.  This  made  me  feel  so  good 
I  chanted  and  boasted, 

Through  the  summer  I  grew 
All  thrifty  and  green 
With  leaves  that  reflected 
A  soft  velvet  sheen. 
From  a  family  of  spuds 
With  a  pedigree  of  wealth 
I  grew  to  maturity 
With  vigor  and  health. 
I  was  carefully  grown 
With  pure  lines  in  my  blood 
So  the  inspector  he  said 
I'm  A  CERTIFIED  SPUD. 

K.  W.  Lauer 


Passing  the  Time 

A  girl  and  an  elderly  woman  were 
waiting  for  the  other  members  of  the 
party  to  arrive. 

*'Have  a  cigarette?'*  ask  the  girl,  of- 
fering her  case. 

The  older  woman  looked  at  her  in  ex- 
treme annoyance. 

"Smoke  a  cigarette!"  she  cried,  indig- 
nantly. "Good  gracious,  I'd  rather  kiss 
the  first  man  who  came  along!" 

"So  would  I,"  retored  her  companion, 
"but  have  one  while  you're  waiting." — 
Montreal  Star. 


"As  you  sow,  so  shall  you  reap." 
Don't  fear  "Stem  End  Discoloration"  in  your  potato  crop. 
Don't  fear  "Ring  Rot"  (Bacterial  Wilt)  in  your  crop. 
No  "Ring  Rot"  has  been  discovered  in  Potter  County. 
Plant  your  fields  with  this  seed  and  reap  a  Profitable  Crop. 


Russet  Rurals 
White  Rurals 
Pennigan 


Nittany  Cobblers 
Katahdin 
Chippewa 
Red  Bliss 


POTTER  COUNTY  FOUNDATION 
SEED  POTATO  ASSOCIATION 

COUDERSPORT,  PA. 


Don  Stearns,  Pres. 


F.  E.  Wagner,  Sec'y. 


THE  ROW  SPRAYER  TO  FIT  YOUR  JOB 


Truck-mounted  outfits.  Tractor  Trailers, 
engine-powered  sprayers  in  all  sizes.  Com- 
bination row  crop  and  orchard  rigs. 


#  Write  for  the  new  Hardie 
Row  Crop  Sprayer  Catalog, 
which  shows  and  describes  the 
most  advanced  outfits  for  field 
work  in  all  sizes  and  styles  for 
2  to  10  rows.  See  how  much 
more  you  get  for  your  money 
when  you  select  a  Hardie. 
Sold  and  serviced  by  leading 
dealers.  The  Hardie  Mfg.  Com- 
pany, Hudson.  Mich. 


POTATO  GROWERS 

USE 

the  GUIDE  POSTS 

GROWER  to  GROWER  EXCHANGE 

Have  You  Anthing  to  Buy,  Sell  or  Swap? 

If  you  have  ,The  GUIDE  POST,  will  do  your  buying  and  selling 
for  you  in  its  Classified  Advertising  Department. 

Rales:  Penny  a  word,  minimum  cost,  25  cents,  payable  with 
order.  10%  reduction  when  four  or  more  insertions 
are  ordered  at  one  time. 

Dates:  Always  send  ads  to  reach  us  on  the  20th  of  the  month 
previous  to  publication. 


Give  This  Department  a  Try  ! 


write 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


CARE 


Pennsylvania  Cooperative  Potato 


Growers'  Association,  Inc 


BELLEFONTE,  PENNA. 


9 


Agrico  is  Manufadured  Only  by 
THE  AMERICAN  AGRICULTURAL  CHEMICAL  CO. 


f 


Baltimore,  Md, 


Buffalo,  N.  Y. 


Carteret,  N.  J. 


26 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


March,  1940 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 

(Continued  jrom  page  15  ) 

The  "boss"  is  that  man  who  comes 
too  early  when  we  are  late  and  too  late 
when  we  are  early. 


The  modern  youth  to  attract  the  girls, 
puts  gasoline  on  his  handkerchief  in- 
stead of  perfume. 


The  encouraging  thing  about  the  fu- 
ture is  that  there  is  so  much  of  it. 

>— . 


To  love  and  win  is  the  best  thing.   To 
love  and  lose  is  the  next  best. 


Husband     (driving    past    a    braymg 
mule):  "Relative  of  yours,  I  suppose?" 
Wife:  "Yes,  by  marriage." 


Lots  of  flappers  are  in  their  last  laps 
now. 


Manhood,  not  scholarship,  is  the  first 
aim  of  education. 


They  called  the  darky  boy  "Prescrip- 
tion" because  they  had  such  a  hard  time 
keeping  him  filled. 


If  you  have  nothing  to  do,  don't  do  it 
here! 


The  more  a  man  accomplishes  the  less 
time  he  has  to  talk  about  it. 


INSPECTOR'S     TRAINING 

SCHOOL     SCHEDULED 

FOR    MARCH    20-21 

Announcement  has  been  made  by  D. 
M.  James,  Supervising  Inspector,  that 
an  Inspector's  Training  School  will  be 
held  at  State  College,  Penna.,  on  March 
20th  and  21st. 

The  purpose  of  the  school  is  to  fit 
prospective  inspectors  for  the  work 
they  take  up  when  qualified  and  li- 
censed. 

Mr.  Robert  Bier,  Supervising  Inspec- 
tor for  the  Shipping  Point  Inspection 
Service  throughout  the  United  States 
will  assist  with  the  school. 

Most  of  the  classes  will  be  held  with 
the  aid  of  illustrated  slides  and  movies 
in  color. 

No  charge  is  made  for  tuition  to  this 
school. 


"And  better  had  they  ne're  been  born, 
Who  read  to  doubt,  or  read  to  scorn." 

Sir  Walter  Scott 

"When  you  rise  in  the  morning,  form 
a  resolution  to  make  the  day  a  happy 
one  to  a  fellow  creature." 

Sydney  Smith 

"The  greatest  pleasure  I  know  is  to 
do  a  good  action  by  stealth,  and  to  have 
it  found  out  by  accident." 

Charles  Lamb 


"Imitation  is  the  sincerest  flattery." 

Charles  Colton 

Have  you  secured  your  new  member 
for  the  Association? 


Today  Is  The  Tomorrow  You  Were  Doing 

So  Much  Worrying  Abouf 

Yesterday 

ALBERT  C.  ROEMHILD 

POTATO  COMMISSION  MERCHANT 
122  Dock  Street  Lombard  1000  Philadelphia 


Modern  Marketing  Methods 
Call  for  Paper  Bags 

Attractively  Printed  Bags  Bring  Repeat  Orders 

HAMMOND  Betterbags 

Combine  High  Grade  Printing  with 
Essential  Strength  and  Quality 


Hammond  Bag  &  Paper  Company 
Wellsburg,  W.  Va. 

Paper  Bags  for  Lime,  Limestone,  Fertilizer,  Flour,  Feed  and  Potatoes 


Potato 
Machines 


Make  Money  for  Potato  Growers 

Eureka  Potato  Machines  take  hard  work  out  of  potato  growing. 
They  reduce  time  and  labor  costs.  They  assure  bigger  yields. 


Potato  Cutter 

Cuts  uniform  seed. 
Operates  with  both 
hands  free  for  feed- 
ing. 

t 
Riding  Mulckcr 


Potato  Planter 

One  man  machines 
doing  five  operations  in 
one.  Over  twenty-two 
years'  success. 


Traction  Sprayer 

Insures ihecrop.  Sires, 
4  or  6  rows.  60  to  100 
gallon  tanks.  Many 
styles  of  booms. 


_  __  __^ Potato  Dicfcr 

Bieakscrusts.'mulchessoil.and  Famous  for  8«»»'"K  "" ^j^* 

Villsweedswhen  potato  crop  i^  •'"^•'^"w"!?"        Wi.tor 

young  and  tender.    8.  10  and  12  standmg  hard  use  With  or 

ft   si.Ss.    Many  other  uses.with  without  engine  attachment 

or  without  seedingattachment  or  tractor  attachment. 

Allmmchine,  in  m,»ck  ne*ryoii.  Send  for  complete  caflo^ue 


Used  by  many 

of  the  most 

successful 

growers  in 

Pennsylvania 

and  elsewhere 


Distributors  of 

BABCOCK 

WEED  HOG 

The  Ideal  Tool 

To  Make  Deep 

Seed   Beds   for 

Potatoes 


EUREKA  MOWER  CO.,  Utica,  New  York 


r 


28 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


March,  1940 


Survey  Early  Southern  Potato  Situation 

Condensed  jrom  report  hy  A.  E.  Mercker, 
In  Charge,  Potato  Programs,  Agricultural  Adjustment  Administration 

Washington,  D.  C. 


ALABAMA— About  200  acres  planted 
before  freeze  of  January  26th,  when  25 
to  40  percent,  of  seed  pieces  were  frozen. 
Planting  began  again  February  8th,  with 
200acres,  and  continued  through  to  Feb- 
ruary 28th  at  the  rate  of  1,000  to  1,500 
acres  per  day.  The  most  important  vari- 
ety planted  was  the  Bliss  Triumph. 
There  was  a  tendency  for  growers  to  in- 
crease their  acreages.  Planting  and  soil 
conditions  were  generally  good. 

MISSISSIPPI— The  acreage  probably 
is  the  same  as  1939. 

FLORIDA— Yields  of  matured  crops 
estimated  at  about  60-70  bushels  per 
acre,  but  vary  from  200-225  bushels  on 
the  earliest  planting  to  20-40  bushels  on 
the  latest  plantings.  The  shippmg  sea- 
son is  now  in  progress,  and  will  continue 
to  about  April  15th,  providing  potatoes 
keep  well  in  the  ground. 


REICHARD'S 
ANIMAL  BASE 

FERTILIZERS 

Grow  Bigger  and 
Better  Crops 


Distributors  for 

Orchard  Brand 

Spray  Materials 

Nichols  Bluestone 

Robt  A.  Reichard,  Inc. 

19th   &   Lawrence  Sts. 
Allentown,   Pa. 


In  the  Hasings  section  of  Florida  about 
12  000  acres  were  planted  between  late 
December  and  February  3rd.  The  freeze 
of  January  22nd  froze  the  early  planted 
acreage.  On  February  15th  the  early 
January  plantings  were  coming  through 
the  ground  and  it  appears  that  all  of  this 
acreage  will  be  ready  for  harvest  at 
about  the  same  time,  or  April  10-20. 
Very  few  shipments  are  expected  before 
this  date. 

GEORGIA— Acreage  here  is  greater 
than  in  former  years,  and  consists  large- 
ly of  Bliss  and  Cobbler  plantings  of  seed, 
with  few  other  varieties.  Planting  be- 
gan February  19th. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA— Planting  here 
was  delayed,  not  starting  until  Febru- 
ary 19th.  A  few  acres  were  planted 
earlier,  but  had  to  be  replanted  on  ac- 
count of  heavy  rains.  There  was  a  12- 
15%  increase  in  acreage. 

NORTH  CAROLINA  —  Plantings 
throughout  the  various  sections  ranged 
from  February  12th  to  early  March.  Re- 
duced acreages  were  noted  in  some  sec- 
tions, while  others  showed  increases, 
making  no  great  change  in  the  total 
state  acreage. 

VIRGINIA— Eastern  Shore,  Virginia, 
began  planting  in  a  very  small  way  the 
week  of  February  26th  to  March  2nd.  In 
the  Norfolk  section,  planting  was  begun 
genreally  beginning  March  4th. 

LOUISIANA  —  Twenty  per  cent  in- 
crease on  seed  planted,  with  plantmg 
still  going  on. 


Not  a  Chance  to  Go  Wrong 

*'Are  you  sure,"  an  anxious  patient 
physican,  "that  I  shall  recover?  I  heard 
that  doctors  sometimes  go  wrong  in  their 
diagnosis,  and  have  treated  patients  for 
pneumonia,  who  afterward  died  of  ty- 
phoid fever."  ,, 

"That  may  be  true  of  some  doctors, 
said  the  physician,  "but  if  I  treat  a  man 
for  pneumonia,  he  dies  of  pneumonia.' 

Truck   Traffic   News 


ON  ALL  COUNTS 

IT'S  MAINE  CERTIFIED  SEED 


QUALITY  IS  THERE:  Proof  of  the  prolific  yields  to  be  expected 
from  Maine  Certified  Seed  Potatoes  is  seen  in  the  fact  that  they  show 
a  producing  average  of  50  bushels  per  acre  above  the  State's  own 
high  tablestock  production. 

VOLUME  IS  THERE:  This  year  22,700  acres  of  Maine  Seed  Pota- 
toes were  Certified  by  the  State  Department  of  Agriculture.  Whether 
your  needs  are  for  bushels  or  carlots,  Maine  Certified  Seed  Shippers 
can  fill  them. 

PROTECTION  IS  THERE:  Two  Department  of  Agriculture  inspec- 
tions of  the  growing  fields,  a  third  at  digging  time,  and  a  fourth  dur- 
ing grading,  give  every  assurance  of  strong,  disease-free  stock. 

EXPERIENCE  IS  THERE:  Maine  adopted  its  Seed  Potato  program 
in  1914.  Thus  for  25  years,  under  the  alert  supervision  of  the  Maine 
Department  of  Agriculture,  Maine  Seed  Stock  growers  have  devel- 
oped an  industry  that  has  grown  to  an  annual  volume  of  over  5,000 
cars  of  America's  finest  seed  stock. 

PERFORMANCE  IS  THERE:  Today  Maine  Seed  Stock  growers 
ship  to  customers  in  23  States  and  to  many  foreign  countries— their 
repeat  orders,  attesting  satisfaction  with  Maine  Seed  Stock. 

VARIETIES  ARE  THERE:  This  year's  available  varieties  include 
Mountains,  Chippewas,  Katahdins,  Bliss,  Spaulding  Rose,  Irish  Cob- 
blers, Russets  and  others. 

THE  SERVICE  IS  THERE:  Inquiries  handled  promptly.  All  orders 
whether  large  or  small  given  prompt  shipment.  Allow  2  to  3  days  to 
load  a  car  under  our  watchful  inspection  methods. 

V  V  V 

Write  or  wire  for  a  copy  of  "Potatoes  Inspected  and  Certified  in 
Maine,  1939"  with  a  list  of  Maine  Certified  Seed  Potato  Growers. 
Copies  of  Field  Inspection  Reports  are  also  available  upon  request. 


MAINE  DEVELOPMENT 
COMMISSION 

PRODUCTS  DIVISION 
AUGUSTA,  MAINE 


sT^tt 


NlM^i 


SEED 


ot^ 


TOES 


r 


30 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


March,  1940 


ROBERT  W.  LOHR   &   SON 
BoswelL  Penna. 


Now  offering  6,800  bu.  Pennsyl- 
vania Certified  Seed  Potatoes 
Grown  from  best  Michigan  seed 
stock  in  the  high  altitude  and  cool 
climate  of  Somerset  County. 
Graded  to  standard  grades  and 
packed  in  new  100  lb.  burlap  bags, 
bearing  the  seal  of  inspection  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Department  of 
Agriculture. 

The  price  will  be  reasonable.  Also 
offering  1,200  bu.  Katahdin  seed 
potatoes.  Not  certified,  but  of 
good  quality,  grown  from  certi- 
fied seed. 


WARNING 


•    •    • 


Potatoes  in  storage  in  some  sec- 
tions of  the  State  are  sprouting 
prematurely  and  are  already 
showing  the  formation  of  new 
small  tubers  while  yet  in  the  bin. 
Such  potatoes  are  unfit  for  plant- 
ing as  they  will  give  poor  stands 
and  a  high  percentage  of  weak 
spindly  plants  —  resulting  in  un- 
satisfactory yields.  This  warning 
is  given  so  that  you  can  be  on  the 
look-out  for  this  condition  from 
now  until  planting  time.  The  cause 
of  this  condition  is  a  heat  factor, 
either  during  the  growing  season, 
or  while  the  potatoes  are  in  stor- 
age. 


Food  Most  Tempting 

When  Served  In 

Festive  Dress 

Latest  news  jrom  the  culinary  front  fea- 
tures a  decorative  type  of  patty  shell 
made  of  crisp  potato  chips. 

A  new  discovery  stirs  the  pride  and 
enhances  the  reputation  of  a  famous  sci- 
entist or  explorer.  Yet  few  people  real- 
ize that  among  the  most  exhilarating 
and  practical  scenes  of  action  where  new- 
discoveries  are  being  made  daily — and 
by  women — are  family  kitchens. 

One  clever  woman  with  a  wide  social 
and  professional  life,  noticed  that  cer- 
tain choice  foods  were  usually  served  in 
pastry  patty  shells.  But  these  pastries 
were  too  rich  for  many  tastes  and  many 
diets,  especially  since  an  increasing 
number  of  moderns  are  omitting  pastries 
of  all  kinds  from  their  diets.  So  she 
searched  for  a  light,  easily -digestible 
patty  shell,  and  devised  a  new  process 
for  making  cups  of  fine  potato  chips. 

The  potato  chips  are  fitted  together 
like  the  petals  of  a  flower,  so  the  cups 
are  decorative  as  well  as  delicious. 
French  and  festive,  these  patties  are  ex- 
tremely practical.  Known  as  Jeanne  s 
Gourmet  Cups,  they  may  now  be  bought 
in  stores  of  a  high-class  grocery  cham 
as  well  as  from  their  inventor  at  a  very 
moderat  price. 


"You've  plenty  of  nerve,  Rastus.  The 
idea  of  stealing  my  chickens  and  then 
trying  to  sell  them  to  me." 

"Well,  Boss,  I  thought  you'd  pay  a 
better  price  of  these  chickens  since  you 
raised  'em  yo'  self.  You'd  know  what 
you  wuz  buying." 

A  girl  may  wear  a  golf  outfit  when 
she  can't  play  golf,  and  a  bathingg  suit 
when  she  can't  swim,  but,  when  she 
puts  on  a  wedding  gown,  she  means 
business-  Melville  Job  Order 


Gentleman  (At  the  police  Station) 
"Could  I  see  the  man  that  was  arrested 
for  robbing  our  house  last  night?" 

Desk  Sergeant:  "This  is  very  irregular. 
Why  do  you  want  to  see  him?" 

Gentleman:  "I  want  to  ask  him  how 
he  got  in  without  awaking  my  wife." 

Bagology 


I 


%rs  rtt^"^ 


'Band  placement  of  ferHllzer  gives  high  efficiency 
D  from  small  amounts  .  .  but  it  does  not  meet  the 
needs  of  the  crop  throughout  the  season. 

Tkt  crop*  from  mld-seosoA  oii«  n—d%  pfonf 
food  ill  f lie  bpffom  of  fhe  f urrow-sf ice,  wAtre  f ftt 
roofs  do  mosf  of  f fceir  feeding  in  hof,  dry  weof her. 

In  the  absence  of  manure,  you  can  provide  that  plant 
food  most  effectively  by  plowing  down  GRANULAR 
'AERO'  CYAN  AMID,  or  a  mixed  fertilizer,  the  nitrogen 
r.$  whigh  i«  derived  from  *AERO"  CYANAMIP. 

GRANULAR  'AERO'  CYANAMID  Feeds 
the  Crops  Evenly  Throughout  the  Season 

***"  WntTB  FOR  iWLiT  P')66 


\,^-  AMERICAN  CYANAMID  COMPANY 

^^         30  ROCKEFELLER   PLAZA  NEW  YORK,  N.  Y. 


I 


VISION 


PLANTIHG  SEASON  COMING 


Are  You  Ready 
With  Your 


IRONASE 


^ 


Planting  potatoes  Dec.  15th  in  Florida  on  farm  of  D.  P.  Blake 
near  Goulds.  One  of  the  many  appreciated  Iron  Age  plant- 
ers used  there.  This  one  was  brought  2700  miles  from 
North  Dakota  by  owner  in  order  to  have  crop  correctly 
planted — will  travel  another  2700  miles  back  home  to  plant 
another  crop  this  season. 


Planter  shown  is  a  good  planter  but 
the  1940  Model  is  still  better.  Pick- 
ers are  smoother  running — Life  of 
fertilizer  belt  mountings  are  in- 
creased and  repairs  simplified — 
Heavier  gangs  and  facility  for  ad- 
justments of  drawbars  for  proper 
alignment  of  planting  shoe.  Avail- 
able equipment  for  applying  ferti- 
lizer by  the  Hi-Lo  and  Hi-Lo  Un- 


equal Quantity  methods  and  other 
valuable  improvements. 

IRON  AGE  planters  /it  the  re- 
quirements  of  every  potato  growing 
area.  Many  different  styles  and 
modifications  from  which  to  choose. 
This  partly  explains  their  great 
popularity  wherever  potatoes  are 
grown. 


Write  for  new  catalogue  just  issued 

A.  B.  FARQUHAR  CO.,  Limited,  322  DUKE  ST.,  YORK,  PA. 


J 
I 


I, 


i 


i 


/   9)  M  ?^)  9?}^  2. 


VOLUME  XVII 

THE  PENf^SYlVANiA  STATE  COLLti 


NUMBER  4 


APRIL 


I940 


PiJsiiAJdsd  luf.  ike 

PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE 
POTATO  GROWERS  ASSOCIATION 


INCORPORATED 


Dr.  Nixon  Comments  on  —  Food  and  the  Farm 


IT  TAKES  AN  ENTIRE  LEAF  SUR- 
FACE TO  MAKE  A  MAXIMUM  TUBER 
PRODUCTION.  EVERY  SPOT,  HOLE,  OR 
BURNED  EDGE  ON  THE  LEAF  LESSENS 
STARCH  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  SAME 
RATIO  THAT  THE  SIZE  OF  THE  DE- 
FECT BEARS  TO  THE  ENTIRE  LEAF 
SURFACE,  THEREBY  REDUCING  TU- 
BER PRODUCTION  OR  YIELD. 

THOROUGH  SPRAYING  IS  ESSEN- 
TIAL TO  AN  ENTIRE  LEAF  SURFACE 
AND  MAXIMUM  POTATO  YIELDS  IN 
PENNSYLVANIA. 


i 


(This  article  was  used  as  a  basis  for 
discussion  at  a  Joint  Conference  Com- 
mittee Meeting,  held  April  11,  1940  at 
Pittsburgh.) 

Did  you  know  that  approximately  30 
per  cent  of  the  U.  S.  dollars  go  to  pur- 
chasing food?  Our  processes  of  obtain- 
ing and  preparing  food  are  essentially 
the  same  as  they  were  25  centuries  ago. 
Our  methods  have  improved  but  not 
changed.  Food  manufacturing  is  listed 
as  a  10  billion  dollar  business,  yet  no 
one  manufactures  any  food.  True,  an 
unattractive  hog  is  cut  into  attractive 
chops  and  unusable  wheat  grains  are 
ground  in  to  flour  but  this  is  prepara- 
tion, not  manufacture.  The  leaves  of 
plants  manufacture  food.  The  magni- 
tude of  their  work  far  exceeds  the  en- 
ergy expended  in  all  the  industries  of 
the  world.  The  leaves  accomplish  this 
work  so  quietly  that  most  people  are 
scarcely  conscious  of  it.  This  work 
easily  ranks  as  the  leading  wonder  of 
the  world.  The  action  of  the  energy 
of  sunlight  on  green  leaves  converts  or 
combines  carbon  dioxide  (the  breath  of 
animals,  for  example)  with  water  from 
the  soil  into  carbohydrates  (food).  This 
is  done  so  easily  by  plants,  yet  it  re- 
quires the  energy  expressed  by  a  tem- 
perature of  approximately  2500  degrees 
Fahr.  to  decompose  carbon  dioxide  into 
its  elements,  carbon  and  oxygen.  Yet 
how  woefully  extravagant  is  nature  as 
a  food  maufacturer  when  one  considers 
that  only  about  two  per  cent  of  this 
radiant  energy  which  falls  on  the  leaves 
of  plants  is  utilized  in  manufacturing 
foods  (carbohydrates). 

This  extravagance  on  the  part  of  na- 
ture seems  to  be  the  more  striking  when 
one  appreciates  that  only  one-sixth  of 
the  ingoing  corn  stays  on  the  hog  as 
usable  human  food.  Even  the  lazy  old 
cow  spreads  five-sixths  of  the  raw  ma- 
terial fed  her  over  the  barnyard  in 
order  to  return  one-sixth  as  edible  solids 
in  the  form  of  milk  for  human  consump- 
tion. Beef  and  sheep  are  five  times 
worse.  Only  one  part  in  30  of  their  food 
is  returned  as  meat.  The  laying  hen  is 
a  little  more  of  a  human  benefactor  for 
one  part  of  her  food  in  20  will  return  in 
the  form  of  eggs. 

There  is  little  wonder  that  it  takes  50 
million  people  to  raise  five  pounds  of 
food  per  day  for  each  of  our  125  million. 


If  there  is  any  place  for  technical  im- 
provements and  labor-saving  it  is  in  the 
production  and  distribution  of  farm 
commodities.  If  agriculture  ever  be- 
comes recognized  as  an  industry  like 
other  industries  and  is  conducted  ac- 
cordingly, it  will  mean  a  revolution  in 
rural  sociology  and  a  new  concept  of 
farm  economics. 

Average  farming  has  been  little  above 
the  mere  subsistence  level  for  50  cen- 
turies. Despite  all  the  agricultural  edu- 
cation, we  are  still  in  the  agricultural 
dark  ages.  What  makes  a  plant  grow? 
Even  if  we  start  with  a  seed,  saying 
nothing  about  how  life  is  mysteriously 
enclosed  in  its  dead  coat,  no  one  can 
tell  what  makes  it  go  on  from  there. 
When  the  expanding  rootlets  wean  the 
young  plant  away  from  its  mother  seed 
and  it  starts  out  to  gather  its  own  nour- 
ishment, a  process  has  begun  about 
which  we  know  but  little  more  than  did 
the  Indians  of  Colonial  times. 

Why  is  farming  not  a  profitable  busi- 
ness? It  usually  pays  liberally  in  milk, 
eggs,  potatoes  and  apples.  These  com- 
modities are  surpluses  on  the  farm.  Con- 
verting them  efficiently  into  cash  is  the 
major  farm  problem  of  American  agri- 
culture. In  the  solution  of  this  problem 
is  where  the  farmer  needs  the  most  help. 
When  farm  commodities  are  sold  below 
the  cost  of  the  labor  that  goes  into 
their  production,  everybody  loses.  The 
place  to  wreck  prices  of  farm  commodi- 
ties is  at  the  farm  or  at  any  other  place 
where  a  great  surplus  exists. 

It  is  the  farmer's  business  to  produce, 
but  every  crop  and  every  animal  is  a 
gamble  with  plenty  of  odds  against  win- 
ning. In  addition  to  this,  farm  wastes  in 
this  country  total  about  a  billion  tons 
a  year.  The  utilization  of  every  possible 
product  and  by-product  of  the  farm 
would  revolutionize  farm  income.  Meat 
packers  found  out  long  ago  that  every 
part  of  the  pig  but  the  squeal  could  be 
used  profitably.  No  business  can  be 
maintained  by  just  selling  off  the  cream. 
In  addition  to  loin,  there  are  the  ribs. 
In  agriculture  only  the  shortest  distance 
from  producer  to  consumer  will  permit 
the  full  utilization  of  by-products  and 
waste-products  and  thus  bring  agricul- 
ture onto  a  sound  business  basis.  The 
most  forward  step  that  has  yet  been 

(Continued  on  page  26) 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


April,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 

Published  monthly  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Cooperative  Potato  Growers,  Inc. 


OFFICERS 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  Emlenton  . .  President 

Roy  R.  HesS/  Stillwater   . . .  .Vice-Pres. 

E.  B.  Bower,  Bellefonte, 

Sec'y-Treas.  and  Gen.  Mgr. 


DIRECTORS 

Jacob  K.  Mast Elverson,  Chester 

P.  Daniel  Franlz Coplay,  Lehigh 

Hugh  McPherson Bridgeton,  York 

John  B.  Schrack Loganton,  Clinton 

Roy  R.  Hess Stillwater,  Columbia 

Ed.  Fisher Coudersport,  Potter 

Charles  Frey  North  Girard,  Erie 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.l,  Emlenton,  Venango 
R.  W.  Lohr   Boswell,  Somerset 

Annual  membership  fee  $1.00.  This  in- 
cludes the  Guide  Post. 

All  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary-Treas- 
urer and  General  Manager,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania. 


DAYS  OF  APRIL 

The  time  of  sweet  renewing  is  at  hand, 
When  nature's  thoughts  flow  upward 
from  her  heart; 
Nor  music  thrills  from  all  the  birdling 

band, 
While  floods  of  green  across  the  mea- 
dows start. 

Grace  Griswald 


Forty  Years  Ago 

I've  wandered  through  the  village,  Tom 

I've  sat  beneath  the  tree, 
Upon   the  school-house  play-ground, 

That  sheltered  you  and  me; 
But  none  were  left  to  greet  me,  Tom, 

And  few  were  left  to  know, 
Who  played  with  me  upon  the  green, 

Just  forty  years  ago. 

The  grass  was  just  as  green,  Tom, 

Barefooted  boys  at  play 
Were  sporting,  just  as  we  did  then. 

With  spirits  just  as  gay. 


But  the  master  sleeps  upon  the  hill, 
Which,  coated  o'er  with  snow, 

Afforded  us  a  sliding  place, 
Some  forty  years  ago. 

The  old  school-house  is  altered  some; 

The  benches  are  replaced 
By  new  ones  very  like  the  same 

Our  jack-knives  had  defaced. 
But  the  same  old  bricks  are  in  the  wall. 

The  bell  swings  to  and  fro; 
It's  music's  just  the  same,  dear  Tom, 

'Twas  forty  years  ago. 

The  spring  that  bubbled  'neath  the  hill, 

Close  by  the  spreading  beech. 
Is  very  low;  'twas  once  so  high 

That  we  could  almost  reach; 
And  kneeling  down  to  take  a  drink. 

Dear  Tom,  I  started  so, 
To  think  how  very  much  I've  changed 

Since  forty  years  ago. 

Near  by  that  spring,  upon  an  elm. 

You  know,  I  cut  your  name, 
Your  sweetheart's  just  beneath  it,  Tom; 

And  you  did  mine  the  same. 
Some  heartless  wretch  has  peeled  the 
bark; 

'Twas  dying  sure,  but  slow 
Just  as  that  one  whose  name  you  cut. 

Died  forty  years  ago. 

My  lids  have  long  been  dry,  Tom, 

But  tears  came  in  my  eyes; 
I  thought  of  her  I  loved  so  well. 

Those  early  broken  ties; 
I  visited  the  old  church-yard, 

And  took  some  flowers  to  strew 
Upon  the  graves  of  those  we  loved 

Just  forty  years  ago. 

Some  are  in  the  church-yard  laid, 

Some  sleep  beneath  the  sea; 
And  none  are  left  of  our  old  class 

Excepting  you  and  me. 
And  when  our  time  shall  come,  Tom, 

And  we  are  called  to  go, 
I  hope  we'll  meet  with  those  wc  loved 

Some  forty  years  ago. 


Shoeless,  he  climbed  the  stairs,  open- 
ed the  door  of  the  room,  entered,  and 
closed  it  after  him  without  being  de- 
tected. Just  as  he  was  about  to  get  into 
bed,  his  wife,  half -aroused  from  slum- 
ber, turned  and  said  sleepily: 

*'Is  that  you,  Fido?" 

The  husband,  telling  the  rest  of  the 
story,  said:  "For  once  in  my  life  I  had 
real  presence  of  mind.  I  licked  her 
hand." 


vWr,':'".--,;'  ■ 


April,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


The  Modernized  Spray  Ring 


by  L.  T.  Denniston 


"Profitable  potato  spraying  in  Penn- 
sylvania had  its  beginning  in  1918.  Pre- 
vious to  1918,  spraying,  where  practiced 
at  all,  was  done  with  but  little  attention 
to  the  three  dominating  factors  in  mod- 
ern spraying — time,  manner  and  mater- 
ial. Haphazard  methods  during  this 
early  period,  such  as  3  or  4  sprays  per 
season,  low  pressure,  little  attention  to 
boom  adjustment,  and  lack  of  standard 
spray  materials,  were  uncertain  and  sel- 
dom showed  a  profit."  To  which  we  add, 
'Neither  would  such  methods  or  prac- 
tices show  a  profit  in  1940.'  The  days 
of  the  bucket  and  the  paddle,  the  knap 


sack  sprayer,  or  what  have  you,  are  in 
the  past. 

Thousands  of  growers  have  forgotten 
and  thousands  of  others  never  knew 
the  conditions  prevailing  previous  to 
1918.  Bugs,  blight,  low  yields  and  rot- 
ten potatoes  were  having  their  day.  The 
task  of  selling  the  idea  of  a  new  and 
added  farm  practice,  requiring  cash  out- 
lay for  what  were  very  costly  machines 
for  the  grower  of  that  day,  was  not  easy. 
Even  the  best  growers  were  skeptical 
and  wanted  proof  that  the  new  venture 
would  pay.    Thousands  of  growers  did 


The  spray  equipment  used  in  conneclion  with  the  first  modernized  potato  spray 
ring  set  up  by  O.  T.  Grazier,  Oakland,  Maryland. 


not  have  the  prices  while  hundreds  who 
did,  would  not  part  with  it.  In  order  to 
carry  the  gospel  into  all  parts  of  the 
state,  into  all  potato  growing  communi- 
ties, growers  who  could  not  be  reached 
individually  were  called  into  small 
groups  and  encouraged  to  pool  their 
interests  and  funds  on  a  community 
basis.  Thus  came  into  being  the  Spray 
Rings  of  1918  and  the  years  immediately 
following. 


You  ask,  did  it  pay?  Let  us  quote  a 
few  figures.  The  average  yield  over 
Pennsylvania  previous  to  1920  was  un- 
der 100  bushels  per  acre.  Let  us  com- 
pare with  this  the  average  yield  of 
growers  who  sprayed  according  to  rec- 
ommendations during  the  ten  years  im- 
mediately following  the  initiation  of  the 
spray  program.     The  average  yield  of 

(Continued  on  page  26) 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


April,  1940 


The  Production  of  maximum  yields  of  high  quality  potatoes  is  dependent 
on  the  planting  of  good  seed. 


*::-f^' 


The  seed  in  the  above  picture  is  the  product  of  five  healthy  adjacent  hills.  They 
grew  under  favorable  soil  and  climatic  conditions  in  a  proven  seed  area — Potter 
County,  Pennsylvania.  The  parent  seed  was  of  good  foundation  stock  produced 
on  the  same  farm  the  previous  year  under  the  practice  of  careful,  thorough  mass 
roguing.  The  variety  is  Rural  Russet,  and  the  potatoes  in  the  picture  are  progeny 
of  the  "Irway"  strain,  seed  of  which  has  been  propagated  by  the  above  method  in 
Potter  County,  free  of  disease,  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century. 


Hnnouncement 


We  Are  Pleased  to  Announce  the  Removal 

Of  the  Association  Office  from  the 

Criders'  Exchange  Building 

to  the 

MASONIC    TEMPLE    BUILDING 

21  North  Allegheny  Street 

BELLEFONTE,  PENNSYLVANIA 

Telephone  618 

PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE  POTATO 
GROWERS'   ASSOCIATION,   INC. 


April,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


POTATO  CHIPS 


The  coldest  Easter  on  record  with  the 
temperature  8  degrees  colder  than  on 
last  Christmas,  heavy  snow-storms  and 
temperature  near  zero  late  in  March 
all  indicate  a  late  spring  with  soil  mois- 
ture high  and  spring  planting  of  po- 
tatoes delayed.  When  this  is  read, 
however,  about  the  middle  of  April,  po- 
tato planting  should  be  well  along  in 
the  southern  counties.  With  all  plant- 
ings in  southern  states  also  delayed  and 
with  subsequent  piling-up  of  new  pota- 
toes on  the  markets  next  summer,  later 
than  usual  maturing  of  Pennsylvania 
potatoes  should  not  be  amiss  looking 
market-wise. 

*         *         >K 

The  marketing  season  for  the  Penn- 
sylvania 1939  crop  is  nearly  completed. 
Looking  back  over  the  season  it  appears 
to  have  been  quite  satisfactory.   Prices 
averaged  about  20c  a  bushel  higher  than 
a  year  ago  which  gave  growers  who  had 
any  kind  of  yields  fair  returns — nothing 
phenominal  but  quite  satisfactory.   The 
marketing  of  Blue  Labels  advanced  con- 
siderably   in   western   counties   where 
yields  were  good  and  slid  back  in  some 
eastern  counties  where  yields  and  quali- 
ty were  not  up  to  normal.  Some  year — 
possibly  in  1940 — all  sections  of  the  State 
may   have  better  than  average  yields 
and  then  look  out  for  a  flood  of  Blue 
Labels.     The    trade    wants    more    than 
have  been  available  and  when  produc- 
ing sections  of  the  State  can  hit  on  all 
fours  together  the  volume  will  be  much 
heavier  than  any  season  to  date. 

♦  :!>  * 

As  of  late  March  the  reports  of  the 
early-crop  potato  deals  may  be  sum- 
marized as  follows: 

1.  Car  lot  shipments  continue  very 
light.  Only  80-85  cars  of  new  potatoes 
a  week  but  should  be  several  hundred 
a  day  at  this  season. 

2.  Hastings  section  several  weeks  late 
and  will  not  start  shipping  before  April 
15th-20th. 

3.  Texas  late  but  prospects  favorable 
and  harvesting  to  start  April  10-15th. 

4.  Alabama  very  late  with  car  lot 
shipments  not  due  before  late  April. 

5  Louisiana  is  one  to  three  weeks 
late  and  shipments  to  start  about  May 
5  to  10th. 


6.  Mississippi  two  weeks  late. 

7.  California  reports  no  car  lot  ship- 
ments expected  before  May  1st. 

8.  Georgia  &  So.  Carolina  had  cold, 
wet  planting  weather  to  retard  the  work 
with  some  seed  rotted  in  ground  and 
harvesting  to  be  one  to  two  weeks  late. 

9.  North  Carolina,  Virginia,  &  Mary- 
land reporting  planting  progressing 
rapidly  and  probably  all  in  by  April  1st. 

)ic  HC  HC 

The  March  citation  for  best  quality 
Blue  Labels  might  well  be  awarded  to 
Raymond  Howell  of  Bloomsburg  and  to 
Andrew  Seyfert  of  Lebanon.  Both  these 
packers  marketed  potatoes  during  the 
month  which  would  be  a  credit  to  any 
brand.  It  is  stock  of  this  kind  that  boosts 
the  demand  for  Pennsylvania  potatoes. 
Likewise  it  takes  only  a  few  out-of- 
grade  spuds,  improperly  marked,  to  cut 
the  demand  back  to  the  same  place  it 
was  5  years  ago.  It  is  up  to  the  Pennsyl- 
vania growers  to  decide  which  they 
want.  The  market  is  theirs  for  the  effort 
but  will  not  be  reserved  through  any  di- 
vine right  of  Pennsylvania  ownership 
or  consumer  sentimentality  about  buy- 
ing Pennsylvania  products — unless  they 

measure  up! 

«     *     ♦ 

I  recall  a  survey  made  some  few  years 
ago  by  the  Maine  Bureau  of  Markets 
which  disclosed  that  a  large  proportion 
of  all  complaints  about  market  quality 
of  Maine  potatoes  came  from  mechani- 
cal injury.  This  is  now  further  borne 
out  by  the  statements  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania enforcement  agents  who  say  the 
most  serious  and  general  factor  of  mis- 
branded  stock  is  nothing  but  injury  due 
to  rough  handling.  Some  day  potato 
growers  will  learn  that  spuds  should  be 
handled  with  kid  gloves  to  get  the  best 
returns  out  of  the  crop. 

*     ♦     ♦ 

Almost  from  under  the  shadow  of  the 
black  fist  of  Nazidom,  the  arch-enemy 
of  cooperatives,  comes  the  following  by 
Victor  Serwy  writing  in  "Belgian  Co- 
operator."  "If  cooperation  today  is  still 
a  great  unknown  it  is  only  the  fault  of 
the  cooperative  organizations  them- 
selves, which  have  scarcely  emerged 
from    their    background,    or    extended 

(Continued  on  page  24) 


. . ..  .cr^' 


The  guide  post 


April,  1940 


Preserving  the  Vitality  of  Seed 


The  production  of  good  seed  with 
proven  vitality,  certified  or  otherwise, 
is  of  fundamental  importance  to  the 
success  of  the  individual  potato  grower 
and  Pennsylvania's  Potato  Industry  as 
a  whole. 

The  preservation  of  seed  vitality  until 
the  seed  is  planted  is  of  equal  impor- 
ance  if  high  yields  of  good  quality  pota- 
toes are  to  be  produced  by  the  grower 
from  the  planting  of  such  seed. 

The  picture  below  shows  three  bush- 
els, all  three  of  which  were  grown  un- 
der identical  conditions  from  the  same 
disease-free  foundation  seed  stock.  At 
the  time  they  were  placed  in  storage 
we  can  assume  that  the  potatoes  in  each 


crate  were  of  equal  vitality  or  promise 
of  producing  high  yields  of  good  qual- 
ity. 

The  crate  on  the  left  was  stored  in  a 
house  cellar  in  which  a  furnace  was 
used  during  the  winter,  the  center 
crate  was  stored  in  a  cellar  without  a 
furnace,  and  the  one  on  the  right  in  a 
modern  potato  storage.  The  storage 
period  was  the  same  for  each  lot  (7 
months)  October  1st  to  May  1st.  Each 
lot  was  carefully  checked,  photograph- 
ed, and  planted  under  identical  condi- 
tions on  May  2nd.  The  results  of  the 
checks  for  shrinkage,  sprouting,  stand, 
vigor  of  plants,  and  yield  checks  taken 
in  the  fall  are  recorded  in  the  table  be- 
low. 


Observalions   and 
Records 

Tuber  shrinkage . . 
Sprout   shrinkage . 


Total  Shrinkage . . . 
Length  of  sprouts . . 
Tuber  condition. .  . 
Stand  (per  100  ft.) . . 


House  Cellar 
With  Furnace 


10  lbs.  or  16.7  % 


5  lbs.  or  8.3% 


Vigor  of  plants 

Yield  per  acre 


15  lbs.  or  25% 


7.2  inches 


Badly  shriveled 


20  plants 


Weak  and  spindly 
48.1  bushels 


House  Cellar 
Without  Heat 


3  lbs.  or  5% 


2  lbs.  or  3.3% 


5  lbs.  or  8.3% 


2  inches 


Slightly    shriveled 
102  plants 


Retarded,  few 
weak  stalks 


323.2  bushels 


Modern  Under- 
ground Storage 


1.3  lbs.  or  2.3% 


Trace 


1.3  lbs.  or  2.3% 


Trace 


Firm 


105  plants 


Came   up  first  vig- 
orous 


342.4  bushels 


April,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


« 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 


By  INSPECTOR  THROW-OUT 


"If  I  cut  a  beefsteak  in  two,"  asked 
the  teacher,  "and  then  cut  the  halves  in 
two,  what  do  I  get?" 

"Quarters,"  returned  the  boy. 

"Good.    And  then  again." 

"Eights." 

"Correct.     Again." 

"Sixteenths." 

"Exactly.  And  what  then?" 

"Thirty-seconds." 

"And  once  more?" 

"Hamburger,"  cried  the  boy  impa- 
tiently. 

^D 

It  was  in  one  of  the  "ten,  twent, 
thirt"  vaudeville  houses  where  moving 
pictures  are  shown.  An  Oriental  act 
had  been  concluded  and  incense  filled 
the  house. 

"Usher,"  complained  a  pompous  man 
in  an  aisle  seat,  "I  smell  punk." 

"That's  all  right,"  whispered  the  ush- 
er confidentially,  "Just  sit  where  you 
are,  and  I  won't  put  anyone  near  you." 

^D 

Faith  is  the  pencil  of  the  soul  that 
pictures  heavenly  things. 

a 


On  certain  days  when  pa  gets  home 
(The  days  he's  paid  I  mean) 

Ma  meets  him  at  the  door,  and  then 
We  see  a  touching  scene. 

^D 

You  cannot  repent  too  soon,  because 
you  do  not  know  how  soon  it  may  be 
too  late. — Fuller. 

^D 

Teacher:  "How  many  different  sex 
are  there?" 

Jimmy:  "Three!  Male  sex,  female 
sex,  insects." 

-D 

They  were  on  their  honeymoon  and 
were  staying  at  one  of  Chicago's  well- 
known  hotels.  The  bride  had  been  out 
shopping,  and  coming  back  to  the  hotel 
hurried  to  the  room  she  believed  was 
hers  and  rapped  gently. 

"Sweetie!      Sugar   plum!      Let  your 

honey  in!" 

A  great  bass  voice  came  through  the 
closed  door:  "Madam!  This  is  no  candy 
shop!    This  is  a  bath  room!" 


A  false  prophet  always  wants  a  full 
profit. 

'D 

The  Weather 

What  is  it  moulds  the  life  of  men? 

The  Weather! 
What  makes  some  black  and  others  tan? 

The  Weather! 
What  makes  the  Zulu  live  in  trees, 
And  Congo  natives  dress  in  leaves, 
While  others  go  in  fur  and  freeze? 

The  Weather! 
What  makes  the    summer    warm    and 
fair? 

The  Weather! 
What  causes  winter  underwear? 

The  Weather! 
What  makes  us  rush  and  build  a  fire? 
and  shiver  near  the  glowing  pyre — 
And  then  on  other  days  perspire? 

The  Weather! 
What  makes  the  cost  of  living  high? 

The  Weather! 
What  makes  the  Libyan  desert  dry? 

The  Weather! 
What  is  it  man  in  every  clime 
Will  talk  about  till  end  of  time? 
What  drove  our  honest  pen  to  rhyme? 

The  Weather! 

U 


Woman:  "A  rag,  a  bone  and  a  hank  of 
hair." 

Man:  "A  jag,  a  drone  and  a  tank  of 


air. 


j> 


-D- 


It  is  easy  enough  to  love  your  neigh- 
bor if  she  is  a  pretty  girl. 

a 

As  it  was:  If  you  have  ambition,  go 
West,  young  man,  go  West. 

As  it  is:  If  you  lack  ambition,  take 
Yeast,  young  man,  take  Yeast. 

^n 


It  is  not  the  greatness  of  a  man's 
means  that  makes  him  independent,  so 
much  as  the  smallness  of  his  wants. — 
Cobbett. 

D 


The  political  bee  that  buzzes  in  many 
a  bonnet  is  a  hum-bug. 

(Continued  on  page  22) 


10 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


April,  1940 


A  remarkable  field  of  early  "Red  Bliss"  growing  on  the  farm  of  M.  L.  Van- 
Wegen,  Coudersport,  Poller  Counly. 


That  the  "Red  Bliss,"  sensitive  to  various  soils  and  climatic  conditions,  grows  so 
profusely  and  gives  heavy  sets  and  high  yields  is  additional  evidence  of  the  adap- 
tability of  this  area  to  the  development,  propogation,  and  maintenance  of  disease 
free  foundation  seed  stock.  "Red  Bliss"  now  grown  in  this  area  contains  far  less 
disease  than  did  the  parent  stock  imported  into  the  area  several  years  ago.  Mass 
roguing  has  been  the  basis  of  propagation  and  maintenance. 


WARNING 

A  late  spring,  which  seems  to 
have  finally  arrived,  is  certain  to 
interfere  with  the  seasonable 
planting  of  the  early  potato  crop. 
There  will  be  an  inclination  on 
the  part  of  many  growers  to  get 
into  their  fields  before  they  are  fit. 

T.  B.  Terry,  in  reporting  his  40 
years'  experience  as  a  potato 
grower  staled  that  his  worst  crop 
failures  were  due  to  attempting 
to  rush  the  season  by  plowing 
when  the  land  was  not  yet  fit. 

Terry  said,  "Loose,  mellow  land 
is  wanted  for  best  results."  This 
holds  as  true  today  as  Terry  found 
it  to  be  in  1890.  You  cannot  cre- 
ate loose,  mellow  soil  by  plowing 
or  working  it  loo  wet.  Once  the 
damage  is  done,  by  plowing  or 
working  the  soil  too  wet,  there  is 
no  way  of  correcting  it  during  the 
current  season. 


MEMBERSHIP  DRIVE 

CONTINUES  SUCCESSFUL 

Good  loyal  supporters  continued  to 
reinforce  the  Association  files  with  new 
grower  members  from  all  sections  of 
the  State,  and  also  from  foreign  states 
during  the  past  month. 

Leading  in  contributions  was  L.  O. 
Thompson,  of  New  Freedom,  York 
County,  former  Director  and  Associa- 
tion supporter  of  long  standing.  Mr. 
Thompson  sent  a  long  list  of  renewals, 
and  seven  new  York  County  members. 

Thomas  B.  Buell,  of  Elmira  Michigan, 
who  has  boosted  the  Association  for 
many  years,  contributed  three  new 
members,  along  with  two  renewals. 

Vice-President  Roy  R.  Hess,  of  Still- 
water, Columbia  County,  never  fails  to 
make  this  column,  and  his  contributions 
are  always  substantial.  This  month 
they  were  three  new  members. 

Former  Director  J.  C.  McClurg,  of 
Geneva,  Crawford  County,  also  is  listed 
regularly  in  this  report,  and  his  contri- 
butions too,  are  most  substantial.   This 

(Continued  on  page  16) 


April,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


11 


Five  Essentials  of  Marketing 

As  presented  in  The  First  Prize  Demonstration  at  the  1940  farm  Show  by  the 
future  farmers  of  the  Newton-Ransom  School,  Clarks  Summit,  Lackawanna 
County,  under  the  direction  of  vocational  instructor,  P.  R.  Bartholme. 


Up  to  the  present  time  the  spot-light 
of  American  Agriculture  has  been  very 
brightly  focused  upon  the  phase  of 
Agriculture  termed  production.  Pro- 
duction! Production!  Production!  As  a 
result  we  have  learned  to  successfully 
grow  our  crops  to  a  point  which  seems 
to  be  very  near  the  maximum.  It  is  not 
at  all  uncommon  to  raise  450  to  550  bu. 
of  potatoes  per  acre,  25  to  30  tons  of  cab- 
bage per  acre,  20  tons  of  tomatoes  per 
acre,  600  bu.  of  apples  per  acre,  and  so 
on.  But  the  question  arises  now— and 
a  question  which  has  so  far  received 
insufficient  attention  and  study — "Now 
that  we  have  all  these  products  on  our 
hands,  how  are  we  going  to  get  rid  of 
them  and  make  a  profit?"  In  more 
simple  words,  "How  are  we  going  to 
market  them?"  as  an  answer  to  this 
problem  there  are  certain  factors  which 
are  indispensable  to  the  successful  mar- 
keting of  farm  products.  These  princi- 
ples of  successful  marketing  are  simple 
— just  rules  of  common  sense,  the  appli- 
cation of  which  requires  some  exper- 
ience and  a  considerable  degree  of  skill. 
There  are  but  five  essentials  and  we 
shall  endeavor  to  clearly  point  them 
out  to  you. 

First:  Positive  identification  of  product: 

Regardless  of  what  is  being  sold, 
whether  automobiles  or  potatoes,  wash- 
ing machines  or  apples,  the  most  im- 
portant essential  to  successful  and  pro- 
fitable marketing  is  positive  identifica- 
tion and  preferably  a  form  of  indentifi- 
cation  which  remains  on  the  product 
until  it  is  consumed.  One  of  the  very 
great  advantages  the  manufacturers  of 
automobiles  enjoy  over  the  producers  of 
other  products  is  that  they  can  iden- 
tify their  products  in  such  a  manner 
that  not  only  does  the  identity  continue 
until  the  user  buys,  but  everybody  can 
see  what  kind  and  how  old  the  car  is  a 
person  is  driving.  Unless  some  way  is 
found  to  identify  the  ( 1 )  source  of  pro- 
duct, (2)  the  organization  which  pro- 
duces, (3)  the  firm  or  individual,  there 
is  not  much  use  in  trying  to  work  out  a 
successful  marketing  system  which  will 
prove  of  the  greatest  profit  to  the  pro- 
ducers.   Let  us  examine  the  identifying 


characteristics  of  the  Pa.  Potato  Grow- 
ers' Association.  Due  to  the  character 
of  the  product  it  is  impossible  to  mark 
it,  thus  making  the  identification  a  pack- 
aging problem. 

First — a  very  plain  and  outstanding 
trade  mark;  Second,  the  source  of  the 
product;  Third — the  association  which 
puts  it  on  the  market.  This  type  of 
identification  fulfills  these  requirements 
satisfactorily. 

One  of  the  reasons  why  Pacific  coast 
apples  sell  on  the  Atlantic  coast  is  that 
the  Pacific  coast  growers  identify  their 
apples.  The  growers  on  the  Atlantic 
have  not  done  so  to  the  same  degree  but 
are  coming  more  and  more  to  realize  this 
must  be  done  if  there  is  to  be  a  satisfac- 
tory market.  The  Pacific  coast  nut 
growers  went  to  considerable  expense 
in  the  effort  to  discover  a  satisfactory 
way  of  identifying  the  nuts  they  g^o^y. 
In  the  end  they  succeeded  and  it  is 
easier  to  sell  those  nuts  at  a  price  higher 
than  would  have  been  possiblie  without 
identification. 

Breakfast  food  manufacturers  have 
packaged  their  foods  in  small  individual 
packages  for  use  in  restaurants  and  ho- 
tels toward  the  end  that  when  they  are 
served  they  will  carry  their  identity 
with  them  to  the  persons  who  eat  them. 
The  first  problem,  therefore,  in  all  mar- 
keting is  to  find  the  most  satisfactory 
method  of  identifying  the  product.  In 
some  cases  this  is  a  packaging  problem. 
In  other  cases  it  is  a  problem  of  discov- 
ering a  way  of  providing  a  distinguish- 
ing mark  or  design  on  each  item,  for 
example  stamping  the  trade  mark  on 
nuts. 

2.     Uniform  quality: 

After  this  problem  has  been  solved 
and  not  until  it  is,  comes  the  problem 
of  quality.  The  quality  should  be  that 
which  will  appeal  to  those  to  whom  it 
is  desired  to  sell.  If  the  market  is  the 
high  grade  exclusive  one,  the  quality 
must  be  high.  If  it  is  desired  to  sell  the 
maximum  volume  then  the  quality  must 
be  that  which  will  appeal  to  the  largest 
possible  number  of  people.  After  the 
standard  of  quality  has  been  determined 


•'  :i-'l^': 


12 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


April,  1940 


it  is  necessary  to  maintain  it  just  as 
uniform  as  is  possible  to  make  it.  The 
identifying  mark  or  package  which  is 
used  becomes  a  liability  rather  than  an 
asset  unless  the  quality  is  maintained 
uniform. 

A  local  farmer  has  illustrated  this 
point  very  well.  Here  is  a  bu.  of  Mac- 
intosh apples.  No.  2  size,  of  a  very 
good  and  uniform  quality,  packed  in  a 
fancy  package.  He  has  built  up  a  trade 
which  will  pay  a  premium  price  for  this 
product  and  there  is  a  greater  demand 
than  he  can  supply.     Also,  he  puts  up 


a  full  bushel  of  the  same  kind  of  apples, 
No.  1  size,  of  a  slightly  less  uniform 
size  and  quality,  in  the  same  type  of 
package  and  packaged  the  same  way, 
but  receives  the  same  price  of  $.75  for 
each  of  the  two  packages.  The  demand 
for  both  grades  is  such  that  he  can  sell 
all  he  has  of  both.  He  attributes  his 
success  in  building  up  this  trade  to  the 
maintenance  of  a  uniform  quality  which 
meets  the  requirements  of  his  custom- 
ers. Here  we  have  a  cross  sectional  view 
of  each  of  these  two  packages.  Notice 
particularly  the  uniformity  of  quality. 


The  demonstration,  "Five  Essentials  of  Marketing"  as  given  by  the  F.F.A.  boys 
of  Newton-Ransom  School  during  the  1940  farm  Show. 


Suppose,  for  example,  potatoes  are  be- 
ing packaged  and  sold  under  trade  mark. 
The  sizes  of  packages  are  such  that  the 
retailer  sells  them  in  the  packages.  Each 
package  provides  a  definite  identifica- 
tion of  the  producers  of  those  potatoes. 
If  every  package  contains  potatoes  of  the 
same  size  and  quality,  then  the  trade 
mark  assures  people  of  just  what  they 
can  expect  in  regard  to  quality  and 
size  when  they  buy  these  potatoes.  If 
it  is  what  they  want  they  are  going  to 
buy  more  and  more  of  these  trade 
marked  potatoes  and  the  chances  are 
they  will  be  willing  to  pay  more  for 
them  than  they  are  for  the  run  of  the 
mill  potatoes. 


However,  let  one  package  contain  po- 
tatoes of  mixed  sizes,  another  large  po- 
tatoes, and  another  small  ones,  let  the 
quality  vary  and  the  kind  of  potatoes 
also  and  people  learn  very  soon  that  the 
trade  mark  means  that  they  never  know 
what  they  are  going  to  get  when  they 
buy  one  of  those  packages. 

The  result  is  that  they  would  buy  less 
and  less  of  the  trade  marked  potato. 
Most  of  the  money  and  the  time  which 
has  been  spent  for  the  marketing  plan 
would  be  wasted  for  the  simple  reason 
that  not  sufficient  attention  has  been 
given  to  quality  and  uniformity. 

(Continued  on  page  13) 


April,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


13 


I 


r 


Potatoes  Are  Last  But  Not  Least 


Fifty  boys  carried  eight  different 
kinds  of  farm  enterprises  for  vocational 
agricultural  projects  at  Liberty,  Tioga 
County,  Pennsylvania  last  year,  1939. 

The  kinds  of  projects  carried  were: 
small  fruit,  which  included  strawberries 
and  raspberries;  swine,  which  included 
sows  and  litter  projects,  and  pigs  for 
fattening;  vegetable  gardening;  corn  for 
grain;  dairy  calves;  poultry;  oats;  and 
potatoes. 

After  all  projects  had  been  completed 
and  summarized,  an  analysis  was  made 
to  determine  the  amount  of  profit  re- 
turned per  unit  of  production  for  each 
type  of  project.  A  table  showing  the 
relative  returns  for  each  type  of  project 
per  unit  of  production  is  as  follows: 


Returns  per  Unit 

Type  of  Project 

oj  Production 

Small  fruit 

$     6.41 

Swine 

7.32 

Vegetable  gardening 

15.34 

Corn  (for  grain) 

48.67 

Dairy  calves 

51.57 

Poultry 

76.77 

Potatoes 

127.83 

A  unit  of  production  is  considered  as 
a  certain  size  in  order  to  require  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  time  and  effort— the 
same  amount  for  each  type  of  project. 
For  example,  a  unit  of  potatoes  required 
approximately  the  same  amount  of  time 
and  effort  to  care  for  them  as  was  re- 
quired for  the  care  of  a  unit  of  corn,  or 
a  unit  of  poultry,  etc. 

In  the  small  fruit  or  raspberry  and 
strawberry  projects  these  boys  received 
the  lowest  returns  or  $6.41  for  their  ef- 
forts and  time  (or  unit  of  production). 
The  boys  carrying  potatoes  on  the  other 
hand,  had  returned  to  them  for  the  same 
amount  of  time  and  effort,  $127.83.  This 
happens  to  be  19.9  almost  20  times  as 
much  profit  received  by  the  boys  who 
carried  fruit. 

Projects  in  corn  and  dairy  calves  re- 
turned less  than  half  as  much  for  the 
same  amount  of  time  and  effort  as  did 
potatoes.  Potatoes  returned  about  1.6 
times  as  much  as  did  poultry.  It  must 
be  kept  in  mind,  however,  that  this  was 
a  poor  year  for  poultry. 

In  spite  of  drought  this  year  in  this 
mountainous  section  of  Liberty,  Tioga 


County,  Pennsylvania,  potatoes  proved 
to  be  the  best  bet  for  the  boys. 

Reported  by:  Jesse  Cutler 

Vocational  Agricultural  Supervisor. 


BEWARE! 

It  has  come  to  our  attention  that 
there  are  a  number  of  agents  in 
the  state  recommending  and  pro- 
moting various  potato  seed  treat- 
ing solutions,  dips,  or  what  have 
you.  To  our  knowledge  there  is 
no  evidence  experimental  or  other- 
wise, to  show  that  these  materials 
will  return  anything  to  our  grow- 
ers when  used  under  Pennsyl- 
vania conditions.  There  have  been 
many  cases  over  the  past  25  years 
reported  by  growers  where  such 
materials  have  done  severe  injury. 
This  may  have  been  due  to  the 
materials  themselves,  the  chemi- 
cal content  in  many  cases  being 
little  known,  or  due  to  failure  of 
following  the  tedius  and  exacting 
procedure  prescribed  in  the  rec- 
ommendations for  their  use. 

The  use  of  clean  seed  (free  of 
scab  and  rhizoc)  by  the  grower 
will  remove  any  need  for  seed 
treatment  and  return  a  greater  net 
profit  at  harvest  time. 


FIVE  ESSENTIALS  OF  MARKETING 

(Continued  from  page  12) 

There  are  comparatively  few  farm 
products  for  which  the  farmer  could 
not  obtain  better  prices  and  the  mar- 
keting of  which  he  can  not  keep  more 
securely  within  his  control  if  farmers 
organized  for  the  purpose  of  producing 
the  most  popular  quality,  maintaining 
uniformity  of  that  quality  and  then 
identifying  the  products  with  a  distinc- 
tive trade  mark. 

Third:   The  right  distribution  plan: 

The  third  essential  in  marketing  is 
distribution.  That  means  where  and  bv 
whom  the  products  are  to  be  sold.  Are 
they  to  pass  through  the  hands  of  the 


!'):'!<■; 


14 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


April,  1940 


wholesalers  and  then  on  to  the  retailer 
before  they  get  to  the  hands  of  the  con- 
sumer? Are  they  to  be  sold  directly  to 
the  retailer,  or  are  they  to  be  sold  di- 
rectly to  the  consumer?  All  three  o^ 
these  different  plans  have  been  tried  in 
practice.  In  some  cases  one  works  best 
and  in  some  cases  another.  The  quan- 
tity produced  has  a  bearing  upon  which 
plan  will  work  best.  If  the  quantity  is 
relatively  small  and  there  is  an  ample 
market  for  all  that  is  produced  in  a  near- 
by city  it  may  prove  best  to  sell  it  direct- 
ly to  the  consumer.  Again  it  may  prove 
more  profitable  to  sell  directly  to  the 
dealers.  This  problem  of  distribution 
needs  to  be  given  careful  study  before 
any  plan  is  adopted. 

Let  us  examine  the  setup  of  the  Penna. 
Potato  Growers  Association  which  is  op- 
erating very  successfully  throughout 
this  and  other  states.  In  general  the 
working  plan  of  the  association  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

The  association  is  made  up  of  potato 
growers  all  over  the  state,  and  so  the 
potatoes  put  out  by  the  association  may 
come  from  almost  any  section  of  the 
state,  depending  upon  conditions.  The 
headquarters  is  located  in  Bellefonte, 
Pa.  Any  member  has  the  privilege  of 
packaging  his  potatoes  in  the  associa- 
tion packages  providing  his  product 
meets  the  requirements  and  passes  in- 
spection of  the  association.  This  may 
be  accomplished  something  as  follows: 
PerhaDS  it  can  be  best  illustrated  by  a 
hypothetical  example.  Grower  members 
located  in  Potter  county,  have  about 
70,000  bushel  of  potatoes  to  market.  An 
inspector  is  sent  to  that  area  by  the 
association  who  rigidly  inspects  and  su- 
pervises the  grading  and  packaging  of 
the  product.  Then,  when  they  are  ready 
to  be  distributed,  one  of  two  methods 
may  be  employed.  The  central  office 
has  an  order  to  fill  in  that  general  area 
and  orders  them  shipped  directly  to  that 
buyer  which  is  generally  a  chain  store 
or  other  retailer:  or  they  may  be  ship- 
ped to  a  central  storage  where  they  are 
held  until  they  are  needed  to  fill  orders 
in  various  markets.  This  brings  a  maxi- 
mum prite  to  the  farmer  for  his  pota- 
toes, by  reducing  the  number  of  chan- 
nels and  processes  through  which  it 
would  usually  go. 

Fowrth:  Right  amount  and  kind  of 
advertising: 

Closely  allied  with  the  system  of  dis- 
tribution adopted  is  advertising.  An 
individual,   a  group,   or  a  corporation 


may  produce  absolutely  uniform,  popu- 
lar quality,  positively  identify  it,  adopt 
the  very  best  distributing  plan  and  still 
not  get  anywhere.  After  all,  this  has 
been  done  it  is  necessary  to  tell  people 
about  it,  to  advertise,  and  to  create  a  de- 
mand for  what  has  already  been  done. 
That  advertising  must  make  people  want 
what  is  being  offered  them  and  want  it 
in  sufficient  quantities  to  absorb  all  that 
is  produced. 

The  type  of  advertising  done  depends 
upon  the  distribution.  If  the  total  out- 
put is  going  to  be  sold  in  a  single  city, 
then  the  advertising  must  be  confined 
to  that  city.  If  it  is  going  to  be  sold  over 
all  the  nation,  it  follows  that  national 
advertising  will  be  called  for.  If  it  is 
being  sold  in  just  one  section  the  adver- 
tising must  be  confined  to  that  section. 

Various  methods  of  advertising  may 
be  listed  something  as  follows: 

a.  Roadside  stands — Suitable  for  a 
small  amount  of  produce  to  market — 
right  on  the  farm. 

b.  Radio  very  well  adopted  to  either 
seasonal  or  yearly  supplies  of  produce. 
Very  timely. 

c.  Magazines — ^Usually  adopted  to 
sectionally  or  nationally  distributed 
products.  Good  examples  are  "Doje 
Pineapple"  and  "Purina  Feeds." 

d.  Newspapers — Well  suited  to  local 
and  seasonal  advertising. 

e.  Signs  and  Billboards — Usually  best 
adopted  to  local  advertising. 

Fifth:  Maintenance  of  an  ample  supply 
capacity : 

Just  as  soon  as  advertising  is  started 
another  problem  arises  which  may  not 
have  existed  before  and  that  is  an 
assured  supply  great  enough  to  meet 
the  demand  created  by  advertising. 
Many  a  firm  has  suffered  great  loss  by 
not  keeping  the  advertisement  to  the 
supply.  Thus,  it  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  first  assure  an  adequate  supply 
capacity.  Either  it  must  be  produced  at 
home  or  it  must  be  provided  from  othej* 
sources  equally  as  good.  Second,  thfs 
supply  must  be  of  the  quality  demanded 
by  the  trade  to  which  it  caters.  Inferior 
quality  produce  placed  on  the  market 
will  ruin  several  years,  hard  and  patient 
effort  to  place  a  first  class  product  on  the 
market.  Third — Adequate  Storage,  to 
fulfill  the  demand  from  the  program  of 
advertising  used.  The  supply  required 
to  be  placed  in  storage  will  vary  with 
conditions,  but  there  must  absolutely  be 

(Continued  on  page  18) 


i 


SOIL-BUILDERS  or 
SOIL-ROBBERS  ? 


f 


If  the  so-called  soil-building  crops  are  removed  from  the 
soil,  either  as  pasture  or  hay,  they  rob  the  soil  of  more  min- 
erals than  are  lost  in  a  high  yield  of  a  soil-depleting  crop. 
This  is  due  to  the  high  mineral  content  of  grasses  and 
legumes  v^hich  are  classified  as  soil-building  or  soil-con- 
serving crops. 

In  applying  fertilizers,  the  high  phosphate  and  potash  re- 
quirements of  grasses  and  legumes  should  be  kept  in  mind. 
If  any  of  the  crop  is  removed  from  the  soil  to  meet  emer- 
gency forage  needs,  even  more  liberal  amounts  of  minerals 
should  be  used  on  the  following  crop. 

Consult  your  county  agent  or  experiment  station  about  the 
fertility  of  your  soil  and  your  cropping  system.  Make  sure 
that  your  fertilizer  dealer  or  manufacturer  sells  you  a  fer- 
tilizer containing  plenty  of  potash  to  meet  the  needs  of 
your  crop.   You  will  be  surprised  how  little  extra  it  costs. 


1 


i 


1^ 


Write  us  for  free  information  and 
literature  on  the  profitable  fertiliza- 
tion of  potatoes  and  other  crops. 


f 


American  Potash  Institute,  Inc. 


Investment  Building 


Washington,  D.  C. 


16 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


April,  1940 


The  "Early  Nittany"  growing  at  the  summit  of  the  Allegheny  Moun- 
tains, Potter  County,  Pennsylvania. 


■^^>>^:':<-<>y-'< 


-*     #-^ 


The  "Nittany"  is  the  most  outstanding  new  potato  variety  developed  in  Pennsyl- 
vania in  50  years.  It  has  been  amply  proven  that  seed  of  the  "Nittany"  can  be 
more  easily  propagated  and  maintained,  free  of  disease,  in  Pennsylvania's  proven 
seed  areas  than  any  other  early  maturing  variety.  It  has  been  proven  to  be  pe- 
culiarly adapted  to  commercial  production  throughout  Pennsylvania  and  other 
areas  of  comparable  soil  and  climate. 

The  above  field  grown  by  Everett  Blass,  at  the  high  headwaters  of  the  Allegheny, 
Genesee,  and  Susquehanna  Rivers,  near  the  site  of  "Camp  Potato,"  showed  only 
a  trace  of  degenerative  disases.  Starting  as  a  seedling  in  1925  the  "Nittany"  has 
been  propagated  and  maintained  in  this  area,  as  disease  free  seed  stock,  by  care- 
ful and  thorough  mass  roguing. 


MEMBERSHIP  DRIVE 

CONTINUES  SUCCESSFUL 

(Continued  from  page  10) 

month,  along  with  numerous  renewals, 
he  sent  three  new  members. 

Ivan  Miller,  of  Corry,  Erie  County, 
whose  contributions  last  year  consti- 
stuted  an  amazingly  long  list,  is  back 
with  us  again  with  three  new  members, 
one  fellow  Erie  Countian  and  two  Ohio- 
ans. 

Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon,  of  State  College,  in- 
fluenced two  new  prospective  members 
to  take  out  memberships. 

A.  J.  Henninger,  of  Allentown,  down 
Lehigh  way,  who  has  been  sending  new 
members  in  as  fast  as  he  can  locate 
them — and  he  is  locating  quite  a  few — 
found  one  more  this  month. 

Jacob  Mast,  of  Elverson,  Lancaster 
County,  also  regularly  an  Association 
booster,  added  another  member  to  his 


long    list    of    contributions    this    past 
month. 

Harvey  Saylor,  of  Fullerton,  in  Le- 
high County,  new  in  the  drive,  located 
his  new  member  this  month. 

We'  thank  all  these  men  for  these 
substantial  contributions,  and  welcome 
the  following  new  members  into  the 
Association: 

M.  V.  Runkle,  Felton,  York  County 
C.  C.  Gable,  Felton,  York  County 
Ervin  J.  Keeny,  New  Freedom,  York 

County 
R.    F.    Flinchbaugh,    Windsor,    York 

County 
J.  W.  Smith,  Laurel,  York  County 
M.  M.  Hartman,  York,  York  County 
C.    W.    Manifold,    Bridgeton,    York 

County 
George  Stromer,  New  Buffalo,  Mich- 
igan 
Carl  Griswold,  Elmira,  Michigan 
Miles  Brown,  Elmira,  Michigan 
(Continued  on  page  18) 


1 


"As  you  sow,  so  shall  you  reap." 

Don't  fear  "Ring  Rot"  (Bacterial  Wilt)  in  your  crop. 
No  "Ring  Rot"  has  been  discovered  in  Potter  County. 
Plant  your  fields  with  this  seed  and  reap  a  Profitable  Crop. 


Russet  Rurals 
White  Rurals 
Pennigan 


Nittany  Cobblers — Size  2 
Katahdin — sold  out 
Chippewa — sold  out 
Red  Bliss 


POTTER  COUNTY  FOUNDATION 
SEED  POTATO  ASSOCIATION 

COUDERSPORT,  PA. 


Don  Stearns,  Pres. 


F.  E.  Wagner,  Sec'y. 


Bob  Hamilton,  Sr. 


Bob  Hamilton.  Jr. 


HAMILTON  &  COMPANY 

Ephrata  —  Penna. 

WHOLESALE  DISTRIBUTORS 

Eastern  Pennsylvania,  Delaware  &  Maryland 
VAC-A-WAY  SEED  AND  GRAIN  CLEANERS  AND  GRADERS 

Hand  power  or  electric.   Farm  and  Commercial  sizes. 

Exclusive  Distributor  for  Pennsylvania. — Sold  in  every  County. 
O.K.  CHAMPION  POTATO  DIGGERS 

One  or  two  row  with  power  take-offs  and  Caster  Wheels. 

Received    1939  Gold  Medal   Award  from   the   Pennsylvania   Potato 

Growers  Association. 
TRESCOTT  FRUIT  GRADERS  AND  SIZERS 

Various  units  for  any  required  capacity. 
TRESCOTT  VEGETABLE  CLEANERS 

For  Lima  Beans,  Tomatoes,  Cucumbers,  Peppers,  etc. 
O.K.  CHAMPION  TRANSPORTABLE  IRRIGATION  PIPE 

Light  weight,  quick  coupling  and  complete  Ime  of  fittmgs. 

Save  your  crops  and  increase  the  yield.   Moves  over  your  farm  like 

rain 
PUMPS,*  SPRINKLERS,  MOTORS  AND  ENGINES  ,  ^     ^      , 

A  complete  irrigation  system  can  be  installed  quickly  and  at  a  ow  cost 
where  water  is  available.  Our  Irrigation  Engineering  Service  will  gladly 
furnish  you  with  an  estimate.  For  information,  please  write  to  the  above 
address  or  you  are  welcome  to  visit  our  warehouse  located  on  Poplar  btreet 
in  Ephrata,  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  where  all  of  the  above  items  are  on 
display. 


18 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


April,  1940 


V.  >,V         «1f-*' 


FIVE  ESSENTIALS  OF  MARKETING 

(Continued  from  page  14) 

enough  produce  in  storage  to  meet  the 
demand  set  up. 

It  is  just  as  important  not  to  over  ad- 
vertise as  it  is  to  advertise  sufficiently. 
Advertising  should  be  geared  to  create 
a  good  demand  for  all  that  can  be  pro- 
duced but  not  to  create  so  great  a  de- 
mand that  it  can  not  be  met,  while  at 
the  same  time  maintaining  the  standard 
of  quality  which  has  been  set  up. 

Summarizing :  —The  principles  of 
successful  marketing  are  simple.  They 
are  just  rules  of  common  sense.  Their 
application  requires  a  certain  amount  of 
experience  and  a  considerable  degree  of 
skill.  Left  out  steps  or  miss-applied 
steps  always  prove  costly. 

First— Positively  identify  the  product. 

Second— Produce  and  maintain  a 
good  uniform  quality. 

Third— Work  out  the  right  kind  of 
distribution  plan. 

Fourth— Employ  the  right  amount 
and  kind  of  advertising. 

Fifth— Maintain  an  ample  supply 
capactiy. 


MEMBERSHIP  DRIVE  „«^^,„ 

CONTINUES  SUCCESSFUL 

(Continued  from  page  16) 
Frank  Beshline,  Stillwater,  Columbia 

County  -n       r^  1 

Holland  McHenry,  Orangeville,  Col- 
umbia, County 
Myron   Edwards,    Benton,    Columbia 

County 
T.  S.  Ingram,  Corry,  Erie  County 
Earl     Livingston,     Conneaut     Lake, 

Crawford  County 
W.    I.    Brown,    Meadville,    Crawford 

County 
Alton  Miller,  Corry,  Erie  County 
J.  E.  Miller,  Columbiana,  Ohio 
S.  B.  McClure,  East  Palestine,  Ohio 
John    Wettstine,    Hazleton,    Luzerne 

County 
J.  Edward  Johns,  Massillon,  Ohio 
Jacob  Deck,  Allentown,  Lehigh  Coun- 
ty 
Chas.    D.    Wolf,    Quincey,    Franklin 

County 
Iron  A.  Long,  Now  Tripoli,  Lehigh 

n 

Liberty  of  thought  is  the  life  of  the  soul. 
— Francois  M.  A.  Voltaire 


THE  CHILD'S  WORLD 

"Great,   wide,   beautiful,   wonderful 

world, 
With  the  wonderful  water  round  you 

curled. 
And    the    wonderful   grass   upon    your 

breast, — 
World,  you  are  beautiful  drest. 

"The  wonderful  air  is  over  me, 

And  the  wonderful  wind  is  shaking  the 

tree; 
It  walks  on  the  water,  and  whirls  the 

mills, 
And  talks  to  itself  on  the  tops  of  the 

hills. 

"You  friendly  Earth!  how  far  do  you  go 
With  the  wheat  fields  that  nod,  and  the 

rivers  that  flow; 
With  cities  and  gardens,  and  cliffs  and 

isles. 
And  people  upon  you  for  thousands  of 

miles? 

"Ah,  you  are  so  great,  and  I  am  so  small, 
I  tremble  to  think  of  you.  World,  at  all: 
And  yet,  when  I  said  my  prayers,  to-day, 
A  whisper  inside  me  seemed  to  say, 
'You  are  more  than  the  Earth,  though 

you  are  such  a  dot: 
You  can  love  and  think,  and  the  Earth 

can  not!'" 

n 


Doubts  are  more  cruel  than  the  worst 
truths.  — Jean  Baptiste  Molier 


CAUTION 

Potatoes  in  storage  in  some  sec- 
tions of  the  State  are  sprouting 
prematurely,  and  are  already 
showing  the  formation  of  new 
small  tubers  while  yet  in  the  bin. 
Such  potatoes  are  unfit  for  plant- 
ing as  they  will  give  poor  stands 
and  high  percentage  of  weak 
spindly  plants — resulting  in  un- 
satisfactory yields.  This  warn- 
ing is  given  so  you  can  be  on  the 
look-out  for  this  condition  from 
now  until  you  plant.  The  cause 
of  this  condition  is  a  heat  factor, 
eitlier  during  the  growing  season, 
or  while  the  potatoes  are  in  stor- 
age. 


MR.  SPUD  says: 

"The  more  potatoes  you  grow  per  acre 
the  more  plantfood  you  use. 

"A  400  bushel  crop  of  potatoes  removes 
from  the  soil  353  pounds  of  plantfood." 

USE 


DAVCO 


VMM  MMMMA  U.  S  »M  WV 


GRANULATED 


FERTILIZER 

It's  Readily  Soluble  —  It  Distributes  Evenly 

Restores  depleted  soil  fertility     —     USE  DAVCO 

1500  lbs.  of  4-8-8  supplies  300  lbs.  of  plantfood 
1800  lbs.  of  4-8-8  supplies  360  lbs.  of  plantfood 

ASK  YOUR  AGENT  FOR  DAVCO 

THE  DAVISON  CHEMICAL  CORPORATION 

BALTIMORE.  MD. 


Motor    truck- 
mounted 
Hardies  are 
supplied  with 
and    without 
power  take-off 


•  The  big  10-row  truck-mounted, 
truck-powered  Hardie  Row  Crop 
Sprayer  is  doing  a  splendid  and 
economical  job  for  the  large  acre- 
age operator.  For  those  whose 
needs  require  row  sprayers  of  an- 
other model  and  size,  Hardie  builds 


a  wide  variety  to  spray  2  to  10  rows 
—Tractor  Trailers,  engine -power- 
ed and  traction  outfits.  Sold  and 
serviced  by  leading  local  dealers. 
Write  for  the  Hardie  Row  Crop 
Sprayer  Catalog.  The  Hardie  Mfg. 
Company,  Hudson,  Mich. 


20 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


April,  1940 


Grower  to  Grower  Exchange 

The  rate  for  advertising  in  this  column  is  a  penny  a  word,  "^i^jJ^J^J^^L^oUL^^^^ 
payable  with  order.    (10%  reduction  when  four  or  ^^^ore^  ^"^^.^^^^^^^ 
one  time.)  Count  name  and  address.  Send  ads  to  reach  the  GUIDE  POST,  Mason  c 
Temple  Building,  Bellefonte,  Penna.,  by  the  20th  of  the  month  previous  to  publi- 
cation. 


QUALITY  SEED  POTATOES:  Russet 
Rurals,  White  Rurals,  Cobblers  and 
Nittanys.  Certified  Seeds  and  one  year 
from  certified.  All  grown  from  north- 
ern foundation  seed.  Ideal  storage.  All 
seed  will  be  graded  and  packed  in  Asso- 
ciation bushel  paper  bags.  I  am  pur- 
chasing a  new  eight  row  sprayer,  there- 
fore am  offering  for  sale  a  six  row  used 
power  sprayer.  Thomas  Denniston, 
Slippery  Rock,  Pennsylvania.  (Butler 
County.) 

AVAILABLE:  Copies  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Nix- 
on's book,  "The  Principles  of  Potato 
Production,"  $1.25  per  copy.  Write  for 
your  copy  today,  to  Association  office, 
Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania. 

SPRAYER:  One  ten-row  Bean  truck 
sprayer,  five  hundred  gallon  capacity. 
Sprayer  complete  without  truck.  If  in- 
terested, write  Lynn  Sill,  R.  F.  D.  No.  3, 
Corry,  Penna.  (Erie  County) 

SEED  POTATOES:  Seconds  grown 
from  Potter  County  disease-free  foun- 
dation seed  stock.  Rural  Russets.  Free 
from  blight,  stem-end  discoloration  and 
other  injury.  Firm  and  vigorous  sprouts 
assured  due  to  being  well  stored.  Will  be 
well  graded  and  packed  in  bushels  or 
100  lbs.  Price  reasonable,  $1.50  per  hun- 
dred for  one  year  from  certified,  $1.10 
per  hundred  for  two  years  from  certi- 
fied. Contact  Lynn  Sill,  R.  F.  D.  No.  3, 
Corry,  Pa. 

DIGGER  FOR  SALE:  One  single  row 
take  off  digger.  Good  repair.  Will  sell 
reasonably.  Write  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon, 
State  College,  Penna. 


SPRAY  BOOM  FOR  SALE:  John  Bean 
Spray  boom.  Complete  without  nozzles. 
10  row.  Good  condition.  Will  sell  cheap. 
Ed.  Fisher,  Coudersport,  Pa. 

PICKER-PLANTER       WANTED:        2- 

Row  automatic  Picker-Planter.  Iron 
Age.  Good  condition.  Send  for  details. 
J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  D.  No.  1,  Emlenton, 
Penna.     (Venango  County). 

SEED  POTATOES:  Rural  Russets  and 
Chippewas,  U.  S.  No.  1,  and  U.  S.  No.  1, 
Size  B,  or  seconds.  Free  from  stem  end 
discoloration  and  other  blemishes.  Con- 
tact Robert  Getz,  Albrightsville,  Penna. 
(Carbon  County) 

SPRAYER  WANTED:  4  or  6  row  en- 
gine or  power  take-off  sprayer.  Write 
J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  F.  D.,  No.  1  Emlen- 
ton, Penna.  (Venango  County) 

PLANTER  FOR  SALE:  Two-row  Iron 
Age  automatic  Planter;  picking  attach- 
ments. In  perfect  condition.  Will  sell 
reasonably.  Contact  Ed.  Fisher,  Coud- 
ersport, (Potter  County)  Penna. 

SPRAYER  WANTED:  Horse  drawn 
traction  sprayer  4-Row  boom.  Good 
condition.  Write  J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  F. 
D.  No.  1,  Emlenton,  (Venango  County) 
Penna. 

SEED  POTATOES  FOR  SALE:  U.  S. 

No.  1,  Size  B  Russets  and  Nittany  Cob- 
blers. 90c  a  bushel.  Contact  Ivan  Mil- 
ler, R.  F.  D.  No.  3,  Corry,  (Erie  County) , 
Penna. 

DIGGER  FOR  SALE:  Eureka  single 
row,  powered  with  eight  horse  Nova 
engine.  Has  dug  40  acres.  Also,  4  row 
Eureka  riding  weeder.  Will  sell  rea- 
sonable. Write,  Barrie  Wilson,  R.  F.  D. 
4,  Union  City,  Pa.    Erie  County. 


Bean   Potato   Sprayers 


CUT    SPRAYING    COSTS     .INCREASE    YIELDS      .SPRAY    FASTER 
BETTER  QUALITY  .  NO  WORRIES  .  MAKE  MONEY 

SPRAY  WITH  HIGH  PRESSURE 

No  grower  is  safe  unless  he  sprays  with  high  pressure.  High  pressure 
protects  you  against  excessive  spraying  costs,  low  yield,  delays  in  spray- 
ing, poor  quality  and  loss  of  money. 

Decide  today  to  investigate  high  pressure  spraying  and  eliminate  the 
obsolete  low  pressure  system. 

Bean  line  of  high  pressure  potato  sprayers  offer  a  variety  of  price  and 
sizes  that  will  meet  your  requirements,  that  you  can  afford  to  invest  in, 
and  that  will  come  back  to  you  in  savings  in  a  larger  and  better  crop. 


RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 

Cleans  as  it  grades.  Does  not  bruise  or  cut  the  potatoes.  All  grading  is 
done  on  rubber.  Much  more  accurate  and  when  you  are  finished  grading 
you  have  a  fine  looking  pack  that  will  sell. 

Investigate  this  Grader  at  once. 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co. 

Division  Food  Machinery  Corporation 
LANSING  MICHIGAN 


22 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


April.  1940 


REICHARD'S 

ANIMAL  BASE 

FERTILIZERS 

Grow  Bigger  and 
Better  Crops 


Distributors  for 

Orchard  Brand 

Spray  Materials 

Nichols  Blueslone 

Robt  A.  Reichard,  Inc 

19th   &   Lawrence  Sts. 
Allentown,   Pa. 


Potato  Growers'  Slogan— 
"When  in  Doubt,  SPRAY" 

with 

Whiterock    Micro-Mesh 

or 

Whiterock  325  Mesh 

Write  for  particulars 


Whiterock  Quarries 

Bellefonte,  Pa. 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 

(Continued  from  page  9) 
Fond  Mother:     "Dorothy,  if  yo^  ^^e 
bad  you  won't  go  to  heaven.    Don  t  you 

^Tmle^Dorothy:  "Well,  I've  been  to  the 
circus  and  the  Chautauqua  already.  I 
can't  expect  to  go  everywhere. 

. .a 

-Mother,  what  is  a  Dry  Martini?" 
"Heavens  on  Earth,  child! 
''Oh!" 

-n 

Said  the  teacher  to  Willie:  , 

♦'Why,  Willie,  what  are  you  drawing? 

"I'm  drawing  a  picture  of  God. 

"But,  Willie,  you  mustn't  do  that,  no- 
body knows  how  God  looks." 

WilHe  smiled  confidently. 

"Well,"  he  said,  "they  will  when  I 
get  this  done." 


^D- 


She:  "I've  got  a  job  as  dairy  maid  in  a 
chocolate  factory." 
He:  "What  do  you  do? 
She:  "Milk  chocolate.'* 


hD- 


We  used  to  be  scared  to  death  when  a 
man  reached  for  his  hip-pocket.  Now 
we  are  tickled  to  death. — C.O.D. 


n- 


Lots  of  men  would  leave  their  footprints 
Time's  eternal  sands  to  grace. 

Had  they  gotten  mother's  slipper 
At  the  proper  time  and  place. 

^D 

Electrician's  wife  (to  incoming  spouse). 

"Whatt's  the  meter?    Wireyou  insul- 
ate''" 

Electrician:   "Sh!      Couple    'a    vam- 

peres,  m'dear." 

.D 

It  costs  a  lot  to  live  these  days. 

More  than  it  did  of  yore; 
But  when  you  stop  to  think  of  it. 

It's  worth  a  whole  lot  more. 

»D 7         1       f 

There     are    substitutes    for    almost 

everything— -except  work  and  sleep. 

.Q 

Quit  hanging  crepe  on  tomorrow's 
door;  expected  troubles  always  look  big, 
but  ten  to  one  they  never  happen. 


"Acres  More  Spray  Before 


Throwing  the  Disc  Away' 


IT'S  ALL  IN  THE  HOLE 

Jennings'  Hardened  Steel  (Rust  Proof)  Spray  Discs 

Keep   Your  Pressure  Up,  Waste  Less  Material 

Last  Two  or  Three  Times  Longer  and  Cost 

No  More  Than  the  Average  Soft  Disc 

WHERE  TO  BUY 

The  following  well  known  Penna.  Dealers  stock  the  Jennings  line  and  will 
be  glad  to  serve  you. 


County 

ADAMS 

ERIE 

LANCASTER 

LEHIGH 

POTTER 

UNION 


Name 

George  F.  Hoffman 
J.  Jacobsen  &  Son 
A.  B.  C.  Groff 
J.  M.  Snyder  &  Son 
E.  R.  Blass 
J.  L.  Rietz 


City 

Bigerville 

Girard 

New  Holland 

Neffs 

Coudersport 

Lewisburg 


OUT  OF  STATE  DISTRIBUTORS 


Potato  Growers  Co-operate 

Gould  &  Smith 

H.  J.  Evans 

•^G  &  H  Supply  Co. 

*  Servicing  Western  Pa.  &  Ohio 


Eaton,  Colorado 

Presque  Isle,  Maine 

Georgetown,  N.  Y. 

Mansfield,  Ohio 


Buy  Jennings'  Hardened  Steel  Discs  From  Your  Dealer, 

If  He  Will  Not  Supply  You,  Order  Direct 

But  Accept  No  Substitute 

Satisfaction  Guaranteed 

A  Disc  For  Every  Size  Nozzle 

A  Hole  For  Every  Purpose 


Lloyd  E.  Jennings 


Sozners,  Conn. 


MARK 


24 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


April,  1940 


■  "-V r,V.,_ 


POTATO   CHIPS 

(Continued  from  page  7) 

their  missionary  work  to  all  classes  of 
society.  Too  many  cooperative  leaders 
imagine  the  movement  will  win  adher- 
ents by  its  virtues  alone  and  be  accept- 
ed like  an  economic  and  moral  destiny. 
They  are  mistaken.  The  world  is  only 
conquered  by  effort.  It  is  through  ac- 
tion that  the  movement  will  advance 
and  be  able  to  render  the  services  right- 
ly expected  of  it." 

>!■         ♦         « 

It  is  common  practice  to  sit   back  to 
take  our  blessings    and    privileges    as 
they   come  and  scarcely  consider    our 
responsibilities  and  our  duties  to  shoul- 
der our  portion  of  the  load  to  improve 
agricultural  conditions,  marketing  prac- 
tices,  democratic   processes    or    condi- 
tions of  welfare  for  mankind  in  general 
— if  you  will.  Fortunately  through  all 
the  ages  there  have  been  a  few  not  sat- 
isfied to  sit  back,  but  who  have  been 
willing  not  only  to  shoulder  their  own 
responsibility  but  to  carry  others  along 
with  their  good  works.    In  other  words 
what  has  the  marketing  program  done 
for   the   Pennsylvania   potato   industry 
and  how  much  of  that  good  is  due  to  any 
effort    of    yours?     Since    the    program 
started  in  1936  nearly  100  million  bush- 
els of  Pennsylvania  potatoes  have  been 
grown  and  marketed.     If  the  effect  of 
the  Program  has  been  only  to  raise  the 
average  price  one  cent  a  bushel,  a  cold 
million  bucks  has    been    the    resulting 
benefit  to  Pennsylvania  Potato  Grow- 
ers.    However,   the  average  price  has 
been  increased  much    more    than    one 
cent  a  bushel.    Through  the  price  rais- 
ing effect  of  the  Program  at  numerous 
times,  in  many  of  the  heaviest  produc- 
ing counties,  the  general  price  level  of 
all  stocks  has  been  raised  from  10  to  20c 
a  hundred.    How  many  of  us  are  coop- 
erating for  the  benefit  of  all  and  how 
many  are  just  riding  along  enjoying  the 
benefits  produced  by  others? 

«     *     * 

F.  J.  Stevenson,  Senior  Geneticist  of 
the  U.  S.  D.  A.  reports  a  new  variety 
which  is  very  promising  and  very  re- 
sistant to  late  blight — called  the  Sebago. 
This  was  a  result  of  crossing  Chippewa 
and  Katahdin.  This  variety  has  done 
very  well  in  Wisconsin,  but  will  be  tried 
in  many  other  sections  before  it  is  re- 
leased. In  a  seedling  test  in  Somerset 
County  last  year  the  first  specimen  of 
late  blight  found  in  the  plot  was  on  Se- 
bago— the   plot   was   well   sprayed   so 


that  no  material  damage  was  done  to 

any. 

♦  *     ♦ 

An  occasional  glimpse  into  the  prac- 
tices of  some  of  our  brother  spud  grow- 
ers might  not  be  amiss.  Probably  one 
of  the  most  respected  of  any  in  the 
State  is  none  other  than  our  own  vice- 
president,  Roy  Hess,  of  Stillwater.  And 
if  you  haven't  seen  Roy's  farmstead, 
his  spacious  tho  modest  home,  his  com- 
modious well-kept  barn  and  other  farm 
buildings,  his  rolling  acres  of  fertile 
fields  had  better  treat  himself  to  an  eye- 
full  and  visit  the  Hess  menage  about  12 
miles  north  of  Bloomsburg  and  2  miles 
south  of  Benton,  and  Roy  doesn't  have 
all  his  eggs  in  the  potato  basket  either. 
He  is  reported  to  be  one  of  the  largest 
growers  of  cannery  peas  in  the  State 
with  a  viner  on  his  farm  which  annually 
threshes  the  peas  from  about  200  acres. 
More  power  to  you,  Roy.  It  is  men  like 
you  who  make  agriculture  a  vocation 
rather  than  an  avocation. 

*  *     * 

The  A.  &  P.  Chain  Stores  have  re- 
ported they  purchased  nearly  $100,000,- 
000  worth  of  fruits  and  vegetables  from 
growers  last  year.  The  report  stated 
that  potatoes  had  the  second  largest  in- 
creased sales  of  any  crop  over  the  pre- 
vious year,  this  amounting  to  36%. 

♦        41        4> 

Those  who  have  held  their  potatoes 
this  late  may  still  wonder  how  the  mar- 
ket will  act  during  late  April  and  early 
May.  Anyone  who  predicts  produce 
prices  really  puts  himself  out  on  a  limb 
so  without  stating  opinions  or  without 
making  any  predictions  the  facts  seem 
to  indicate  a  shortage  of  spuds  during 
this  4  week  period.  Carlot  shipments 
from  the  entire  country  have  gradually 
been  falling  off  from  a  weekly  total  of 
more  than  6,000  cars  to  5,400  a  decline 
of  600  cars  a  week.  Stocks  are  pretty 
well  cleaned  up  in  a  number  of  states 
so  that  shipments  should  decline  even 
more  rapidly  until  the  new  crop  begins 
to  move.  This  early  movement  will 
hardly  be  a  noticeable  factor  on  the 
market  until  about  the  middle  of  May. 
At  this  time  last  year  Florida  and  Texas 
were  shipping  a  couple  of  hundred  cars 
a  day.  This  year  they  have  shipped  to- 
gether about  1,000  cars  to  date.  Flori- 
da is  now  shipping  10  to  30  cars  a  day 
and  Texas  none  at  all.  What  will  the 
market  for  late  stocks  do  between  now 
and  the  middle  of  May?  Your  guess  is 
as  good  anyones! 

"Bill  Shakespud" 


-► 


Modern  Marketing  Methods 
Call  for  Paper  Bags 

Attractively  Printed  Bags  Bring  Repeat  Orders 

HAMMOND  Betterbags 

Combine  High  Grade  Printing  with 
Essential  Strength  and  Quality 


Hammond  Bag  &  Paper  Company 
Wellsburg,  W.  Va. 

Paper  Bags  for  Lime,  Limestone,  Fertilizer,  Flour,  Feed  and  Potatoes 


Potato 
Machines 


Make  Money  for  Potato  Growers 

Eureka  Potato  Machines  take  hard  work  out  of  potato  growing. 
They  reduce  time  and  labor  costs.  They  assure  bigger  yields. 


Potato  Cutter 

Cuts  unKorm  sred. 
Operates  with  both 
hands  free  for  feed- 
ing. 

Ridinc  Mulcher 

Breaks  crusts,  miilrhea  soil,  and 
kills  weeds  when  potato  crop  is 
young  and  tender.  8,  10  and  12 
ft.  sites.  Many  other  uses, with 
orwithout  seedingattachment 

All  fmmchinma  in  nfck  near  you. 


Potato  Planter 

One  man  machines 
doing  five  operations  in 
one.  Over  twenty-two 
years'  success. 


Traction  Sprayer 

Insures  the  crop.  Sires. 
4  or  6  rows.  60  to  100 
gallon  tanks.  Many 
styles  of  booms. 


Potato  Digger 

Famous  for  getting  all  the 
potatoes,  separating  and 
standing  hard  use.  With  or 
without  engine  attachment 
or  tractor  attachment. 


Used  by  many 

of  the  most 

successful 

growers  in 

Pennsylvania 

and  elsewhere 


Distributors  of 

BABCOCK 

WEED  HOG 

The  Ideal  Tool 

To  Make  Deep 

Seed   Beds   for 

Potatoes 


EUREKA  MOWER  CO.,  Utica,  New  York 


26 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


April,  1940 


THE   MODERNIZED   SPRAY   RING 

(Continued  from  page  5) 

those  who  sprayed  in  1918  was  142  bush- 
els per  acre;  in  1919  it  was  169  bushels; 
in  1920,  258  bushels;  in  1921,  233  bushels; 
1922,  220  bushels;  in  1923,  257  bushels; 
in  1924,  230  bushels;  in  1925,  256  bushels; 
in  1926,  306  bushels;  and  in  1927,  288 
bushels.  To  those  who  might  say  that 
this  increase  in  yield  was  due  to  im- 
provement on  the  part  of  the  grower  to 
adhere  to  other  practices,  it  is  admitted 
that  there  were  other  improvements, 
especially  in  the  use  of  better  seed.  But 
that  spraying  played  a  major  role,  let  us 
go  down  the  same  years  and  check  the 
average  increased  yield  directly  due  to 
spraying.  In  1918,  it  was  34.8  bushels 
per  acre;  1919,  42.9  bushels;  1920,  74.7 
bushels;  1921,  74.3  bushels;  1922,  66 
bushels;  1923,  58  bushels;  1924,  66.6 
bushels;  1925,  78  bushels:  1926, 103  bush- 
els, and  1927,  136.7  bushels  per  acre. 

With  favorable  yields  and  favorable 
prices  during  the  above  mentioned 
years,  thousands  of  growers  began  to 
buy  their  own  sprayers.  New  spray 
companies  came  into  the  picture  with 
new  and  improved  machines.  This 
movement  toward  new  individually 
owned  sprayers  reached  its  peak  during 
the  period  from  1927  to  1930.  During 
the  succeeding  years  the  transition  from 
traction  and  horse  drawn  power  outfits, 
to  truck  mounted,  and  truck  and  trac- 
tor power  take-off  machines,  on  the  part 
of  the  large  growers,  took  place. 

By  1930,  the  original  spray  rings  were 
definitely  on  their  way  out,  and  by  1935, 
with  very  few  exceptions,  they  ceased 
to  exist.  About  this  time,  or  a  few  years 
earlier,  O.  T.  Graser,  Vocational  Agri- 
cultural Supervisor,  at  Oakland,  Mary- 
land, a  Pennsylvanian  by  birth  and  so 
inclined  in  potato  thought,  became  in- 
terested in  doing  something  construc- 
tive for  the  few  potato  growers  of  his 
community.  After  a  series  of  enthu- 
siastic potato  meetings,  Graser  got  the 
growers  and  farmers  of  the  community 
together,  and  organized  what  should  be 
credited  as  being  the  first  modernized 
potato  spray  ring.  A  modem  truck 
mounted  spray  rig  was  purchased  by 
the  group  and  a  competent  operator 
hired  to  do  the  spraying  for  the  growers 
for  the  season.  A  picture  of  the  spray 
outfit  and  the  spray  plant  accompanies 
this  article.  Later,  a  second  group  was 
organized  and  a  similar  outfit  put  into 
operation. 


During  the  past  year,  four  community 
potato  spray  groups  were  organized  in 
Potter  County,  Pennsylvania,  with  the 
idea  of  setting  up  and  operating  on  the 
spray  ring  plan.  With  Agricultural  Ex- 
tension assisting  in  the  organization  of 
the  groups  and  acting  in  an  advisory 
capacity,  and  the  Farm  Security  Admin- 
istration cooperating  in  the  financial  ar- 
rangements, the  four  groups  were  set 
up  with  modern  tractor  power  take-off 
spray  outfits  and  competent  operators 
secured  or  employed  to  spray  for  each 
group  for  the  season.  From  all  reports, 
the  operation  of  these  rings  proved  both 
practical  and  economical. 

There  is  a  very  definite  need  in  many 
communities  throughout  the  state  for 
organizing  and  putting  into  operation 
practical  and  economical  community 
spray  ring  units  if  many  of  the  smaller 
growers  in  these  communities  are  to 
remain  in  the  potato  business.  Modern 
spray  outfits  that  will  do  the  right  kind 
of  a  job  are  capable  of  spraying  many 
times  the  acreage  grown  by  many  of 
these  smaller  growers.  Spray  equip- 
ment corrodes  or  rusts  out  as  fast  as  it 
wears  out.  Maximum  use  of  the  equip- 
ment is  good  economy,  but  this  is  not 
possible  with  the  small  grower  on  an 
individual  basis. 


DR.  NIXON  COMMENTS  ON 

FOOD  AND  THE  FARM 

(Continued  from  page  3) 

taken  by  American  agriculture  in  short- 
ening the  path  of  converting  farm 
products  into  cash  was  taken  by  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  Joint  Conference 
Committee  made  up  of  organized  Penn- 
sylvania potato  producers  and  organ- 
ized distributors,  whose  function  it  is, 
first,  to  determine  standard  grades  high 
enough  to  meet  exacting  demands  for 
all  practical  consumer  acceptance  and 
yet  low  enough  to  make  the  best  of  our 
local  crops.  Second,  to  adopt  and  trade- 
mark distinctive  practical  and  attractive 
packs  of  sizes  to  meet  the  widest  efficient 
market  demands.  Third,  to  set  up  ma- 
chinery by  which  the  adopted  brands 
will  be  guaranteed  to  the  consumer  and 
economically  distributed.  Fourth,  to  sit 
down  and  sanely  look  at  all  angles  of 
the  problem  with  the  hope  that  we  may 
set  up  a  new  type  of  business  transac- 
tion; that  here  at  last  is  something  that 
will  put  a  firmer  foundation  and  a  fresh 
infusion  of  faith,  into  the  business  af- 
fairs of  men. 


T 


i-Jf 


ith  C\jL€it 


■s*"- 


J. 


>OTAJrt» 


THERE  IS 

A  BRAND 

FOR  EACH 

'CROP 


THE  NATION'S  LEADING  FERTILIZER 


Agrico  is  Manufactured  Only  by 

THE  AMERICAN  AGRICULTURAL  CHEMICAL  CO. 
Baltimore,  Md.  —  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  —  Carteret,  N.  J. 


Now  You  Can  Benefit  from 


Iron  Age  power  take- 
off sprayer  with  ex- 
rlusive  "Compak" 
folding:  boom  for  6,  8, 
or  10  rows.  Rubber- 
tired  wheels  at  slight 
extra   cost   if   desired. 


The  VICTORY  PI  MP. 
heart  of  all  Iron  Age 
sprayers.  Horizontally 
designed  for  working 
pressures  up  to  1000 
lbs.  per  square  inch. 
Slower  speed  for  long- 
er life.  Built  in  6.  10. 
11.  20.  and  37  gallons- 
per-minute  sizes. 


HIGH  PRESSURE  SPRAYING 


^yOU  can  make  more  money  from 
/  your  potatoes  if  you  kill  their  twin 
enemies — insects  and  fungi.  But  only 
high  pressure  atomization  gets  the  best 
results  from  your  fungicide  or  insec- 
ticide. 

Formerly  available  only  to  large 
growers,  IRON  AGE  now  makes  high 
pressure  spraying  possible  for  all 
growers.  Low  cost  6  and  10  gallons- 
per-minute  sizes  with  any  pressures  up 
to  600  pounds  per  square  inch.  One 
just  right  for  every  grower. 

With  Iron  Age  High  Pressure  spray- 
ing you'll  find  potato  profits  go  up — 
spraying  costs  go  down,  for  high  pres- 
sures make  every  drop  of  fungicide  or 
insecticide  do  a  far  better  job. 


Write  for 

Sprayer 

Manual  40 


IRONAQE 


Row 

Crop 

Sprayers 


^/  /A/  ///  ^//^  A 


IP  2111 


NUMBER  5 


-^ 


MAY 


I9AO 


V\.#^l%- 


CMMfU 


PmdidJied  Im  tke 

PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE 
POTATO  GROWERS  ASSOCIATION 


A.  B.  FARQUHAR  CO.,  LTD.  — 334  Duke  St.  — YORK,  PENNA. 


INCORPORATED 


Timely  Observations  and  Suggestions 

L.  T.  Denniston 
Association  Field  Representative 


We  subscribe  to  the  lour  basic  principles  of  potato  production: 

1.  Good  Seed 

2.  An  abundance  of  Humus. 

3.  Thorough  Spraying. 

4.  Vision,  or  Potato  Mentality. 

Which  of  these  are  the  more  important?  The  answer  is  all  four. 
In  the  words  of  Hiawatha,  "Useless  one  without  the  other." 
However,  spraying  has  done  more  to  revolutionize  potato  grow- 
ing in  Pennsylvania  than  any  other  practice.  It  has: 

Increased  yields. 

Im.proved  quality. 

Eliminated  rot. 

Standardized  row  widths. 

Encouraged  planting  of  straight  rows  with  equal  distance 
between  them. 

Established  pride  in  potato  growing — by  eliminating  the 
chance  of  disease  from  heat  and  blight. 

To  the  potato  grower  a  well  sprayed  field  portrays  more  than  a 
bed  of  roses  or  a  fine  painting.  After  all,  a  well  sprayed  potato 
field  simulates  an  oil  painting  more  than  anything  else,  if  you 
appreciate  it. 


CONDITIONING  THE  SPRAY  RIG: 
The  value  of  Pennsylvania's  1939  potato 
crop  exceeded  $25,000,000.00.  For  a 
grower  who  had  a  fair  to  a  good  crop 
it  was  a  satisfactory  and  profitable  sea- 
son. The  sprayer  plays  a  major  part  in 
the  success  or  failure  of  the  grower  and 
his  crop.  With  10,000  sprayers  in  opera- 
tion in  the  State,  representing  an  invest- 
ment of  close  to  $5,000,000.00,  it  is  of  ut- 
most importance  that  we  give  some 
thought  to  the  care  and  repair  of  these 
machines. 

Aim  for  Efficiency 

Efficient  operation  of  the  sprayer  will 
lower  the  cost  of  spraying,  also  the  cost 
of  potato  production,  and  make  proper 
application  of  the  spray  material  easier. 
The  spray  rig  will  not  operate  efficiently 
unless  all  working  parts  are  in  proper 
condition.  Too  often  the  sprayer  is  taken 
to  the  field  for  the  first  spraying  and 
then  the  operator  discovers  that  it  must 
be  adjusted,  cleaned,  and  repaired  be- 
fore spraying  can  be  done.  If  this  job  is 
done  beforehand,  delays  will  be  avoided, 
and  performance  will  be  improved. 

Time  to  Check  the  Sprayer 

Make  plans  now  to  check,  adjust  and 
repair  your  sprayer,  if  you  have  not  al- 
ready done  so.  Bear  in  mind  that  there 
may  be  delay  in  securing  needed  re- 
pairs. Rainy  days  provide  an  ideal  time 
for  going  over  the  sprayer.  Be  sure  to 
check  the  engine,  grinding  valves  and 
the  replacement  of  piston  rings  if  neces- 
sary. The  engine  often  becomes  so  badly 
worn  that  it  does  not  produce  full  power. 
Remember  that  the  power  unit  is  an 
essential  part  of  your  spray  rig  if  it  is 
to  operate  efficiently. 

On  Cleaning  Parts 

The  checking  of  the  sprayer  should 
start  with  a  thorough  cleaning,  includ- 
ing the  removal  of  sediment  and  scale 
in  the  tank.  Check  all  screens  care- 
fully and  replace  with  new  screens  if 
holes  appear.  This  will  save  much  time 
at  the  nozzles.  Corroded  screens  may 
be  cleaned  by  soaking  overnight  in  vine- 
gar. A  solution  composed  of  one  pint 
of  muratic  acid  to  ten  parts  of  water 
may  also  be  used.  The  parts  should  re- 


main in  the  muratic  acid  solution  just 
long  enough  to  remove  the  corroded  ma- 
terial and  then  must  be  thoroughly 
washed  with  water.  Sprayer  valves, 
valve  seats,  and  nozzle  parts  may  be 
cleaned  by  the  same  method. 

Replacing  Parts 

Sprayer  valves,  valve  seats,  cylinder 
walls  and  pistons  should  be  checked  for 
wear  and  corrosion.  Worn  or  pitted 
parts  should  be  replaced.  Do  not  ne- 
glect the  relief  valve.  The  wise  operator 
will  keep  a  full  set  of  each  of  the  fol- 
lowing parts  on  hand:  pump  leathers 
or  rings,  valves,  valve  seats,  nozzle 
strainers,  tank  strainers,  discs,  extra 
whirl  plates,  and  hose  connections. 

Oiling  and  Greasing 

Inspect  all  oil  holes  and  grease  cups, 
removing  sediment  or  hardened  grease. 
It  may  be  necessary  to  use  kerosene  or  a 
penetrating  oil  to  loosen  hardened 
grease  and  dirt.  Apply  penetrating  oil 
to  spray  boom  joints  and  work  until 
they  move  freely.  CONDITION  YOUR 
SPRAYER  IN  THE  SHED.  DONT 
WAIT  UNTIL  IT  GOES  TO  THE 
FIELD. 

CARE  OF  SPRAY  MATERIALS: 
Spray  materials  are  often  rendered 
practically  useless  by  being  stored  in 
damp,  wet  places.  Lime  especially  is 
susceptible  to  permanent  damage.  The 
lids  of  the  drums  should  be  kept  tight 
to  prevent  air  slaking  the  lime  in  stor- 
age. 

Lime  and  Blue  Stone  Supplies 

A  minimum  supply  of  100  pounds 
each,  of  lime  and  bluestone  per  acre 
should  be  secured  for  the  season*s 
spraying.  In  other  words,  for  ten  acres, 
1000  pounds  of  lime  and  1000  pounds  of 
bluestone  should  be  secured.  Growers 
should  know  where  additional  spray 
materials  can  be  secured  quickly  during 
the  season  at  reasonable  prices. 

THE  SPRAY  PLANT:  The  spray 
plant  is  an  essential  part  of  the  spray 
equipment.  The  ideal  plant  is  one  that 
is  simple,  convenient,  and  that  provides 
an  adequate  water  supply  for  the  sea- 
son. 


,1 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


May,  1940 


The  Permanent  Plant 

The  permanent  spray  plant  is  advis- 
able only  when  it  can  be  conveniently 
located  in  relation  to  all  fields  in  the 
potato  rotation.  Owing  to  its  perman- 
ency, it  can  be  somewhat  more  elaborate 
and  besides  serving  its  major  function 
as  a  spray  plant,  can  be  so  constructed 
as  to  provide  seasonal  or  permanent 
storage  for  materials  or  equipment.  It 
is  an  advantage,  where  such  a  plant  can 
house  the  tool  shed  or  work  bench  for 
making  adjustments  or  repairs  quickly 
during  the  spraying  season. 

The  Movable  Spray  Plant 

The  movable  type  of  spray  plant  has 
the  advantage  that  it  can  be  convenient- 
ly placed  in  accordance  with  the  loca- 


tion of  the  potato  field  as  the  season 
demands.  It  may  require  additional 
initial  expense  in  piping  water  to  the 
location,  but  since  water  can  be  piped 
cheaper  than  it  can  be  hauled,  this  is 
not  only  advisable  but  good  economy. 

Incidental  Equipment 

The  plant  should  also  be  equipped 
with  at  least  one  steel  drum  for  lime,  a 
wooden  barrel  for  blue  stone,  stirring 
tools,  pails,  and  a  large  filling  hose  or 
gravity  valve  for  rapid  filling  of  the 
spray  tank.  Growers  should  be  observ- 
ant, and  use  some  thought  in  construct- 
ing the  plant  so  as  to  save  tinae,  labor 
and  expense,  as  you  are  planning  for  a 
season's  job.  Smaller  growers  will  do 
well  to  visit  and  carefully  observe  the 


^am^^m 

S^s^^Hftg^uS 

■1 

^^<r  «Mk 

■•--^^^'•i 

i 

■*"  ^►-.".-^  , 

-s* 

T^^' 

j^Bjir         4^^^^^^^^^^£r ' ' 

>■■.•••    ■■•'* 

M/  "■'  .M^ 

%ll* 

^^ 

No  particular  make  or  lype  of  sprayer  is  required,  but  it  should  be  capable  of 
applying  a  minimum  of  100  gallons  of  spray  per  acre  at  not  less  than  250  pounds 
pressure.  Records  show  that  a  pressure  of  300  to  400  pounds  is  more  desirable 
since  greater  increases  have  been  obtained  and  results  are  more  consistent  within 
these  limits. 


set-up  of  larger  growers  who  have  of 
necessity,  been  forced  to  plan  so  as  to 
save  time,  and  secure  the  greatest  pos- 
sible efficiency. 

On  Securing  Lime 

Many  growers  are  loading  their 
empty  lime  drums  on  their  truck  and 
going  direct  to  the  lime  plants  and  hav- 
ing them  refilled  for  their  season's  sup- 
ply of  spray  lime.  Larger  growers  are 
cooperating  with  many  of  the  smaller 
growers  in  bringing  them  their  supplies 
on  the  same  load.  This  often  helps  both 
parties,  making  up  a  full  load  and  lay- 
ing down  the  season's  lime  supply  to 


the  smaller  grower  at  the  lowest  possi- 
ble cost.  Some  communities  could  well 
afford  to  get  a  group  together  on  such  a 
plan  to  an  advantageous  saving  to  all 
parties.  Incidentally,  if  you  are  making 
a  trip  to  one  of  Bellefonte's  lime  plants, 
as  many  of  you  do,  why  not  make  a  call 
at  the  Association  office.  Masonic  Tem- 
ple Building,  directly  across  from  the 
Post  Office?  You  wil]  be  most  welcomed, 
and  if  there  is  anything  we  can  do,  we 
will  be  at  your  service. 

THE    PURCHASER    OF    A    NEW 

SPRAYER:      A  great  number  of  new 

(Continued  on  page  14) 


4- 


I 


May,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


Cultivating,  Planting,  Harvesting  and  Preserving 

the  Potato  Crop 

Written  in  1846  by  Charles  P.  Bosson 
Quoted  by  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon  with  Appropriate  Comments 


"It  was  not  till  1771  and  1772,  that 
the  practice  of  cultivating  potatoes  as 
a  field  crop  began  to  acquire  support- 
ers; but  at  that  time  all  the  grain  crops 
failed     and   the   famine   which   ensued 
led  to  the   discovery  that  proper  and 
sufficient  nourishment  might  be  deriv- 
ed from  those  very  potatoes  which  had 
hitherto  only  been  regarded  as  a  luxury, 
just   as   well   as  from  bread.     Still   its 
cultivation  did  not  exceed  the  wants  of 
man  himself.    It  was  not  till  a  later  pe- 
riod  that  the  practice    of    giving    the 
refuse  and  surplus  to  the  cattle  began 
to  creep  in.    But  it  was  thus  gradually 
discovered  that  potatoes  might  advan- 
tageously be  cultivated  as  food  for  live 
stock.     Bergen,  in  his  "Introduction  to 
the  Management  of  Live  Stock,"  was 
the  first  to  recommend  the  practice  of 
this  cultivation  on   a  large  scale,  and 
the  use  of  a  kind  of  horn  hoe  to  save 
manual   labor.     At    the    present    day 
(1846)  it  appears  scarcely  credible  that 
the  extreme  utility  of  this  plant  should 
have  so  long  remained  unknown,  and 
that    so    much    difference    of    opinion 
should   have   existed   on   the   propriety 
of  raising  it  on  extensive  tracts  of  land. 

"By   means   of   the   marking   plough, 
or    furrower,    lines   or   small   furrows, 
are  traced  at  right  angles,  or  obliquely, 
to   the   direction   which   the   plough   is 
to  take.    Five  persons  are  then  station- 
ed at  equal  distances  on  the  line  of  the 
plough,   each   having   assigned   to   him 
the  space  which  he  is  to  plant.     One 
plough  traces  the  furrow,  which  is  im- 
mediately set  with  potatoes;  two  other 
ploughs  then  follow,  and  the  potatoes 
are  set  in  the  furrow  traced  by  the  third. 
It  will  be  understood  that  the  persons 
who  set  them  will  have  to  go  from  one 
side    to   the   other,    each   one    keeping 
within  his  alloted  space.      Each  potato 
is  set  at  the  point  of  intersection  of  the 
line  traced  by  the  marker,  with  the  fur- 
row formed  by  the  plough.    It  is  of  im- 
portance  that   the   potatoes   be   set   as 
close  as  possible  to  the  perpendicular 
side  of  the  furrow,  and    not    on    that 
where  the  slice  has  been  turned  over; 
for,  in  the  former  position,  the  potato 


is  more  likely  to  remain  in  its  place, 
and  not  be  disturbed  by  the  horse's  foot. 


"The  best  ploughmen  must  be  em- 
ployed to  trace  the  furrow  in  which  the 
potatoes  are  set;  first,  to  ensure  that  the 
furrow  may  be  of  a  proper  and  uniforni 
depth, — three  inches  on  a  heavy,  and 
four  or  five  on  a  sandy  soil.  If  the  la- 
borers are  well  practiced,  three  ploughs 
and  five  planters  will  finish  eight  acres 
per  day. 

"A  week  after  the  setting,  the  ground 
is  harrowed,  an  operation  by  which  a 
few  weeds  are  destroyed.     Great  num- 
bers  of   them    afterwards    spring    up. 
Nothing  more,  however,  is  done  to  get 
rid  of  them  till  the  potatoes  are  about 
to  spring  up  and  some  of  them  just  be- 
ginning to  show  their  leaves  above  the 
ground.    The  extirpator  is  then  passed 
lightly  over  the  whole  surface  of  the 
field.     This  may  be  done  without  fear 
of  hurting  the  potatoes.     The  whole  of 
the  weeds  are  thus  destroyed.    The  soil 
is  left  in  this  state  till  all  the  potatoes 
have  come  up,  and  is  then  harrowed  to 
level  it.    After  this  harrowing,  the  pota- 
toes are  as  clean  as  if  they  had  been 
carefully  weeded,    so   that   it   only   re- 
mains to  pass  the  horse-hoe  or  cultiva- 
tor over  them. 

"The    first    cultivation    is    performed 
with  the  small  hoe,  and  should  be  giv- 
en  in  the  direction    followed    by    the 
marking  plough  or  furrower;  the  sec- 
ond must  be  performed  by  the  horn-hoe 
and  in  the  direction  of  the  plough.  This 
will  be  sufficient  in  the  greater  number 
of  cases.     If  a  few  weeds  should  have 
escaped    here    and   there,    by    growing 
close  to  the  potatoes,  it  will  cost  but  lit- 
tle labor  to  pull  them  up  while  yet  in 
flower. 

"By  these  operations  the  cultivation  is 
completely  finished  before  harvest 
time,  and  nothing  remains  to  be  done 
for  them  till  they  are  ready  for  taking 
up. 

"When  the  soil  is  tenacious  and  ex- 
posed to  humidity,  I  prefer  the  follow- 
ing method  of  cultivation: 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


1 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


May,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 

Published  monthly  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Cooperative  Potato  Growers,  Inc. 

OFFICERS 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  Emlenton  . .  President 

Roy  R.  Hess,  Stillwater   Vice-Pres. 

E.  B.  Bower,  Bellefonte, 

Sec*y-Treas.  and  Gen.  Mgr. 


DIRECTORS 

Jacob  K.  Mast Elverson,  Chester 

P.  Daniel  Franlz Coplay ,  Lehigh 

Hugh  McPherson Bridgeton,  York 

John  B.  Schrack Loganton,  Clinton 

Roy  R.  Hess Stillwater,  Columbia 

Ed.  Fisher Coudersport,  Potter 

Charles  Frey   North  Girard,  Erie 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.l,  Emlenton,  Venango 
R.  W.  Lohr   Boswell,  Somerset 

Annual  membership  fee  $1.00.  This  in- 
cludes the  Guide  Post. 

All  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary-Treas- 
urer and  General  Manager,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania. 


DAYS  OF  MAY 

Now  May,  with  life  and  music, 
The  blooming  valleys  fills. 

And  rears  her  flowing  arches, 
For  all  the  little  rills. 

— Bryant. 


Meddlesome  Matty 

Oh,  how  one  ugly  trick  has  spoiled 

The  sweetest  and  the  best! 
Matilda,  though  a  pleasant  child. 

One  grievous  fault  Dosscssod. 
Which,  like  a  cloud  before  the  skies, 

Hid  all  her  better  qualities. 

Sometimes,  she'd  lift  the  teapot  lid 

To  peep  at  v/hat  was  in  it; 
Or  tilt  the  kettle,  if  you  did 

But  turn  your  back  a  minute. 
In  vain  you  told  her  not  to  touch, 

Her  trick  of  meddling  grew  so  much. 


Her  grandmamma  went  out  one  day, 

And,  by  mistake,  she  laid 
Her  spectacles  and  snuffbox  gay, 

Too  near  the  little  maid; 
"Ah,  well,"  thought  she,  "I'll  try  them 

As  soon  as  grandmamma  is  gone. 

Forthwith,  she  placed  upon  her  nose 

The  glasses  large  and  wide; 
And  looking  round,  as  I  suppose 

The  snuffbox,  too,  she  spied; 
"Oh,  what  a  pretty  box  is  this! 

I'll  open  it,"  said  little  miss. 

"I  know  that  grandmamma  would  say, 

'Don't  meddle  with  it,  dear;' 
But  then  she's  far  enough  away, 

And  no  one  else  is  near; 
Beside,  what  can  there  be  amiss  ^^ 

In  opening  such  a  box  as  this?" 

So,  thumb  and  finger  went  to  work 

To  move  the  stubborn  lid; 
And  presently,  a  mighty  jerk 

The  mighty  mischief  did; 
For  all  at  once,  ah!  woeful  case! 

The  snuff  came  puffing  in  her  face. 

Poor  eyes,  and  nose,  and  mouth,   and 
chin 

A  dismal  sight  presented; 
And  as  the  snuff  got  further  in, 

Sincerely  she  repented. 
In  vain  she  ran  about  for  ease, 

She  could  do  nothing  else  but  sneeze. 

She  dashed  the  spectacles  away, 

To  wipe  her  tingling  eyes; 
And,  as  in  twenty  bits  they  lay. 

Her  grandmamma  she  spies;  ^^ 

"Heyday!  and  what's  the  matter  now? 

Cried  grandmamma,  with  angry  brow. 

Matilda,  smarting  with  pain. 
And  tingling  still,  and  sore. 

Made  many  a  promise  to  refrain 
From  meddling  evermore; 

And  'tis  a  fact,  as  I  have  heard, 

She  ever  since  has  kept  her  word. 

i|(>|ci|c>|c«>|c4:>|i 

First  Boomer — You  fellows  have  no 
git-up  about  you  at  all.  Why  don't  you 
have  photographs  of  your  town  taken, 
like  we  did?    Are  you  ashamed  of  it? 

Rival  Boomer — Naw,  that  ain't  the 
reason  at  all.  I  want  you  to  understand, 
young  fellow,  that  our  town  don't  stand 
still  long  enough  to  be  photographed. 


May,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


i 


T 


POTATO  CHIPS 


Word  reaches  us  that  33  potato  grow- 
ers have  organized  an  association  in 
West  Virginia  to  grade  and  market  their 
potatoes  in  branded  bags  cooperatively. 
Sort  of  sounds  familiar,  doesn't  it?  The 
depression  has  brought  farmers 
throughout  the  nation  closer  together  to 
solve  their  common  problems. 

__o— O— O— 

Speaking  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Land  O'  Lakes  Creameries,  Inc.,  A.  G. 
Black,  Governor  of  the  Farm  Credit 
Administration,  declared  that  "Agricul- 
tural Cooperation"  helps  to  strengthen 
the  position  of  the  farmer  as  an  indi- 
vidual capitalist  and  private  property 
owner.  The  cooperative  associations 
give  their  patrons  a  greater  degree  of 
democratic  participation  than  is  usual 
in  the  ordinary  corporate  form  of  bus- 
iness organization.  They  work  toward 
lower  costs,  better  quality,  better  con- 
trol of  surplus  and  generally  towards 
higher  incomes  for  their  members.  In 
doing  this,  they  inevitably  improve  con- 
ditions for  non-members  as  well. 

__o— o— o— 

Believe  that  Governor  Black  has 
something  there!  The  critics  of  agricul- 
tural cooperation  throw  up  a  smoke- 
screen by  crying  ^'Communism.  liut, 
as  Governor  Black  states,  the  coopera- 
tive movement  is  more  democratic  than 
corporate  business  itself.  In  fact  so 
democratic  that  the  first  things  abolish- 
ed in  countries  where  dictators  take  the 
reins  of  governmental  control  are  the 
cooperatives. 

_o— O— O— 

Idaho  was  the  first  potato  state  to  use 
the  10-lb  consumer  sack.  For  a  number 
of  reasons  I  believe  the  other  states  will 
come  to  the  10-lb  sack  in  place  of  the  15- 
Ib  quite  rapidly.  First,  more  consumers 
will  pay  25c  for  a  10-lb  sack  of  spuds 
than  will  pay  35c  for  a  15-lb  sack  al- 
though the  first  is  the  more  expensive 
purchase.  If  you  don't  believe  that  ask 
your  corner  grocer.  Second,  for  cash- 
and-carry,  15-lb  sacks  of  potatoes  ap- 
ples, flour  or  anything  else  are  a  little 
too  heavy  for  the  housewife  to  carry. 
Third,  the  modern  family  is  not  as  large 
as  in  Grandpa's  day  and  the  storekeep- 
ers say  that  the  average  purchase  of 
spuds  is  about  8  to  10-lbs.  Fourth,  when 
potatoes  get  high-priced  many  families 


refuse  to  purchase  a  40c  or  50c  item 
where  they  will  purchase  one  for  30c  to 
35c. 

__o_o— O— 

The  Cornell  Daily  Sun  prints  the  fol- 
lowing as  defining  the  various  "Isms." 

Socialism — You  have  two  cows.  You 
give  one  to  your  neighbor. 

Communism — You  have  two  cows. 
You  give  both  cows  to  the  government 
which  gives  you  the  milk. 

Fascism — You  have  two  cows.  You 
keep  the  cows  and  give  the  milk  to  the 
Government  which  sells  part  of  it  back 
to  you. 

New  Dealism — You  have  two  cows. 
The  government  kills  one,  milks  the 
other  and  pours  the  milk  down  the  sew- 
er. 

Naziism — You  have  two  cows.  The 
government  shoots  you  and  takes  both 
cows. 

Capitalism— You  have  two  cows.  You 
sell  one  and  buy  a  bull. 

_o_o— o— 

A  representative  from  the  New  Jer- 
sey potato  industry  recently  visited 
several  of  the  largest  Blue  Label  pack- 
ers in  Pennsylvania  to  find  out  "what 
makes  the  clock  tick."  It  was  stated 
that  a  marketing  program  is  being 
planned  for  New  Jersey  with  a  large 
movement  of  potatoes  to  be  packed  in 
peck  bags. 

_o_o— o— 

Since  Capitalists  cannot  eat  all  their 
profits,  but  use  them  to  promote  produc- 
tion, the  outcome  is  more  work,  greater 
wages  paid,  more  goods  produced  and 
more  goods  purchased  when  capital  is 
not  taxed  to  death.  The  befuddling  of 
these  results  by  economists  has  been  the 
source  of  envy  and  even  hate  when 
neither  was  justified. 

_o— o— o— 

Understand  that  Doc.  Nixon  made  a  5 
minute  speech  on  potato  breeding  at 
the  Pennsylvania  State  Council  of  Co- 
operative's meeting  at  State  College  re- 
cently. The  Doctor  admitted  this  was 
the  shortest  speech  he  ever  made  and  a 
very  difficult  proposition  to  turn  off  the 
makings  of  a  really  excellent  talk  just 
as  he  was  beginning  to  get  hot. 
(Continued  on  page  18) 


8 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


May,  1940 


Director  Ed.  Fisher  and  His  Crew  Hold  Pow-wow 

Up  Allegheny  Mountain  Way 


Like  the  Indians  of  but  a  few  cen- 
turies ago,  in  preparation  for  warring 
with  neighboring  tribes,  Ed.  Fisher 
called  his  braves  (potato  working  crew) 
together  on  Wednesday  evening  April 
24,  for  a  pow-wow  on  the  coming  potato 
war  of  cutting  seed,  mixing  fertilizer, 
preparation  of  the  root  bed,  planting, 
cultivating,  spraying,  etc. 

This  unusual  meeting,  the  first  of  its 
kind  to  my  knowledge,  was  preceded  as 
was  true  in  Indian   times  by  a  feast, 


(chicken  dinner),  Ed's  treat  to  his  men. 
The  whole  idea  met  with  such  approval 
that  these  warring  braves  voted  to  con- 
tinue the  occasion  at  stated  intervals 
throughout  the  season. 

Ed's  idea,— and  a  good  one,— was  to 
have  his  men  appreciate  why  he  insisted 
on  certain  jobs  being  done  according  to 
instructions.  Why  a  deep  root  bed? 
Why  care  in  handling  triple  strength 
fertilizer?  Why  plant  seed  deep?  And 
many  more  things.  With  his  entire  crew 


Amonq  those  present  at  the  Fisher  Po  jv-wow  were.  Back  row,  left  to  right,  Harry 
Kiehl  Mervin  Hanes,  Joe  O'Neil,  Bob  Keith,  V.  Renko,  Carl  Thompson,  Roy  Thomp- 
son, and  L.  T.  Denniston;  Front  row,  left  to  right,  Ed.  Fisher,  Joe  Renko,  Clarence 
Crandall,  and  C.  Smith. 


of  twelve  men  present,  these  and  other 
equally  important  points  were  discuss- 
ed, questions  asked  and  answered,  until 
the  hour  grew  late.  One  must  admire 
Ed's  expression,  that  ''aside  from  grow- 
ing a  good  crop  of  potatoes  this  season 
and  succeeding  seasons,  you  men  must 
do  all  you  can  to  do  the  job  better  not 


only  on  my  account  but  so  that  you  \yill 
be  ready  when  the  time  comes  to  strike 
out  on  your  own." 

I  shall  look  forward  with  much  inter- 
est to  future  meetings  and,  should  I  say 
ox  roasts,  with  this  group  during  the 

season  _ 

— L.  T.  D. 


'r 


^ 


T 


May,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


9 


Let  This  Serve  To  Remind- 


some  Authentic  Figures  on  Spraying 
In  Pennsylvania 

The  first  potato  spray  demonstrations 
based  on  modern  potato  spraying  meth- 
ods as  we  know  them  today  in  Pennsyl- 
vania were  conducted  in  1918  under  the 
supervision  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon.  Durmg 
the  year  32  demonstrations  were  con- 
ducted in  12  counties.  The  results  of 
these  demonstrations  were  as  follows: 

Average  yield  per  acre  sprayed 

142    bu.  per  acre 

Average  increase  per  acre 

34.8  bu.  per  acre 

Average  percent  increase 

32.2  percent 
Average  number    sprays    per 
season  5  times 

By  improving  the  spray  equipment, 
the  method,  time,  and  number  of  appli- 
cations, and  improvement  of  other  prac- 
tices by  the  growers  the  results  of  161 
demonstrations  ten  years  later,  19Z», 
showed  results  as  follows: 

Average  yield  per  acre  sprayed 

^    ^  304.2  bu.  per  acre 

Average  increase  per  acre 

^       ^  131.2  bu.  per  acre 

Average  percent  increase 

^  75.8  percent 

Average  number  sprays  per 
season  12.8  times 

That  the  results  of  1928  were  not  of 
chance  or  due  to  any  peculiar  condition 
is  evidenced  by  331  demonstrations 
during  the  succeeding  five  years  or 
from  1928  to  1932  the  results  of  which 
were  as  follows: 

Average  yield  per  acre  sprayed 

^  284.6  bu.  per  acre 

Average  increase  per  acre 

^  93.1  bu.  per  acre 

Average  percent  increase 

^  53.9  percent 

Average  number  sprays  per 
season  11.5  times 

The  following  is  from  the  November 
1926  Guide  Post:  — 

•♦Everybody  is  conceding  the  fact  that 
this,  the  ninth  year,  again  proves  the 
potato  sprayer  to  be  the  most  important 
piece  of  machinery  in  Pennsylvania  po- 
tato fields.  Greater  increases  in  yield 
have  been  secured  than  ever  before.  In 
addition  to  this,  late  blight  rot,  m  spite 


of  excessive  wet  weather,  has  been  con- 
trolled  completely.     The   tubers   from 
these  fields  have  gone  into  storage,  wet 
and  plastered  with  mud,  but  no  rot  has 
developed.  This  is  further  evidence  that 
if  the  tops  do  not  blight,  the  tubers  will 
not  rot.    It  has  taken  a  super  charge  of 
mentality  to  cause  the  grower  to  keep 
them  sprayed  a  season  like  the  one  ]ust 
closed.     Of   course   the  usual   nuniber 
maintained  that,  'it  rained  all  the  tinje 
and  I  was  unable  to  get  them  sprayed. 
Yet  Jacob  Wile,  Montgomery  County, 
managed  to  make  13  or  14  applications; 
Reuben   Ringer,    Lehigh    County,    suc- 
ceeded in  getting  13;  Robert  Getz,  Car- 
bon County,  came  through  with  8  appli- 
cations; Ray  Briggs,  Luzerne  County, 
made  16'  Pennsylvania  State  College, 
Centre  County,  10;  M.  S.  Van  Wegen 
Potter  County,  10;  Thomas  Denniston  & 
Sons,  Butler  County,  10;  Clark  Pollock. 
Indiana  County,  9  applications;  and  A. 
J.  Snyder,  Lehigh  County,  12  applica- 
tions. 

"It  is  significant  that  the  average 
yield  of  these  ten  nien  with  a  total  of 
198  acres,  averaged  better  than  435 
bushels  per  acre  over  their  entire  acre- 
age.  Spraying  made  over  200  bushels 
pir  acre  increase  in  several  of  these 
fields." 

The  Experience  of  John  Bachman, 
Northampton  County,  1927:  — 

"John  R.  Bachman  of  Hellertown, 
Northampton  County,  says  he  learned 
his  lesson  on  the  value  of  spraying.  He 
grows  35  acres  of  potatoes  and  this  year 
fprayed  for  the  first  time.  He  left  one 
a?re  unsprayed-along  came  the  bhght 
and  killed  the  potato  vines  on  this  acre, 
early  in  August.  This  acre  yielded 
229  bushels  per  acre.  In  this  same  field 
he  dug  from  a  single  acre  621.4  bushels 
of  potatoes.  The  entire  acre  was  dug 
and  weighed  in  the  presence  of  some 
400  visitors." 

Harvey  Baum,  Hilltown,  Bucks 
County  reported  in  1927  that  where  he 
sprayed  14  times  we  had  sound  potatoes 
but  where  we  missed  on  account  of  rain 
our  crop  was  cut  at  least  one-third  and 
here  we  had  some  blight  rot. 

(Continued  on  page  22) 


10 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


May,  1940 


CULTIVATING,  HARVESTING 

PLANTING 

(Continued  from  page  5) 

"The  soil  having  been  well  prepared, 
lines  crossing  transversely  are  traced 
with  the  marking  plough,  and  the  pota- 
to set  at  each  intersection.  The  plant- 
ing goes  on  much  more  quickly  in  this 
way.  One  man  can  easily  plant  three 
acres  per  day.  The  small  horse-hoe  is 
then  passed  close  to  each  row,  and  cov- 
ers it  with  earth.  When  weeds  sprmg 
up,  they  are  destroyed  by  passing  the 
large  horse-hoe  in  the  same  direction, 
an  operation  which  is  performed 
whether  the  potatoes  have  come  up  or 
not.  When  the  potatoes  have  grown 
up  to  a  certain  height,  the  banks  or 
edges  formed  by  the  hoe  in  the  last  cul- 
tivation are  cut  transversely  with  the 
large  hoe;  another  and  final  cultivation 
is  perhaps  given  in  the  direction  of  the 
first. 

"The  advantages  presented  by  this 
method  when  applied  to  an  agrillaceous 
soil  are  very  striking.  The  potato  is 
surrounded  on  all  sides  by  light  earth, 
and  dung  heaped  around  it.  It  is  pre- 
served from  any  excess  of  moisture  that 
might  injure  the  crop,  because  it  is 
placed  above  the  bottom  of  the  furrow 
by  which  the  water  drains  off.  The  soil 
in  which  it  rests  is  also  thoroughly 
warmed  by  the  sun.  But  this  method 
is  recommended  for  those  soils  only  in 
which  potatoes  might  sufter  from  ex- 
cess of  moisture,  as  a  sharpish  frost  at- 
tacking the  potatoes  before  they  are 
gathered  might  penetrate  too  deeply  in- 
to the  ridges. 

"When  the  earth  has  been  laid  up  for 
the  last  time,  and  the  potatoes  begin  to 
blossom,  they  must  be  left  quiet;  for  it 
is  then  that  the  young  tubers  are  form- 
ed. 

"Some  persons  have  recommended 
that  the  flowers  be  cut  off,  in  order  to 
increase  the  growth  of  the  tubers;  but 
the  recommendation  is  absurd.  Cullen, 
of  Edinburgh,  observed  some  time  ago 
that  the  developrnent  of  the  tubers 
keeps  pace  with  that  of  the  flowers;  and 
experiments  especially  directed  to  this 
point  have  uniformly  shown  that  the 
crop  is  much  injured  by  the  removal 
of  the  flowers. 

"Cullen  also  tried  the  effect  of  cut- 
ting off  the  leaves  as  fast  as  they  grew; 
the  consequence  was  that  the  potatoes 


produced  no  tubers,  but  merely  filamen- 
tous roots.  The  experiments  of  Ander- 
son, showing  the  injury  occasioned  to 
potatoes  by  the  hasty  removal  of  their 
leaves,  are  conclusive  against  this  prac- 
tice. 

"The  digging  of  the  crop  has  always 
been  looked  upon  by  great  cultivators 
as  the  most  difficult  part  of  this  branch 
of  husbandry,  and  has  been  the  main 
cause  of  their  unwillingness  to  under- 
take it  on  a  large  scale.  This  fear  has, 
however,  greatly  diminished;  it  has,  in- 
deed, been  found,  that  the  getting  in 
may  be  performed  with  greater  expedi- 
tion and  facility  than  has  formerly  been 
thought  possible.  They  are  taken  up 
by  means  of  a  mattack,  or  potato  hoe. 
When  they  are  planted,  according  to  my 
method,  one  man  with  such  an  instru- 
ment can  easily  prepare  work  for 
twelve  pickers.  In  this  manner,  pota- 
toes can  be  taken  up  with  less  work 
than  with  the  plough. 

"In  gathering  potatoes,  I  make  use  of 
boxes,  which  hold  about  thirty  bushels, 
and  are  placed  on  wagons.  In  one  side 
of  these  boxes  is  an  opening,  which 
shuts  by  means  of  a  sliding  door.  When 
the  boxes  arrive  at  the  barn  the  door 
is  opened  and  a  kind  of  gutter  adapted 
to  the  opening,  and  along  this  gutter  the 
potatoes  descend  to  the  place  intended 
for  them. 

"Potatoes  dug  in  dry  weather  may 
with  safety  be  placed  immediately  in 
a  cellar,  or  store-house,  protected  from 
frost;  but  the  place  in  which  they  are 
kept  must  be  left  open,  to  afford  a  free 
circulation  of  air,  till  cold  weather 
comes  on.  But  if  the  potatoes  are  raised 
in  damp  weather,  it  is  better  to  spread 
them  out  on  a  floor,  and  let  them  dry 
there. 

"A  point  of  great  importance  is  to 
cover  heaps  over  with  a  layer  of  straw, 
at  least  six  inches  thick.  This  layer  of 
straw  should  be  thickest  near  the 
ground;  it  should  there  extend  beyond 
the  heap  of  potatoes,  so  as  completely 
to  prevent  the  access  of  frost.  The  straw 
should  be  well  filled  at  the  summit  and 
angles,  and  the  whole  covered  up  with 
earth.  It  is  not,  indeed,  the  earth  which 
protects  the  potatoes  from  frost;  this 
effect  is  produced  by  the  straw,  which 
prevents  the  radiation  of  heat  from 
them;  but  the  earth  should  be  closely 
pressed    to    prevent    the    air    getting 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


May,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


11 


i 


T 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 

by  Inspector  Throw-out 


1 


Even  though  you  work  for  a  large 
corporation,  somebody  knows  your  real 
worth,  appreciates  your  honest  endeav- 
ors, and  has  you  in  mind  for  better 
things. 

:;{  :|s  iln  i\i  4i  ^  ^  t' 

The  sick  man  had  just  come  out  of  a 
long  delirium. 

"Where  am  I?"  he  said  feebly,  as  he 
felt  the  loving  hands  making  him  com- 
fortable.   "Where  am  I?     In  Heaven? 

"No,  dear,"  cooed  his  devoted  wife.  "I 
am  still  with  you." 

******** 

"What  can  be  more  sad  than  a  man 
without  a  country?"  feelingly  asked  the 
high  school  teacher  of  her  class. 

"A  country  without  a  man,"  respond- 
ed a  pretty  girl  just  as  feelingly. 

******** 

Husband-One  night  while  you  were 
away  I  heard  a  burglar.  You  should 
have  seen  me  going  down  the  stairs 
three  steps  at  a  time. 

Wife  (who  knows  him)— Where  was 

he,  on  the  roof? 

******** 

One  trouble  with  the  world  is  that 
laziness  is  seldom  fatal. 

*  *  *  *  *  :::  *  * 

The  abuse  of  Privilege  the  failure  to 
reeard  thy  neighbor  as  thyself,  is  sow- 
in!  weed  seed  to  choke  the  growth  of 

progress. 

*****>:<** 

A  cynic  is  a  man  born  out  of  his  sta- 
tion,— or  shamed  out. 

*  ******  * 

Dearest,  I  love  you.  Since  the  dawn 
of  creation,  since  the  birth  of  the  world, 
since  the  beginning  of  time  and  lonfi  be- 
fore watches  were  made,  I  have  known 
and  loved  you.  Darling,  will  you  be 
mine? 

O  Tom,  this  is  so  sudden! 

******** 

There  are  two  kinds  of  folks  who 
won't  ever  cut  much  ice.  One  kind  can  t 


do  as  they  are  told.  The  other  kind  can't 
do  anything  else. 

******** 

A  tree  toad  loved  a  she  toad 

That  lived  up  in  a  tree; 

She  was  a  three-toed  tree  toad 

But  a  two-toed  toad  was  he. 

The  two-toed  tree  toad  tried  to  win 

The  she  toad's  friendly  nod. 

For  the  two-toed  tree  toad  loved  the 

ground, 
That  the  three-toed  tree  toad  trod. 
But  vainly  the  two-toed  tree  toad  tried, 
He  could  not  please  her  whim, 
In  her  tree  toad  bower,  with  her  V-toed 

power 
The  she  toad  vetoed  him. 


CULTIVATING  -  HARVESTmG- 

(Continued  jrom  page  10) 

through  the  straw.  Earth  which  has  no 
consistence  and  easily  crumbles  is, 
therefore,  unfit  for  the  purpose;  if  no 
other  can  be  obtained,  some  kind  ot 
covering  must  be  placed  over  it. 

"A  precaution  very  necessary  to  be 
observed,  is  not  to  close  the  heaps  com- 
pletely in  autumn  so  long  as  the  wea- 
ther continues  warm.  A  small  quantity 
of  air  must  be  allowed  access  through 
the  top  till  the  frost  comes  on;  a  vent 
will  thus  be  afforded  for  vapors  which 
rise  from  the  heap.  Covering  the  heaps 
with  dung  is  always  useless  and  often 
mischievous. 

"When  a  thaw  comes  on  it  is  prudent 
to  open  the  heaps  a  little  at  the  top,  to 
permit  the  escape  of  vapor." 

Commenting  on  this  article,  one  is  im- 
pressed with  how  much  fact  or  fancy 
the  author  had  to  draw  on. 

It  is  a  matter  of  historical  record, 
back  in  the  1700's  that  famine  was  fre- 
quent in  Europe  due  to  grain  crop  fail- 
ure Famines  would  be  more  common 
in  this  modern  day,  except  that  people 
have  learned  not  to  live  by  bread  alone 
—in  other  words,  the  dietary  habits  of 
people,  like  the  Robin,  change.  If  he 
only  ate  worms,  when  the  worms  dis- 
appear—famine— so  he  changes  over  to 
cherries. 

(Continued  on  page  20) 


12 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


May,  1940 


May.  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


13 


Highlights  of  Profitable  Potato  Spraying 


■If  takes  an  entire  leaf  surface  to  make  maximum  tuber  pro- 
duction. 

-Diseases  and  insects  attack  potato  foliage  ttiereby  reducing 
tuber  production  and  yield. 

-Thorough  spraying  which  controls  diseases  and  insects,  and 
stimulates  potato  foliage  development  has  given  Pennsylva- 
nia's leading  potato  growers  increases  of  100  to  200  bushels 
per  acre. 

-Spraying  should  begin  as  soon  as  the  rows  can  be  followed 
and  three  applications  should  be  made  at  not  exceeding  7- 
day  intervals. 

-Then  spraying  should  be  continued  at  weekly  to  10-day  inter- 
vals throughout  the  season  with  more  frequent  spraying  dur- 
ing periods  of  intense  heat  or  prolonged  wet  periods  which 
are  favorable  to  blight.  Two  sprays  within  a  week  may  be 
necessary  during  periods  particularly  favorable  to  late  blight. 

-There  can  be  no  set  rule  as  to  the  number  of  sprays  required 
during  the  season.  In  a  general  way,  9  to  12  applications 
have  returned  the  greatest  profit. 

-Continue  spraying  at  least  until  the  tops  are  three-fourths 
dead,  or  until  the  crop  is  mature. 

-No  particular  make  or  type  of  sprayer  is  required,  but  it 
should  be  capable  of  applying  a  minimum  of  100  gallons  of 
spray  per  acre,  at  not  less  than  250  pounds  pressure.  Records 


i 


i 


1 


show  that  a  pressure  of  300  to  400  pounds  is  more  desirable 
since  greater  increases  have  been  obtained  and  results  are 
more  consistent  within  these  limits. 

—Proper  boom  and  noozle  adjustment  with  three  nozzles  per 
row,  properly  spaced  so  that  the  spray  envelops  the  entire 
plant,  are  essential  to  obtain  complete  coverage. 

—The  most  effective  and  economical  material  for  spraying  po- 
tatoes is  home-made  Bordeaux  mixture  (8-8-100).  That  is. 
Eight  pounds  of  copper  sulphate  (blue  stone),  eight  pounds  of 
stone  lime,  and  100  gallons  of  water. 

—The  use  of  a  high  grade  of  burnt  lump  lime  in  preparing  the 
spray  has  consistently  given  better  foliage  coverage,  resulted 
in  increased  yields,  and  shown  much  less  wear  of  essential 
sprayer  parts,  such  as  pump  and  nozzles,  than  have  other 
forms  of  lime  in  preparing  the  spray. 

—Arrange  a  simple,  convenient  spray  plant  with  an  adequate 
water  supply  for  the  season's  spraying. 

—Keep  all  running  or  working  parts  of  the  sprayer  well  oiled  or 
,  greased  when  in  use. 

—Check  the  job  of  spraying  from  time  to  time  to  make  certain 
that  not  a  single  detail  Is  being  neglected  or  overlooked. 
Check  the  results  as  well.  Study  the  plants  and  how  they 
react  to  the  spray  program.  Compare  your  sprayed  field  with 
unsprayed  rows  or  patches  in  your  community. 


14 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


May,  1940 


TIMELY  OBSERVATIONS 

AND    SUGGESTIONS 

(Continued  from  page  4) 

sprayers  are  being  purchased  this 
spring.  This  is  as  it  should  be.  Costly 
as  they  seem  to  the  purchaser,  it  is  one 
of  the  best  investments  and  best  assur- 
ances of  satisfactory,  profitable  potato 
yields  for  1940  that  the  grower  can 
make.  Most  of  the  new  outfits  are 
power  machines  and  this  also  is  as  it 
should  be.  A  rule  set  down  as  early  as 
1931,  stated  that  power  machines  should 
be  equipped  with  a  minimum  engine  ca- 


pacity of  horse  power  per  row  and  a 
pump  capacity  equivalent  to  twice  the 
number  of  rows.  In  other  words,  an 
eight  row  sprayer  should  be  equipped 
with  at  least  an  8  horse  motor,  and  a 
pump  that  will  deliver  a  minimum  of  16 
gallons  per  minute.  We  know  of  a  great 
number  of  new  machines  that  have  been 
purchased  and  still  more  to  be  purchas- 
ed and  only  in  two  cases  have  the  ma- 
chines secured  failed  to  measure  up  to 
these  requirements.  If  you  are  the 
purchaser  of  a  new  machine,  make  sure 
that  you  understand  its  operation  and  if 
in  doubt,  contact  your  company. 


Sprayed  vs.  Unsprayed. 
Tuber  production  stops  when  foliage  dies.  The  unsprayed 
area  in  "the  center  of  this  picture  died  prematurely.  The  rest 
of  the  field  was  thoroughly  sprayed.  Adjacent  rows,  sprayed 
and  unsprayed,  showed  a  difference  of  over  200  bushels  per 
acre. 


A  SCREECH  OR  A  WHISTLE  IS  A 
CALL  FOR  GREASE:      However,  the 
efficient  operator  does  not  wait  for  the 
screech    or    whistle.    His    oil    can    or 
grease  gun  are  constantly  in  use.     We 
might  take  a  lesson  on  this  point  from 
the  railroad  engineer  who  checks  and 
cares  for  his  locomotive.    Did  you  ever 
notice,  how  at  each  stop,  the  engineer 
has  his  oil  can,  with  its  long  snout,  con- 
stantly busy  ?  For  what  purpose?    For 
safety  and  efficiency.     The  locomotive 
has  an  important  job,  but  is  of  little 
more  importance  to  the  success  of  the 
railroad  than  the  potato  sprayer  is  to  the 
success  of  the  potato  grower.    Oil  holes 
and  grease  cups  are  meant  for  oil  and 
grease,  not  for  dirt.     You  had  better 
give  some  definite  instructions  to  your 


men  on  this  point  if  you  are  not  person- 
ally operating  the  equipment.  Another 
point,  the  best  clean  oil  and  grease  are 
none  too  good  for  such  costly  equipment 
as  the  potato  sprayer. 

CHECKING  THE  SPRAY  JOB:  Us- 
ing one  of  Dr.  Nixon's  expressions, 
''Spraying  is  like  painting  a  house:  the 
job  is  not  complete  unless  the  entire 
surface  is  covered."  So  potatoes  are  not 
well  sprayed  unless  they  are  thoroughly 
covered.  It  should  be  your  job  and  much 
to  your  interest  to  make  careful  checks 
on  the  job  being  done  from  time  to  time 
during  the  season.  This  is  important, 
whether  you  are  doing  the  job  person- 
ally, or  whether  some  one  else  is  doing 

(Continued  on  page  20) 


X 


Better  Potatoes- 
Use  More  Potash 


; 


Potato  profits  depend  upon  increased  yields  and  more  No. 
Ts  per  acre.  Potash  is  the  most  important  plant  food  for 
keeping  plants  growing  vigorously  and  manufacturing 
starches  and  sugars.  Leading  growers  are  using  at  least 
1076  potash  in  their  potato  fertilizer.  In  the  Midwest  18% 
potash  in  a  3-9-18  analysis  is  being  adopted  widely. 

Your  soil  and  application  of  fertilizer  should  make  avail- 
able to  your  potato  crop  at  least  170  pounds  of  actual  potash 
per  acre— the  amount  necessary  for  a  300-bushel  yield. 
Consult  your  county  agent  or  experiment  station  regarding 
your  requirements.  See  your  fertilizer  dealer  or  manu- 
facturer about  fertilizers  high  in  potash.  You  will  be  sur- 
prised how  little  it  costs  to  give  your  potatoes  more  potash. 


Write  us  for  additional  information 
and  free  literature  on  the  profitable 
fertilization  of  crops. 


fimerican  Potash  Institute,  Inc, 

Investment  Building  Washington,  D.  C. 


KCS 


16 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


May,  1940 


May,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


IT 


Grower  to  Grower  Exchange 

cation. 


QUALITY  SEED  POTATOES:  Russet 
Rurals,  White  Rurals,  Cobblers  and 
Nittanys.  Certified  Seeds  and  one  year 
from  certified.  All  grown  from  north- 
ern foundation  seed.  Ideal  storage.  All 
seed  will  be  graded  and  packed  in  Asso- 
ciation bushel  paper  bags.  I  am  pur- 
chasing a  new  eight  row  sprayer,  there- 
fore am  offering  for  sale  a  six  row  used 
power  sprayer.  Thomas  Denniston, 
Slippery  Rock,  Pennsylvania.  (Butler 
County.) 

AVAILABLE:  Copies  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Nix- 
on's book,  "The  Principles  of  Potato 
Production,"  $1.25  per  copy.  Write  for 
your  copy  today,  to  Association  office, 
Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania. 

SPRAYER:  One  ten-row  Bean  truck 
sprayer,  five  hundred  gallon  capacity. 
Sprayer  complete  without  truck.  If  in- 
terested, write  Lynn  Sill,  R.  F.  D.  No.  3, 
Corry,  Penna.  (Erie  County) 

SEED  POTATOES:  Seconds  grown 
from  Potter  County  disease-free  foun- 
dation seed  stock.  Rural  Russets.  Free 
from  blight,  stem-end  discoloration  and 
other  injury.  Firm  and  vigorous  sprouts 
assured  due  to  being  well  stored,  Will  be 
well  graded  and  packed  in  bushels  or 
100  lbs.  Price  reasonable,  $1.50  per  hun- 
dred for  one  year  from  certified,  $1.10 
per  hundred  for  two  years  from  certi- 
fied. Contact  Lynn  Sill,  R.  F.  D.  No.  3, 
Corry,  Pa. 


DIGGER  FOR  SALE:  One  single  row 
take  off  digger.  Good  repair.  Will  sell 
reasonably.  Write  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon, 
State  College.  Penna. 

SPRAY  BOOM  FOR  SALE:  John  Bean 
Spray  boom.  Complete  without  nozzles. 
10  row.  Good  condition.  Will  sell  cheap. 
Ed.  Fisher,  Coudersport,  Pa. 

PICKER-PLANTER       WANTED:       2- 

Row  automatic  Picker-Planter.  Iron 
Age.  Good  condition.  Send  for  details. 
J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  D.  No.  1,  Emlenton, 
Penna.     (Venango  County). 

SEED  POTATOES:  Rural  Russets  and 
Chippewas,  U.  S.  No.  1,  and  U.  S.  No.  1. 
Size  B,  or  seconds.  Free  from  stem  end 
discoloration  and  other  blemishes.  Con- 
tact Robert  Getz,  Albrightsville,  Penna. 
(Carbon  County) 

SPRAYER  WANTED:  4  or  6  row  en- 
gine or  power  take-off  sprayer.  Write 
J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  F.  D.,  No.  1  Emlen- 
ton, Penna.  (Venango  County) 

PLANTER  FOR  SALE:  Two-row  Iron 
Age  automatic  Planter;  picking  attach- 
ments. In  perfect  condition.  Will  sell 
reasonably.  Contact  Ed.  Fisher,  Coud- 
ersport, (Potter  County)  Penna. 

SPRAYER  WANTED:  Horse  drawn 
traction  sprayer  4-Row  boom.  Good 
condition.  Write  J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  F. 
D.  No.  1,  Emlenton,  (Venango  County) 
Penna. 


Membership  Drive  Slows-But  Continues 


Though  few  contributions  have  come 
into  the  "membership  box"  this  month, 
we  have  a  few  fine  ones  to  acknowledge. 

Leading  this  month  in  contributions 
are  the  Beck  Brothers,  of  Liberty  (Tioga 
County),  who  also  have  been  leaders 
throughout  the  drive.  Their  contribu- 
tions comprised  three  new  members. 

Next  was  super-supporter,  Ed.  Fisher, 
of  Coudersport,  (Potter  County),  with 
two  more  new  members  to  add  to  his 
very  very  long  list. 

John  B.  Glase,  of  Danielsville, 
(Northampton  County)  contributed  one 
fellow  Northamption  as  his  new  mem- 
ber. 

A.  C.  Ramseyer,  Ohio  booster  from 
Smithville,  contributed  his  new  member 
for  the  Spring  season,  to  add  to  his 
numerous  boosts  of  past  months. 

Ivan  Miller,  of  Corry  (Erie  County), 
who  sends  in  new  members  as  fast  as  we 
can  get  them  in  the  files,  found  us  an- 
other one  this  month. 


Then  Joseph  D.  Young,  of  La  Jose 
(Clearfield  County),  added  to  his  many 
new  members  with  one  more. 

Also,  several  new  members  came  into 
the  fold  this  month  unsolicited  by  any  of 
our  members. 

We  are  plesaed  to  have  the  following 
new  members  in  our  group: 

Miss  Ruth  Passmore,  Mahaffey,  Clear- 
field County. 

J.  B.  Wylie,  Wooster,  Ohio. 

Richard  Mansfield,  Coudersport,  Pot- 
ter County. 

Carl  Thompson,  Roulette,  Potter 
County. 

H.  C.  Trask,  Waterford,  Erie  County. 

L.    N.    Keller,    Bendersville,    Adams. 
County. 

Ray  Durstine,  Lock  Haven,  Clinton 
County 

B.  F.  Hebe,  Liberty,  Tioga  County 
Chas.  Bower,  Liberty,  Tioga  County 
Verus  Krotzer,  Liberty,  Tioga  County.. 
John  D.  Levan,  Kempton,  Berks. 
N.   C.   Oplinger,   Bath,   Northampton 
County. 


For  The  Small   Acrcase   Grower 


Low   priced   engine-powered   and   traction 
outfits  in  a  wide  variety  of  styles  and  sizes. 


•  The  small  acreage  grower,  as 
well  as  the  largest  operator  in  com- 
mercial vegetable  culture,  gets  the 
most  advanced  sprayer  built  when 
he  selects  a  Hardie.  Write  for  the 
Hardie  Row  Crop  Sprayer  Catalog 
and  see  how  Hardie  builds  2-row 
sprayers  just  as  advanced  as  the 
sensational  big  10-row  motor  truck 
and  Tractor  Trailer  Hardies.  Sold 
and  serviced  by  leading  local  deal- 
ers. The  Hardie  Mfg.  Company, 
Hudson,  Mich. 


18 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


May,  1940 


POTATO  CHIPS 

(Continued  from  page  7) 

This  month's  citation  for  best  quality 
Blue  Label's  should  be  awarded  to  L.  R. 
Friedline  of  Jennerstown.  That  these 
potatoes  were  of  excellent  quality  and 
grade  was  shown  by  the  demand.  Fried- 
line  could  have  sold  many  more  of  these 
spuds  if  he  had  them,  but  they  went  like 
hot  cakes. 

_o_o_o— 

On  the  other  hand  what  a  few  inferior 
potatoes  can  do  to  a  good  trade-marked 
package  was  called  to  my  attention  re- 
cently. A  storekeeper  in  the  state  had  a 
good  trade  worked  up  for  Blue  Label 
potatoes.  His  potato  sales  had  increased 
from  20  to  25  pecks  a  week  to  50  or  60. 
Over  a  two  year  period  complaints  on 
the  quality  of  Blue  Labels  were  minor 
in  number  and  seriousness.  But  some- 
time during  the  winter  some  loyal  and 
cooperative  (?)  member  of  the  Assn. 
believed  he  would  use  the  good  name  of 
the  Blue  Label  trade-mark  to  help  him 
dispose  of  a  lot  of  spuds  with  heavy 
stem-end  discoloration.  He  sold  his 
spuds  all  right  but  the  result  was  that 
this  store  and  some  others,  which  he 
delivered  to,  have  trouble  now  selling 
any  Blue  Label  pecks  and  total  potato 
sales  have  dropped  back  to  where  they 
were  three  years  ago. 

__o— O— O— 

In  the  October  issue  of  the  Atlantic 
monthly  is  a  well  written  article  about 
the  average  small  American  farmer, 
about  his  problems,  his  blessings  and  his 
relationship  to  our  present-day  society. 
The  author,  Mr.  P.  A.  Waring  asks  the 
question,  "Can  a  small  farm-a  family 
farm  business  be  made  to  pay  its  way?" 
His  answer  is  that  small  farms  can  sur- 
vive if  farmers  can  integrate  their  small 
work  units  with  the  centralization  and 
collectivation  of  the  rest  of  our  econ- 
omy. The  answer  lies  in  cooperatives 
for  collective  bargaining  and  trading, 
according  to  Mr.  Waring. 

__o— O— O— 

Tests  made  by  John  Daniels  at  Her- 
shey  indicate  that  potash  deficiency  may 
have  considerable  bearing  on  the  inter- 
nal black  discoloration  after  cooking, 
which  has  discredited  Russets  during 
the  past  few  years.  In  commenting  on 
these  experiments,  B.  A.  Rockwell  says 
that    under     average    soil     conditions. 


where  there  has  been  a  tendency  to  ex- 
cessive vine  growth,  a  1-3-3  ratio  merits 
serious  consideration.  Where  soil  nitro- 
gen is  adequate  and  potash  low,  a  top 
dressing  of  potash  in  addition  to  that 
supplied  in  the  basic  mixture  may  be 
good  practice.  The  quality  and  appear- 
ance after  cooking  of  these  Russets  was 
restored  to  normal  by  the  Hershey  tests 
of  added  potash. 

_o__o_o— 

Will  be  interesting  to  note  the  results 
obtained  by  Buckeye  Smith  of  Wil- 
liamsport,  Penna.  in  his  new  project  of 
irrigating  100  acres  of  potatoes  with 
water  obtained  from  the  springs  on  his 
farm.  Sufficient  water  is  the  best  crop 
insurance  against  the  dry  seasons  we 
have  been  having  of  late  and  the  regular 
supply  of  moisture  made  possible 
through  irrigation  assures  not  only 
higher  yields  but  also  more  uniformly 
high  quality. 

_o__o— o— 

For  years  loss  leader  selling  of  pota- 
toes has  been  recognized  by  potato 
growers  as  a  serious  evil,  costing  the  in- 
dustry many  thousands  of  dollars  an- 
nually. The  Maine  Potato  Growers  and 
Shippers  Committee  has  taken  formal 
action  toward  the  eradication  of  this 
practice  by  authorizing  it's  executive 
Committee  to  report  all  future  cases  to 
the  Federal  Trade  Commission,  with  the 
request  that  immediate  investigation  be 
made. 

_0— o— o— 

Some  indication  of  varietal  trends  in 
potato  planting  may  be  noted  in  the  re- 
port from  Maine,  the  largest  source  of 
potato  seeds  in  the  nation.  In  the  1936- 
37  season  51%  of  Maine  seed  sold  con- 
sisted of  Cobblers.  This  dropped  to  42% 
for  the  present  season.  Green  Mountain 
sales  have  increased  from  15%  of  the 
total  to  17%.  Chippewas  have  increas- 
ed from  1%  to  7%.  Katahdins  jumped 
from  3%  to  nearly  10%  and  during  the 
same  period  Spaulding  Rose  and  Bliss 
Triumph  have  dropped  very  sharply. 

_o_o_o_ 

As  this  is  written  early  in  May  the 
potato  market  for  old  potatoes  is  strong 
and  advancing  while  the  market  for  the 
new  crop  is  weak  and  easing  off.    The 

(Continued  on  page  20) 


Modern  Marketing  Methods 
Call  for  Paper  Bags 

Attractively  Printed  Bags  Bring  Repeat  Orders 

HAMMOND  Betterbags 

Combine  High  Grade  Printing  with 
Essential  Strength  and  Quality 


Hammond  Bag  &  Paper  Company 
Wellsburg,  W.  Va. 

Paper  Bags  for  Lime,  Limestone,  Fertilizer,  Flour,  Feed  and  Potatoes 


It  Pays  to  Irrigate   ^    ^libr 

The  OK  Champion  Way 


I 


i 


LIGHT  WEIGHT 
QUICK-COUPLING 
LOW  COST 


TRANSPORTABLE — Two  men  can  lay  one-half  mile  of  pipe  in  one  hour  or  less. 
Only  enough  pipe  is  necessary  to  reach  one  corner  of  a  field,  for  the  same  pipe  is 
used  to  irrigate  acre  after  acre. 

We  invite  your  irrigation  problems,  will 
plan  your  system,  and  furnish  an  esti- 
mate. 


HAMILTON  &  COMPANY 

Specialists  In  Irrigation 

EPHRATA,  PA. 

Distributors  for  Eastern  Pennsylvania 
Delaware  &  Maryland 


20 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


May,  1940 


TIMELY  OBSERVATIONS 

AND   SUGGESTIONS 

(Continued  from  page  14) 
it.  A  poor  job  may  be  due  to  improper 
mixing  of  materials,  improper  amounts, 
improper  nozzle  adjustment,  poor  or 
careless  driving  on  the  part  of  the  oper- 
ator, or  too  big  a  hurry  to  do  the  job  or 
to  get  through  early.  There  can  be  no 
excuse  for  missed  rows,  parts  of  rows, 
areas  or  even  a  few  plants.  Eliminating 
such  areas  as  might  be  missed  may  mean 
the  difference  between  a  losmg  fight 
with  late  blight  and  not  having  it  at  all. 
Better  run  an  extra  tank  if  you  are  m 
doubt.  The  double  spray  will  not  be  loss 
but  gain  anyhow,  and  the  doubtful  area 
safely  protected. 


LET  THIS  SERVE  TO  REMIND 

(Continued  from  page  9) 

A  summary  of  the  "400  Bushel  Club" 
for  the  years  from  1925  to  1934  as  to 
yields  in  relation  to  spraying  showed 
the  following: 

400  bushel  yields  received  10.1  sprays 
500  bushel  yields  received  11.7  sprays 
600  bushel  yields  received  13.3  sprays 
10  High  Yields  received  14.6  sprays 

State  Record  Yield  received  13.    sprays 

The  average  pressure  for  the  growers 
making  400  bushels  was  302  lbs.  for 
those  making  500  bushels  it  was  345.1 
lbs  for  the  600  it  was  347.6  lbs.  for  the 
ten  high  yields  it  averaged  360  lbs.  and 
H  J  Walton  &  Son,  Chester  County, 
although  applying  13  sprays  used  a 
pressure  of  400  lbs. 

1930  will  be  remembered  by  Pennsyl- 
vania potato  growers  as  a  drought  year. 
This  was  the  year  we  prayed  for  rain  on 
our  way  back  from  Maine.  Yet  the 
average  increased  yield  in  demonstra- 
tions over  the  State  from  apply mg  12.3 
sprays  was  77.3  bushels  per  acre  or  an 
increase  due  to  efficient  spraymg  of  54.4 
percent. 

"In  the  face  of  the  1930  drought  Perry 
Davis  &  Son,  Butler  County,  reported  an 
increase  of  103  bushels  per  acre  from 
spraying  or  a  yield  of  232  bushels  where 
sprayed  as  against  a  yield  of  129  bushels 
where  unsprayed.  On  the  grading  of 
the  potatoes  from  the  two  plots  it  was 
found  that  186  bu.  of  the  232  where 
sprayed  were  of  first  market  grade  or 
80.2  percent.;  whereas,  only  64  bu.  of  the 
(Continued  on  page  22) 


CULTIVATING  —  HARVESTING 

PLANTING 

(Continued  jrom  page  11) 

It  took  a  great  fight  to  induce  people 
to  eat  potatoes.  Famine,  however,  was 
more  of  a  persuader  than  the  soldiers  of 
France  or  the  edicts  of  Emperors.  Hea- 
ven forbid  that  we  be  forced  to  live  on 
spinach! 

In  some  parts  of  Southern  New  York 
state  and  Northern  Pennsylvania,  po- 
tatoes are  still  planted  "both  ways." 
Probably  this  is  the  origin  of  the  ex- 
pression, "a  hill  of  potatoes." 

It  was  a  fortunate  thing  back  in  that 
early  day  that  the  potato  was  not  parti- 
cular as  to  the  method.  "Whether  they 
planted  me  drill-wise  or  dribbled  me  in. 
to  me  it  is  exactly  the  same." 

The  rule  for  weeding,  regardless  of 
what  this  author  stated,  is  to  run  the 
weeder  weekly,  or  after  each  rain,  if 
twice  a  week. 

He  says  the  first  cultivation  is  per- 
formed with  a  small  hoe.  — Wish  we  had 
this  implement!  The  horn-hoe  would  be 
still  more  interesting! 

I  believe  the  most  important  cultiva- 
tion is  the  "blind  one,"  that  is,  going 
through  deeply  between  the  rows  be- 
fore the  weeder  or  harrow  is  ever  used. 

You  will  note  Mr.  Bosson  says,  "pull 
a  few  weeds."  The  fact  is,  if  you  do  the 
trick  right,  you  will  not  need  to  pull 
any,  and  this  can  all  be  done  on  a  large- 
scale  basis  by  the  proper  and  judicious 
use  of  the  weeder. 

You  notice,  he  used  the  world  "agrill- 
acious."   Look  this  word  up  in  the  dic- 
tionary and  see  if  it  is  your  soil  type. 
(Continued  on  page  22) 


POTATO  CHIPS 

(Continued  from  page  18) 

daily  shipments  and  market  supply  are 
not  heavy,  so  that  if  business  conditions 
had  been  more  nearly  normal,  a  very 
frisk  market  would  have  resulted.  Deal- 
ers anticipate  a  heavy  supply  of  new  po- 
tatoes soon  to  be  crowding  into  the  mar- 
kets, so  have  been  purchasing  on  a 
hand-to-mouth  basis.  Best  old  potatoes 
have  realized  as  high  as  $2.60  a  cwt.  on 
some  eastern  markets,  which  is  high 
priced  spuds  in  any  language  and  it  may 
take  more  buying  demand  than  has  been 
apparent   recently   to   get   them   much 

higher. 

"Bill  Shakespud." 


SPRAY 


WITH 


FOR  BEST  RESULTS 

Use 

Whilerock  Lump  and  Pebble  Lime 
Whilerock  High  Calcium 

Quadruple  Separated 

Superfine  Spray  Hydrate 

or 

Whiterock  Micro-Mesh 

They  lead  the  field  in  Spray  limes 

Write 

Whiterock  Quarries 

Bellefonte,  Pa. 


REICHARD'S 

ANIMAL  BASE 

FERTILIZERS 

Grow  Bigger  and 
Better  Crops 


Distributors  for 
Orchard  Brand 
Spray  Materials 
,      Nichols  Bluestone 

Robt  A.  Reichard,  Inc. 

19th   &   Lawrence   Sts. 
Allentown,   Pa. 


Potato 

Machines 


Make  Money  for  Potato  Growers 

Eureka  Potato  Machines  take  hard  work  out  of  potato  growing. 
They  reduce  time  and  labor  costs.  They  assure  bigger  yields. 


PQtato  Cutlar 

Cuts  uniform  seed. 
Operates  with  both 
hands  free  for  feed- 
ing. 

a 
Riding  Mulchcr 
Breaks  crusts,  mulches  soil,  and 
kills  weeds  when  potato  crop  is 
young  and  tender.  8,  10  and  12 
ft.  sites.  Many  other  uses, with 
or  without  seeding  attachment 

All  mmchinma  in 


Potato  Planter 

One  man  machines 
doing  five  operations  in 
one.  Over  twenty-two 
years'  success. 


Traction  Sprayer 

Insures thecrop.  Sires. 
4  or  6  rows.  60  to  100 
gallon  tanks.  Many 
styles  of  booms. 


Potato  Digger 

Famous  for  getting  «11  the 
potatoes,  separating  and 
standing  hard  use.  With  or 
without  engine  attachment 
or  tractor  attachment. 


Used  by  many 

of  the  most 

successful 

growers  in 

Pennsylvania 

and  elsewhere 


Distributors  of 

BABCOCK 

WEED  HOG 

The  Ideal  Tool 

To  Make  Deep 

Seed  Beds  for 

Potatoes 


EUREKA  MOWER  CO.,  Utica,  New  York 


jt 


■m^i 


11 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


May,  1940 


LET  THIS  SERVE  TO  REMIND 

(Continued  from  page  20) 
129  where  unsprayed  were  of  equal 
grade  or  only  49.6  percent.  In  securing 
these  results  Mr.  Davis  made  17  appli- 
cations at  an  average  pressure  of  better 
than  350  lbs." 

Volumes  more  could  be  written  but  let 
these  records  suffice  to  remind  you  as  a 
grower  what  can  be  accomplished  in 
1940  if  you  adhere  strictly  to  the  prin- 
ciples and  practices  followed  by  these 
growers.  These  accomplishments  were 
not  made  by  compromising,  but  rather 
by  strict  adherence  to  teachings  that 
were  well  conceived,  made  practical  and 
definitely  put  into  operation.  The  three 


principles  were:  TIME  of  spraying, 
MANNER  of  spraying,  and  MATERI- 
ALS with  which  to  spray.  Time  of  spray- 
ing involves  the  making  of  the  first 
sprays  as  soon  as  the  plants  are  up,  fre- 
quent sprays  during  the  season,  weekly 
to  ten  day  intervals  and  oftener  if 
weather  conditions  are  unusually  wet  or 
dry,  and  finally  continuing  spraying  un- 
til the  crop  is  mature.  Manner  of  spray- 
ing has  to  do  with  the  spray  equipment, 
the  number  of  nozzles  per  row,  boom 
adjustment,  pressure,  etc.  Material  re- 
fers to  the  spray  itself,  the  proper  slak- 
ing of  lime,  the  dissolving  of  blue  stone, 
the  mixing  of  the  spray  or  filling  of  the 
sprayer. 


dk 


mm*' 


'  4j^ 


^'■ 


:m:^ 


■^»i: 


'■'    ^^,.*"■■ 


Early  Sprays  are  of  Vital  Importance. 
You  must  "wake  up  when  you  get  up"  if  you  are  to  keep  ahead  of  blight, 
insects  and  heat.    Making  early  sprays  when  the  plants  are  yet  small  as 
shown  in  the  above  picture  is,  "waking  when  you  get  up." 


CULTIVATING  —  HARVESTING 

PLANTING 

(Continued  from  page  20) 

It  is  possible  that  the  reason  the  Ru- 
ral potato  yield  poorly  is  because  it  is, 
as  he  says,  "Uniformly  shown  that  the 
crop  is  much  injured  by  the  removal  of 
the  flowers."  Here  is  conclusive  proof, 
long  before  experiment  stations  were 
established,  that — "No  leaves,  no  tubers 
— half  a  crop  of  leaves — half  a  crop  of 
tubers."  Conversely,  this  was  pretty 
good  proof  of  the  value  of  spraying,  if 
spraying  maintained  the  leaf  surfaces. 

How  many  farmers  who  grow  pota- 


toes in  Pennsylvania  quote  this  article 
when  they  say  that  "digging  the  crop 

has  always  been  looked  upon as 

the  most  difficult  of  this  branch  of  hus- 
bandry and  has  been  the  main  cause  of 
their  unwillingness  to  undertake  it  on 
a  large  scale"? 

You  will  note,  also,  that  the  method 
of  hauling  in  from  the  field  antedates 
Mr.  Ramseyer  by  almost  100  years. 

Even  his  ideas  of  storage  are  not  so 
far  off  in  that  he  recommended  the  use 
of  straw  over  the  top  of  the  potatoes 
which  could  as  easily  be  the  forerunner 
of  the  modern  straw  loft.  After  all, 
everything  is  relative! 


i 


Bean   Potato  Sprayers 


i 


rilT    SPRAYING    COSTS      INCREASE    YIELDS       SPRAY    FASTER 
CUT    SPRAYING  ^CO  ^j^^     ^^  WORRIES  .  MAKE  MONEY 

SPRAY  WITH  HIGH  PRESSURE 

„*»  „r,i«<:  hf>  soravs  with  high  pressure.   High  pressure 
pr^tecfsTou  al^n/t  excessive  sK^ng  costs.'lo.^  yield,  delays  in  spray- 

•"ffie  fif  r'niertigltThTg^h  pressure  spraying  and  eliminate  the 
°^gatl!nrorhfgrprfsl\^- potato  sprayers  offer  a  vanety  of  price  and 
S^afw^core^Xo^^rS^^^^^^ 


RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 

you  have  a  fine  looking  pack  that  will  sell. 

Investigate  this  Grader  at  once. 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co. 

Division  Food  Machinery  Corporation  jjjq^^ 

LANSING 


v>"'    •■  ■ 


VISION 


Now  You  Can  Benefit  from 


Iron  Ace  power  take- 
off sprayer  with  ex- 
clusive "Compak" 
folding  boom  for  6,  8, 
or  10  rows.  Rubber- 
tired  wheels  at  slight 
extra   cost   if  desired. 


The  VICTORY  PUMP, 
heart  of  all  Iron  Affe 
sprayers.  Horixontally 
designed  for  working 
pressures  up  to  1000 
lbs.  per  square  inch. 
Slower  speed  for  long- 
er life.  Built  in  6.  10. 
14.  20.  and  37  vallons- 
per-minute  sicca. 


HIGH  PRESSURE  SPRAYING 


njOM  can  make  more  money  from 
/  your  potatoes  if  you  kill  their  twin 
enemies — insects  and  fungi.  But  only 
high  pressure  atomization  gets  the  best 
results  from  your  fungicide  or  insec- 
ticide. 

Formerly  available  only  to  large 
growers,  IRON  AGE  now  makes  high 
pressure  spraying  possible  for  all 
growers.  Low  cost  6  and  10  gallons- 
per-minute  sizes  with  any  pressures  up 
to  600  pounds  per  square  inch.  One 
just  right  for  every  grower. 

With  Iron  Age  High  Pressure  spray- 
ing you'll  find  potato  profits  go  up — 
spraying  costs  go  down«  for  high  pres- 
sures make  every  drop  of  fungicide  or 
insecticide  do  a  far  better  job. 


Write  ^or 

Sprayer 

ManiLal  40 


IRONME 


Row 

Crop 

Sprayers 


A.  B.  FARQUHAR  CO.,  LTD 334  Duke  St YORK,  PENNA. 


inM^HMlL 


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NUMBER  6 


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"CAMP  POTATO"  ISSUE 


JUNE 


I940 


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PuMuUed  ku  the 

PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE 
POTATO  GROWERS  ASSOCIATION 


X>^>«»KV^^, 


IMWC 


INCORPORATED 


"CAMP  POTATO 


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TiAPf  HAiui ueisTniinuitcorr 


Maintained  By 

PENNSYLVANIA  CO-OPERATIVE  POTATO 
GROWERS'  ASSOCIATION 

Incorporated 
BellefontG/  Pa. 


"CAMP  POTATO"  was  established  to  provide  facilities  for  The  Penn- 
sylvania State  College  in  its  program  of  breeding,  developing  and  proving 
new  varieties  of  potatoes. 

A  larger  conception  in  its  establishment  is  to  kindle  the  everlasting  fire 
in  our  youth  to  achieve. 

Still  another  conception  is  that  "Camp  Potato"  epitomizes  in  the  hearts 
of  Pennsylvania  Potato  Growers— Unselfishness,  Enthusiasm,  Integrity, 
and  Vision. 


RULES  OF  "CAMP  POTATO' 


"Camp  potato"  is  maintained  by  the  Pennsylvania  Cooperative  Potato 
Growers'  Association,  and  is  contributed  to  by  its  many  friends  and  staunch 
supporters.  It  is  the  desire  of  every  one  that  the  camp  serve  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  Potato  Industry  of  Pennsylvania.  Therefore,  the  following 
suggested  regulations  will  be  rigorously  enforced: — 

1.  Every  group  must  leave  the  camp  grounds  and  camp  buildings  clean, 
sanitary,  and  in  an  orderly  condition. 

2.  No  spitting  on  the  floor  or  walls  will  be  tolerated. 

3.  No  smoking  on  the  balcony  at  any  time. 

4.  No  intoxicating  beverages  allowed  to  be  used  on  the  camp  grounds  by 
any  group  at  any  time. 

5.  No  defacing  of  buildings  or  camp  property  will  be  tolerated. 

6.  Gam^bling  will  not  be  permitted  in  any  form. 

7.  Work  and  play  but  no  foolishness. 


^^Camp  Potato"  Opened  for  Season 


On  Monday,  June  3rd,  "Camp  Potato" 
was  officially  opened  for  the  1940  sea- 
son, in  the  presence  of  the  Future 
Farmers  of  America  organization  from 
Oakland,  Maryland,  and  many  other 
visitors,  including  a  large  number  of 
Potter  County  growers. 

The  Potter  County  Potato  Growers' 
Association,    in    connection    with    the 


opening  of  the  camp,  held  a  meeting 
of  their  Association  at  the  camp,  with 
many  of  the  visitors  present,  including 
former  President,  Walter  S.  Bishop,  of 
Doylestown,  and  former  Director,  John 
Bachman,  of  Hellertown,  Penna. 

B.  Allen  Rockwell,  of  the  Hershey 
Estates,  officiated  in  the  planting  of  the 
first  potato  for  the  1940  season,  and  he 


The  technique  of  cross-pollinating  potatoes.  From  the  seeds  procured  from  these 
pollinations,  over  3,000  new  seedlings  were  propogateed  and  planteed  on  June 
4th.   These  boys  get  a  real  kick  out  of  this  type  of  activity. 


also  planted  Dr.  Nixon's  100,000th  new 
seedling. 

It  was  a  fine  lot  of  boys  who  came  to 
the  camp  from  Oakland,  Maryland,  and 
they  did  a  splendid  job  in  assisting  with 
the  seedling  work.  They  planted,  by 
hand,  a  total  of  1391  seedlings. 

At  almost  bedtime  Tuesday  (the  4th), 
the  Hepburn  Chapter  of  the  Future 
Farmers  of  America,  of  Lycoming  Coun- 
ty, consisting  of  fifteen  boys,  arrived  at 


the  camp,  and  the  next  day,  ten  more 
Lycoming  boys  were  present. 

These  boys  continued  the  good  work 
begun  by  the  Maryland  group — and  as 
a  result,  seven  acres  of  seedlings  were 
planted  during  the  first  week — all  by 
hand. 

"Camp  Potato"  will  be  the  show  place 
in  Pennsylvania  this  year  for  anyone 
with  the  remotest  interest  in  potatoes. 
Any  growers  who  have  not  seen  it  have 


THE   GUIDE  POST 


June,  1940 


June,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


surely  missed  a  real  experience — and 
those  who  have,  will  be  amazed  to  see 
its  many  improvements. 

Though  this  is  a  "Camp  Potato"  issue, 
we  could  give  here-again,  the  history 
of  the  Camp — how  the  lumber  for  it  was 
acquired  from  the  Federal  Government 
in  the  form  of  a  C.  C.  C.  Camp,  at  Ridg- 
way,  Penna.,  and  how  this  latter  camp 
was  razed,  transported  and  re-erected 


as  "Camp  Potato"  at  Coudersport  by 
the  efforts  alone  of  the  growers  who 
gave  their  time  and  energy  to  it — and 
how  it  progressed — with  contributed 
funds,  labor  and  gifts,  to  its  present 
state.  But  all  of  you  have  helped  it  and 
watched  it  grow,  and  repetition  here 
seems  unnecessary.  However,  pictured 
in  this  issue  are  many  "Camp  Potato" 
shots  which  pictorially  show  the  growth 
of  this  project. 


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The  tool  shed,  packing  house,  and  storage  combined  at  "Camp  Potato." 
This  potato  storage,  growers  will  be  interested  to  know,  kept  the  potatoes  in 
lOOVr  condition.  38  seedling  varieties  that  were  placed  on  the  storage  test  in 
bins  of  approximateely  25  bushels  each  came  out  the  past  week  (June  3rd)  as 
firm  and  crisp  as  the  day  they  were  put  in.  It  is  interesting,  however,  to  note  the 
difference  in  keeping  qualities  of  different  varieties.  Some  had  as  much  as  one 
and  one  half  bushels  storage  rot — some  not  a  single  tuber  rot.  They  were  all 
placed  in  the  storage  at  the  same  time. 


Mr.    Muddle — "Where    did    you    get 
these  cigars?" 

Mr.  Clafflin — "A  friend  of  mine  sent 
them  from  Cuba." 

Mr.  Muddle — "Your  friend  certainly 
knows  the  ropes  down  there." 


Recruiting  Sergeant  —  "What's  yer 
name  and  what  branch  of  the  service 
d'ye  want  to  be  in?" 

Perkins  (who  stammered) — Pup-p- 
p-p-p-pup-pu — ." 

R.  S.  (writing)— "Can't  speak  English 
and  wants  to  join  a  machine  gun  outfit." 


t 


Early  History  of  the  "  Camp  Potato "  Site 


(Editor's  Note:  This  letter  was  turn- 
ed over  to  the  Association  office  by  Dr. 
E.  L.  Nixon,  who  received  it  from  Mr. 
B.  J.  Butler,  of  Hornell,  New  York.  Mr. 
Butler  lived  at  the  "Camp  Potato"  site 
many  years  ago,  and  visited  it  recently. 
The  sugar  tree  referred  to  stands  about 
100  yards  from  the  road  in  the  large  field 
on  the  back  farm.  We  have  decided  to 
let  this  tree  stand,  though  it  occupies  a 
productive  piece  of  soil  for  potato  grow- 
ing.) 

"When  we  were  at  "Camp  Potato,"  I 
suggested  I  might  write  something  of 
my  boyhood  days  which  were  spent  on 
the  site  where  your  project  is  located. 
I  will  do  the  best  I  can,  but  I  am  afraid 
that  will  not  be  much. 

"But  first  I  wish  to  thank  you  for 
the  courtesy  shown  me  by  you  and  your 
staff  at  "Camp  Potato,"  especially  for 
your  kind  consideration  in  the  preser- 
vation of  the  treasured  maple  tree. 

"This  tree  was  planted  by  grand- 
mother Butler  during  the  Civil  War, 
and  stands  a  living  monument  to  those 
who  settled  there  when  that  was  a  vast 
wilderness  and  have  long  smce  passed 
on. 

"The  Butler  farm,  located  on  the  very 
top  of  Denton  Hill  contained  about  one 
hundred  and  seventy  eight  acres,  and  at 
one  time  about  ninety  acres  of  this  was 
under  cultivation. 

"Having  been  cleared  for  the  most 
part  before  and  shortly  after  the  Civil 
War,  in  which  grandfather  Butler  serv- 
ed four  years  and  three  months. 

"At  that  time  the  road  coming  from 
Coudersport  ended  on  our  farm,  but 
eventually  was  continued  to  Galeton, 
and  later  was  traveled  quite  extensively 
as  it  was  the  shortest  route  between 
Coudersport  and  Galeton. 

"I  will  not  try  to  give  any  dates  of 
early  activities,  as  I  was  not  born  until 
1888,  so  my  memory  only  dates  back  to 
about  1894.  At  that  time  there  was  an 
old  log  school  house  located  at  the  in- 
tersection of  the  old  Denton  Hill  road 
and  the  Billy  Lewis  road. 

"This  school  was  replaced  at  about 
that  time  by  a  one-room  frame  struc- 
ture, but  was  used  but  very  little  as  the 


only  other  pupils  moved  away  and  I 
became  the  only  pupil  in  the  district, 
and  it  was  decided,  after  about  two 
years'  controversy,  to  send  me  to  an- 
other school. 

Later,  however,  other  people  moved 
into  the  district  with  large  families  of 
children,  and  the  school  was  put  into 
operation  but  not  until  after  I  had  left 
school,  and  was  discontinued  about  1909. 

"At  my  earliest  recollection  of  life  on 
Denton  Hill,  there  were  five  farms,  three 
fair  sized,  under  cultivation.  Just  north 
of  'Camp  Potato'  in  what  was  then  the 
Haines  farm;  the  Wambold  farm  was 
where  'Camp  Potato'  is  located;  the 
Blanchard  place  was  located  near  the 
site  of  the  old  schoolhouse;  the  Nisbit 
farm  was  located  about  one  half  mile 
south  of  the  Denton  Hill  road  and  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Billy  Lewis  road. 
These  farms,  while  not  as  large  as  ours, 
all  had  fair  buildings  on  them. 

"Two  other  small  farms,  now  almost 
completely  covered  with  second  growth, 
lie  just  east  of  the  Billy  Lewis  road 
and  nearly  opposite  the  Nisbit  farm. 
These  were  known  as  the  Palmiteer  lots 
settled  by  two  brothers  who  answered 
the  call  of  their  country  in  '61,  and  never 
came  back. 

"Farming  on  Denton  Hill  thirty  or 
forty  years  ago  proved  to  be  anything 
but  profitable,  due  to  the  long  distance 
from  market  and  the  poor  roads.  Most 
of  the  land  was  very  stoney  and  thous- 
ands of  loads  of  stone  were  removed 
from  the  fields  before  the  ground  could 
be  cultivated  to  any  degree  of  satisfac- 
tion. Stone  piles  border  nearly  every 
field. 

"Picking  stone  is  the  first  work  I  re- 
member doing,  and  my  arms  are  about 
four  inches  longer  than  normal  from 
pulling  the  plow  back  and  setting  it 
again  each  time  it  hit  a  boulder. 


"As  time  went  on,  farming  became 
more  or  less  a  side  issue.  Lumbering, 
while  not  too  profitable,  afforded  a 
source  of  revenue  during  the  winter 
months,  and  early  in  the  twentieth  cen- 
tury, when  lumbering  activity  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  was  at  its  height 
very  little  farming  was  carried  on,  and 
soon  these  farms  became  so  run  down 

(Continued  on  page  24) 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


June,  1940 


Mr.  Roland  Benjamin,  of  the  Farm  Bureau  Coooerative  Association,  digging  the 
hrst  hill  of  potatoes,  105  days  after  Mr.  Fred  Bateman,  of  the  A.  B.  Farquhar 
Company,  had  planted  it  at  "Camp  Potato."  This  hill  unit,  which  turned  out  to 
have  14  tubers,  has  been  labelled  "Farm  Bureau,"  and  was  planted  in  its  en- 
tirety as  a  unit  on  June  3rd  of  this  year. 


Planting  the  first  hill  of  potatoes  ever  planted  at  "Camp  Potato '^  in  1939     This 
ceremony  was  repeated  on  June  3rd,  1940,  when  B.  Allen  Rockwell'  of  tho  hI^cW 
n^rfnM*^"'  ^?-*  ^^^^  P^^^^^^  the  first  hill  for  the  sekson    but  pirn/eV 
000th  seedling  to  be  developed  in  the  breeding  urogram   Mr   Fred  BatPm^^^^    ]^^U 

in^rg"?."^""'*"  "'  *^'  -^'*'*"  '"^"^*^^'  P^''^^'"^^  th?s  ceremony  Tot  t^hftiXoTato 


June.   1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


Judge  Robert  R.  Lewis  presenting  the  title  of  "Camp  Potato  to  Waller  S.  Bishop, 
President  of  the  Potato  Growers'  Association  in  1938.  Below,  Camp  Potato  as 
it  appeared  at  the  time  of  this  dedication.  The  picture  on  the  front  cover  page  will 
show  the  improvements. 


IBMg 

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i^B 

H 

r-  V. 

*!' 

-.  /'.  V 

1              .  .::m^ 

iT 

Ik,-^ 


*^*r^ 


,-Mm^ 


8 


THE   GUIDE  POST 


June,  1940 


t* 


THE  GUIDE  POST 

Published  monthly  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Cooperative  Potato  Growers,  Inc. 


OFFICERS 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  Emlenton  . .  President 

Roy  R.  Hess,  Stillwater   Vice-Pres. 

E.  B.  Bower,  Bellefonte, 

Sec'y-Treas.  and  Gen.  Mgr. 


DIRECTORS 

Jacob  K.  Mast Elverson,  Chester 

P.  Daniel  Frantz Coplay,  Lehigh 

Hugh  McPherson Bridgeton,  York 

John  B.  Schrack Loganton,  Clinton 

Roy  R.  Hess Stillwater,  Columbia 

Ed.  Fisher Coudersport,  Potter 

Charles  Frey  North  Girard,  Erie 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.l,  Emlenton,  Venango 
R.  W.  Lohr   Boswell,  Somerset 

Annual  membership  fee  $1.00.  This  in- 
cludes the  Guide  Post. 

All  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary-Treas- 
urer and  General  Manager,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania. 


DAYS  OF  JUNE 

What  charm,  what  tenderness  so  subtly 
sweet, 

What  joyous  spirit   and   what   radiant 
presence — 

Of   all   things   bright   and   lovable   the 

essence — 
Oh,  June  is  here!  The  world  is  all  com- 
plete! 


0hitmvp 


James  L.   Zellers 

Members  of  this  Association  will  be 
grieved  to  learn  of  the  passing,  on  April 
11th,  of  James  L.  Zellers,  of  Stewarts- 
town,  Hopewell  Township,  York  Coun- 
ty, who  was  an  outstanding  agricultural 
leader  and  prominent  potato  grower, 
known  throughout  the  State.  He  died, 
following  a  brief  illness,  in  the  York 
Hospital,  of  strepticocci  blood  stream 
infection. 


James  L.  Zellers  was  born  August  9, 
1876,  the  only  child  of  William  and 
Esther  Anderson  Zellers,  at  his  late 
home  in  Hopewell  Township,  which  was 
purchased  by  his  grandfather,  Levi  Zel- 
lers, in  1826,  and  had  been  in  the  family 
ever  since. 

He  attended  the  Public  Schools  of 
Hopewell  Township,  and  later  the 
Stewartstown  Academy. 

He  was  married  to  Mary  Jane  Patter- 
son, who  survives  him  with  one  daugh- 
ter, Miss  M.  Hazel  Zellers,  who  is  Mathe- 
matics Instructor  in  the  Stewartstown 
High  School. 

James  L.  Zellers  was  an  ideal  leader 
in  his  community  and  his  passing  is  a 
great  loss  to  the  community  which  he 
served. 

His  activities  were  many.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Stewartstown  Presby- 
terian Church,  President  of  the  Carlisle 
Production  Credit  Association,  Presi- 
dent of  the  York  County  Potato  Grow- 
ers' Association,  Past  President  of  the 
York  County  Extension  Association 
a  member  of  the  Lion's  Club,  a  Charter 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythians, 
Stewartstown,  Chairman  of  the  Civic 
Improvement  Commission,  Stewarts- 
town, and  a  Director  of  the  Agricultural 
Association  of  Stewartstown. 

He  was  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  raised  hundreds  of  turkeys  each 
year.  He  was  outstanding  in  York  Coun- 
ty potato  production  problems,  and  a 
leader  in  all  progressive  movements  of 
the  Potato  Growers'  Association.  For 
example,  he  was  one  of  the  instigators 
of  the  initial  spray  program  in  his  Coun- 
ty, as  shown  by  this  excerpt  from  an 
account  of  this  endeaver  in  1919: 

'In  the  spring  of  1919,  a  Potato  Grow- 
ers' meeting  was  held  at  Stewartstown. 
At  this  meeting.  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon,  for 
the  first  time,  discussed  the  merits  of 
potato  spraying  to  York  County  farmers. 
As  a  result,  five  cooperative  spray  rings 
were  organized.  There  constituted  the 
largest  acreage  in  membership  in- 
volved in  community  spraying  in  the 
United  States.  These  were  located  at 
Red  Lion,  Brogueville,  Stewartstown 
and  New  Park.  Two  groups  were  organi- 
zed at  Stewartstown.  The  five  groups 
included  69  growers  who  planted  a  total 
of  387  acres  of  potatoes  during  that 
season.  Mr.  J.  L.  Zellers  was  chairman 
(Continued  on  page  30) 


June,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


9 


Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon  Severs  Connection  with  College  -™ 
Accepts  New  Post  with  Penna.  Chain  Store  Council 


Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon,  on  May  13th  tender- 
ed his  resignation,  to  be  effective  July 
1st,  to  The  Pennsylvania  State  College, 
where  he  had  been  a  member  of  the 
staff  for  23  years,  and  simultaneously 


accepted  a  position  as  Agricultural 
Counselor  to  the  Pennsylvania  Cham 
Store  Council. 

In  his  new  work,  Dr.  Nixon  will  cor- 
relate marketing  activity  for  the  agri- 


Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon 


cultural  groups  in  the  State  with  the 
Food  Distributors.  Though  this  enter- 
prise will  include  all  phases  of  agricul- 
ture   Dr.  Nixon  will  in  no  way  lessen 


his  interest  or  assistance  to  the  potato 

industry  of  the  State.  In  this  capacity, 

his  work  in  the  breeding  program  will 

(Continued  on  page  14) 


10 


THE   GUIDE  POST 


June,  1940 


m 


June,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


11 


Dedicaion  of  "Camp  Potato." 
"Camp  Potpto"  was  dedicated  in  August,  P3?.  with  over  1.000  Pennsylvania  grow- 
ers and  their  friends  in  attendance.  Many  changes  have  occured  since  this  picture 
was  taken  in  both  t   e  :  rounds  end  buildings,  but  no  changes  in  the  hearts  of  the 
potato  growers. 


1 


"Camp  Potato"  in  the  Early  Stages  of  Erection. 
The  lire  place  was  constructed  but  the  chimney  not  completed  in  this  photo.  Where 
the  tractor  and  scraper  are  at  work  is  now  the  flag-stone  covered  assembly  room. 


Edinboro  F.  F.  A.  Will  Grow  202  Potato  Varieties 

A  Cooperative  Class  Project 

by  BiRON  E.  Decker 
County  Adviser,  Erie  County  Vocational  Agriculture 


Norman  P.  Manners,  Supervisor  of 
Vocational  Agriculture,  received  a  re- 
quest form  the  County  Vocational  Ad- 
viser pertaining  to  an  invitation  to  par- 
ticipate in  a  State  research  problem. 
This  request  was  relayed  from  Dr.  E.  L. 
Nixon,  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Col- 
lege, known  as  Pennsylvania's  Potato 
King. 

''Would  you  be  interested  in  planting 
a  test  plot  of  202  varieties  of  potato  seed- 
lings?" 

"Yes — sure." 

As  easy  as  that,  and  Edinboro  will  be 
the  scene  of  much  activity  and  much  sci- 
entific procedure.  Mr.  Manners  was  not 
familiar  with  the  details  of  the  plan, 
but  he  is  alert.  He  immediately  realized 
the  possibilities  of  a  major  enterprise 
such   as   this   in   lending    itself  to   the 
present  and  future  as  a  means  of  furn- 
ishing scientific  information  which  can- 
not be  obtained  otherwise.    He  knew 
it   would  be   valuable   as   a  means   of 
spreading   enthusiasm   relative   to   the 
production  of  quality  potatoes.  Basic- 
ally, the  science  involved  will  apply  to 
all  farm  crops,  hence  the  experiment 
will  broaden  the  knowledge  of  every 
vocational  pupil  in  Erie  County,  since 
the  boys  will  undoubtedly  visit  the  pro- 
ject several  times. 

It  will  mark  the  second  venture  into 
the  potato  industry  for  Edinboro,  and 
on  the  same  field  which  in  1933  pro- 
duced the  first  certified  seed  potatoes 
to  be  grown  by  vocational  agricultural 
pupils  in  Pennsylvania.  This  step  alone 
has  been  responsible  for  the  produc- 
tion of  many  acres  of  high  quality  po- 
tatoes on  a  high  yielding  basis. 

Cream  from  75,000  Varieties 

These  202  seedling  variety  selections 
are  the  cream  from  over  75,000  seed- 
lings grown  from  seed,  and  are  to  be 
planted  in  three  widely  separated  areas 
in  Pennsylvania.  Edinboro  has  been 
given  the  opportunity  to  accept  this 
Drivilege— and  true  to  tradition,  it  has 
been  so  ordered.  There  will  be  ten 
pounds  of  each  variety.    Some  of  the 


potatoes  will  be  yellow,  a  few  will  be 
pink  outside  and  inside;  there  will  be 
blue  potatoes,  white  potatoes,  russet 
potatoes,  and  many  other  colors  as 
well  as  shape  variations.  These  pota- 
toes will  be  planted  by  hand. 

Planting 

C.  W.  Billings,  of  Edinboro,  a  loyal 
vocational  agricultural  enthusiast,  and 
the  one  chiefly  resDonsible  for  the  de- 
velopment of  the  department  at  Edin- 
boro will  donate  the  use  of  two  acres 
of  his  best  soil  adjoining  Route  6N.    It 


Biron  E.  Decker 

will  be  conveniently  situated,  thus  en- 
abling visitors  to  view  the  progress.  A 
new  Iron  Age  planter  will  be  used  in 
the  planting.  The  rear  disc  will  be  re- 
moved, thus  leaving  the  trench  open  for 
hand  planting.  The  reason  for  the  use 
of  the  planter  is  two-fold.  It  will  fer- 
tilize and  open  the  rows  at  the  same 
(Continued  on  page  19) 


June,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


13 


I 


POTATO  CHIPS 

Our  capable  director  and  past  presi-  crop  is  mostly  cleaned  "f- Wat<:h  out  f  or 

dent    P    D    Frantz  may  not  have  been  the  tobaggon  slide  a  little  later.  How- 

entirelv  responsible  for  Congress  scrap-  ever,  when  every  southern  state  from 

n?nrtL  Patman  Inti-chain-store  bill,  the  Gulf  to  the  Mason  and  Dixon  line 

but  his   testimony   before   the   Senate  will  come  in  almost  together.  Fortuna  e 

committee  was  a  big  help  toward  that  that  the  Pennsylvania  crop  will  be  late 

end    In  his  sincere  and  matter-of-fact  this  year  as  present  indications  point 

manner  "P  D  "  told  the  venerable  gen-  toward     too    much    competition    from 

Uemen  who  comprise  the  most  respected  many  states  until  late  summer  or  early 

body  of  legislators  in  the  world,  what      fall.  

the  ordinary  dirt  farmer  thinks  about  U 

legislation  aimed  to  kill  the  chains.  He  SHORT  SAD  STORY 

stated  that  the  selling  of  fram  products  EXPENSE  ACCOUNT 

direct   to  these   large  distributors  not  Advertisine  for  girl 

only  moves  larger  volumes  expeditously  5-  1  Advert^^'ng        ^'^^^        $     .50 

but  also  with  a  greater  net  return   o  the  g.^l^^S  -  „ew  steno'. .65 

growers.  He  stated  that  to  return  10  om  wppU'-!  salarv  for 

methods  of  distribution  entirely  through  5-  8  Week  s  salary        

local  buyers    hucksters    peddlers  and  ^_%^^^^f^f^J^,^^^^^^^y^^, 3.00 

commission  houses  ^°"  '^.^f  iSan  5-11  Candy  -  for  wife 75 

step  backward  ^^^  that  the  Amencan  j.  ^.^^  stenographer. . .     6.25 

farmers  would  much  rather  progress.  ^_^^  ^^^^,^  ^^^^^^  ^^^ 

D stenographer 20.00 

The  hearings  also  brought  out  the  fact  5-17  Picture  show  tickets  for  self 

thit  the  whole  trend  of  modern  farming  f "d   w.f e       .                      .^^^  .  •       .80 

Is  toward  mass  production  which  must  5-18  Theatre  Uckets      sell  ana 

be  matched  by  a  system  of  mass  distn-  ?^^"°S'^P7jr '  -j^g .75 

bution.  The  chain  ^tor^s  ha^.|  deveiope^  5-19  Candy  ^^for^w^ife . . . . . . ...         ^^^^ 

that  and  whether  we  approve  or  not  tne  ^^^^^^  ^^^  ^.^^^^  ^.^^ 

sumer  is  rapidly  waking  up,  if  anyone  stenograpner 

should  ask  you.  □ 

□ Word  from  North  Carolina  and  the 

^^of..  r^rnHnrt  is  Eastern  Shore  indicates  the  finest  pros- 

An  interesting  new  po^ato^P^^^^^^  Jast  ^^^  ^            ^^^^  ^^  excellent  quality 

being  used  by  the  Byrdjmarctici^^^  potatoes  from  those  early  shipping 
dition.  This  product  made  by  drying  a  P^^  yields  from 
mixture  of  ^  boiled  po  a  oes  kim^^^^^^  other  sect\ons  of  the  south  already  ship- 
milk  and  salt  is  called  skim  milKpoxaio  indicate  larger  production  than 
wafers.  This  ^ood  product  won  a  p  ace  PJ^g^^^^^^^^/,,,!  Jr.  If  these  high  yields 
on  the  expedition  because  otiign^  continue  to  be  harvested  progressively 
weight  and  because  it  will  not  get  ran  ^^^^^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^^  ^ope  can  be  had  for 
cid  as  no  fat  is  present.  ^^^  market  maintaining  a  very  saiisfac- 

__- -O- tory  position,  unless  some  very  marked 

Missed  mv  guess  of  what  the  peak  and  unusually  strong  consumer  demand 
nri^e  for  p^fa toes  would  be  this  spring  should  develop  to  take  increased  sup- 
by  two  bits  a  bag.  They  reached  $2.75  a  plies.              

hundred  with  a  few  in  some  markets  a U 

little  higher,  but  last  winter  I  predicted  Confucious  DID  say,  "What  the  su- 

thev  might  reach  $3.00.  The  market  for  ^.^qj.  ^^^^  seeks  is  in  himself ;  what  the 

the  new  crop  stays  up  well,  as  expected,  ^^^^^  ^^^n  seeks  is  in  others.    And  many 

since   the   heavy   movement   from   the  (Continued  on  page  30) 
south  has  been  delayed  and  the  laie 


14 


THE   GUIDE  POST 


June,  1940 


DR.  E.  L.  NIXON  SEVERS 

CONNECTION  WITH  COLLEGE 

(Continued  from  page  9) 
be  enlarged— not  curtailed;  his  assis- 
tance to  the  Association  marketing  pro- 
gram will  be  increased  with  full 
approval  of  his  superiors,  and  he  will 
be  permitted  to  give  the  Pennsylvania 
potato  growers  and  their  Association 
unlimited  help  in  planning  and  execu- 
ting meetings  and  programs  without 
being  hampered  in  any  way. 

Dr.  Nixon's  decision  to  take  this  new 
position  was  greatly  influenced  by  an 
Open  Letter  written  to  him  by  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Association, 
urging  his  acceptance  of  the  position 
offered  him  by  the  Chain  Store  Council, 
for  the  contribution  it  would  make  to 
the  Agriculture  of  the  State.  This  letter 
was  as  follows: 

"AN  OPEN  LETTER  TO  DR.  E.  L. 
NIXON: 

''Representing  the  potato  growing  in- 
dustry of  Pennsylvania,  we  respectfully 
address  you  on  the  subject  of  your  con- 
tinued interest  in  our  well-being,  and 
active  cooperation  in  our  efforts  to 
solve  problems  of  vital  importance  to 
the  future  prosperity  of  our  members, 
their  families,  and  the  communities  in 
which  we  live. 

"We   wish,  therefore,   to  advise  you 
that  at  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  the  Pennsylvania  Co- 
operative Potato  Growers'  Association, 
Inc.,  your  status  and  the  need  of  our  in- 
dustry were  exhaustively  discussed,  and 
the  following  action  unanimously  taken: 
"Whereas,  Due  to  certain  policies  of 
The  Pennsylvania  State  College  and 
the  State  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture which  prevent  the  most  useful 
and  the  most  practical  contribution 
on  the  part  of  their  specialists,  par- 
ticularly in  the  field  of  marketing, 

and 

"Whereas,  Neither  agency  is  amen- 
able to  rendering  this  needed  ser- 
vice, notwithstanding  the  repeated 
efforts  on  the  part  of  the  Associa- 
tion. 

"Therefore,  Be  It  Resolved,  That  in 
the  judgement  of  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors of  the  Pennsylvania  Co- 
operative Potato  Growers'  Associa- 
tion, Inc.,  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon  of  The 
Pennsylvania  State  College,  could 


render  his  greatest  contribution  to 
the  Potato  Industry  of  Pennsylvan- 
ia, by  accepting  and  adopting  the 
plan  as  set  forth  by  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Council  of  Chain  Stores. 
"Be  It  Further  Resolved,  That  this  not 
be  construed  as  giving  advice  or 
counsel  on  his  present  personal  or 
financial  relationship. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Pennsylvania  Cooperative  Potato 

Growers'  Association,  Inc. 

By  the  Board  of  Directors: 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  President 

Roy  R.  Hess,  Vice-President 

P.  Daniel  Frantz 

Jacob  K.  Mast 

H.  C.  McPherson 

John  B.  Schrack 

Ed.  Fisher 

Chas.  H.  Frey 

Robert  W.  Lohr" 

That  Dr.  Nixon  heeded  this  call  from 
the  leaders  of  our  industry,  despite  his 
23  years'  affiliation  with  the  College,  is 
unquestioned  proof  of  his  continued  en- 
thusiasm for  the  uplift  of  the  potato 
program  and  the  uplift  of  Agriculture 
generally  and  his  desire  to  serve  the 
program  through  whatever  agency  pro- 
vides the  best  facilities  for  his  coopera- 
tion. 

Dr.  Nixon  is  so  well  known  to  the 
members  of  this  Association,  through  his 
extensive  potato  program  and  the  per- 
sonal manner  in  which  it  was  conducted, 
that  little  of  the  life  and  work  of  this 
man  is  unknown,  so  we  will  give  only 
a  brief  resume  of  it. 

Dr.  Ernest  Leland  Nixon  was  born  in 
the  little  Hamlet  of  Mount  Pleasant, 
Ohio,  a  village  of  200  souls,  on  the  border 
line  of  Hocking  and  Vinton  Counties, 
a  little  over  50  years  ago,  in  abject 
poverty,  comparable  to  the  poorest  in 
the  country  today.  Here  he  spent  his 
boyhood  and  here,  under  the  most  try- 
ing circumstances,  he  acquired  his  ele- 
mentary education. 

Then,  under  equally  adverse  condi- 
tions, he  entered  Ohio  Northern  Uni- 
versity and  there  spent  nine  ten-week 
terms,  between  jobs  of  various  kinds. 
He  completed  his  preparatory  work 
here,  taught  school,  and  entered  Ohio 
University  in  1908,  from  which  he  re- 
ceived his  degree  in  1912. 

(Continued  on  page  20) 


June,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


15 


Some  Observations  at  ''Camp  Potato'' 

by  O.  T.  Graser,  Voc.  Supt.,  Oakland,  Maryland 


The  two-day  stopover  and  participa- 
tion in  the  official  opening  of  "Camp 
Potato"  on  June  3rd  was  part  of  the  five- 
day  annual  tour  of  thirty-five  boys  of 
Oakland  Chapter  F.  F.  A.,  Maryland, 
which  this  year  took  them  to  Niagara 
Falls,  New  York. 

Upon  arriving  at  the  camp,  in  the  late 
evening,  the  boys  were  amazed  at  the 
huge  building  with  all  its  accommoda- 
tions, including  a  roaring  fire  in  a  large 
stone  fire-place.  Cots  with  mattresses 
were  readily  accepted  by  the  boys  in- 
stead of  sleeping  in  a  tent  as  during  the 
first  several  days  of  their  trip. 

With  kitchens  and  equipment  avail- 
able, it  was  possible  for  the  ladies  at 
the  camp  to  satisfy  the  appetites  of  the 
boys. 

A  survey  of  the  camp  by  the  boys  with 
its  kitchens,  office,  individual  rooms, 
balcony,  showers  and  toilets  further  in- 
dicated the  completeness  of  the  ar- 
rangement. 

The  meeting  of  Potato  Growers  As- 
sociation of  Potter  County  with  the 
boys  emphasized  the  spaciousness  of  the 
building,  for  the  entire  group  required 
only  the  use  of  a  part  of  the  building. 

After  traveling  all  day  Saturday 
through  a  downpour  of  rain,  no  one  ex- 
pected to  plant  potatoes  on  Monday 
morning.  However,  when  we  looked 
out  on  Monday  morning  at  5:30,  what 
should  we  see  but  the  camp  Cletrac  run- 
ning, and  Dr.  Nixon  and  Mr.  Denniston 
making  measurements  in  preparation 
for  planting  the  seedlings  in  the  ex- 
perimental plots.  Nowhere  that  I  know 
of  could  ground  be  satisfactorily  worked 
so  quickly  after  heavy  rains.  The  soil 
lends  itself  so  well  to  potatoes  that  after 
fertilizer  had  been  added  and  furrows 
opened  with  a  planter— from  which  the 
covering  discs  had  been  removed— that 
the  boys  covered  seed  pieces  by  merely 
pushing  soil  over  with  their  feet. 

Only  the  sight  of  a  deer— seen  by  one 
boy— could  cause  many  of  the  other 
boys  to  leave  a  partially  eaten  piece  ot 
Mrs.  Hindman's  fine  raisin  pie  in  order 
to  get  a  better  look.  Deer  might  cause 
some  damage  in  Potter  County,  but  to 
these  boys  they  were  a  rare  sight,  une 


fellow  reports  that  later  in  the  day  he 
got  a  clear,  close-up  snapshot  of  a  deer. 
Time  will  tell! 

The  other  part  of  the  camp  site  (the 
large  farm)  offers  fine  possibilities,  not 
only  for  space  for  the  multiplication  of 
promising  seedlings,  but  in  addition, 
may  be  a  source  of  revenue  to  the  As- 
sociation over  and  above  that  required 
for  the  maintenance  of  experimental 
and  educational  work  now  going  on. 

Two  days  and  nights  spent  there  on 
the  mountain  top  in  Potter  County 
among  its  natural  wonders  and  its  scenic 
beauty  shall  be  a  treasure  among  the 
memories  of  these  thirty-five  Maryland 
boys.  In  this  treasure  chest  of  memories 
will  also  be  that  of  making  friends  with 
fine  personalities  such  as  Dr.  Nixon,  Mr. 
Bower  Mr.  Denniston,  and  with  potato 
growers  Ed  Fisher,  Walter  Bishop,  and 
John  Bachman.  Who  can  tell  to  what 
height  the  good  inspirations  gotten  from 
these  men  may  encourage  these  boys 
to  attain? 

''Camp  Potato"  is,  in  my  opinion,  a 
small  measure  of  exemplification  of  the 
pioneering  and  cooperative  spirit  char- 
acteristic of  the  Pennsylvania  Coopera- 
tive Potato  Growers'  Association.  I  be- 
lieve these  boys  have  caught  something 
of  that  spirit.  May  the  organization 
never  lack  leadership  of  the  type  that 
has  pointed  the  way  to  the  lofty  heights 
attained,  so  that  other  boys  and  other 
generations  may  enjoy  the  benefits  ot 
the  inspirations,  the  information,  and 
the  associations  which  have,  on  this  visit, 
been  ours  to  appreciate  and  enjoy. 

(Editor's  Note:  The  observations 
above  were  graciously  contributed,  for 
our  use,  by  Mr.  Graser,  a  leader  in  much 
fine  pioneering  work  in  Maryland,  tal- 
lowing his  visit  to  ''Camp  Potato  with 
his  group  of  thirty-five  fine  boys.  During 
their  two-day  visit  at  the  camp,  these 
boys  contributed  much  to  the  breeding 
program  by  assisting  in  the  planting 
of  the  seedlings. 

Those  who  enjoyed  the  trip  were  O. 
T  Graser,  Paul  Welch,  George  Lohr,  El- 
wood  Bevans,  Howard  Durst,  James 
Baker,  Harold  Gnegy,  David  Bowman, 

(Continued  on  page  30) 


16 


THE   GUIDE  POST 


June,  1940 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 


by  Inspector  Throwout 


So  live  that  the  key  of  memory  may 
unlock  remembrance  of  acts  you  would 
not  forget. 

*     •     * 

The  fighting  may  stop  on  the  battle- 
field, but  the  ending  of  war  will  be  in 
the  human  heart. 


The  careless  man's  unlucky, 
No  matter  where  you  find  him. 

One  careless  step,  and  then  his  friends 
Are  walking  slow  behind  him. 

•  •     • 

It  was  in  the  classroom  of  an  East 
Side  New  York  public  school.  The  teach- 
er looked  at  the  group  of  eager  faces  and 
asked:  "Who  can  tell  me  what  is  a 
stoic?" 

Only  one  hand  went  up. 

*'Does  only  Abie  know  what  is  a 
stoic?  Well,  tell  them  Abie." 

"Please  teacher,  a  stoic  is  a  boid  what 
brings  babies." 

*  •     • 

He  sipped  the  nectar  from  her  lips 
As  'nrath  the  moon  they  sat 

And  wondered  if  another  guy  e'er  drank 
From  a  mug  as  sweet  as  that! 


If  You  Want  to  be  Loved 

Don't  contradict  people,  even  if  you're 
sure  you're  right. 

Don't  be  inquisitive  about  the  affairs 
of  even  your  most  intimate  friends. 

Don't  underrate  anything  because  you 
don't  possess  it. 

Don't  believe  anyone  else  is  happier 
than  you. 

Don't  conclude  that  you  have  never 
had  any  opportunities  in  life. 

Don't  believe  all  the  evil  you  hear. 
Don't  repeat  gossip,  even  if  it  does  in- 
terest the  crowd. 

Don't  jeer  at  anybody's  religious  be- 
lief. Learn  to  hide  your  aches  and  pains 
under  a  pleasant  smile.  Few  care 
whether  you  have  earache,  headache  or 
rheumatism. 


Learn  to  attend  to  your  own  busi- 
ness— a  very  important  point. 

Do  not  try  to  be  anything  else  but  a 
gentleman  or  gentlewoman,  and  that 
mean's  one  who  has  consideration  for 
the  whole  world,  and  whose  life  is  gov- 
erned by  the  Golden  Rule.  "Do  unto  oth- 
ers as  you  would  be  done  by." 

•  •     • 

Think  often  of  your  friends:  but  talk 
about  them  rarely— and  then,  only  of 
their  virtues. 

•  •    • 

A  man  is  your  friend  when,  knowing 
your  sins,  he  can  keep  a  closed  mouth. 

•  •     • 

Down  on  the  depot  platform. 
Bathed  in  the  bleak  wintry  breeze; 
Shy,  long  ago,  of  its  contents, 
With  nothing  inside  to  freeze; 
Shorn  of  its  former  glory, 
Tapped  of  its  last  amber  dreg; 
Bungless,  beerless  and  friendless, 
Stands  an  empty  old  eight-gallon  keg. 

•  •     • 

In  a  small  village  in  Ireland  the  moth- 
er of  a  soldier  met  the  village  priest,  who 
asked  her  if  she  had  had  any  news. 
"Sure,  I  have,"  she  said.  "Pat  has  been 
killed."  "Oh,  I  am  sorry,"  said  the 
priest.  "Did  you  receive  word  from  the 
War  Office?" 

"No,"  she  said.  "I  received  word 
from  him  himself." 

The  priest  looked  perplexed,  and 
said;  "But  how  is  that?" 

"Sure,"  she  said,  "here  is  the  letter; 
read  it  for  yourself." 

The  letter  said:  "Dear  Mother — I  am 
now  in  the  Holy  Land." 

•  •     • 

The  way  some  men  answer  a  tele- 
phone reminds  us  of  the  way  a  bull  dog 
greets  a  stranger. 

•  •     • 

"There  are  a  number  of  us  who  creep 

into  the  world  to  eat  and  sleep. 
And  know  no  reason  why  we're  born 
Save  only  to  consume  the  corn. 
Devour  the  cattle,  flesh  and  fish, 
And  leave  behind  an  empty  dish." 


June,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


17 


\ 


Association  Bags  and  Photographs  Again 

Featured  at  the  Electrical  Farm 

In  New  York  World^s  Fair 


I 

I 


With  no  small  amount  of  pride  can 
members  of  this  Association  visit  the 
Electrical  Farm  at  the  New  York 
World's  Fair,  and  see  there,  for  the  se- 
cond year,  the  entire  side  wall  covered 
with  fine  enlargements  of  pictures  of 
Pennsylvania  potato  growers'  farms, 
fields  and  packing  houses — all  showing 


A  little  lad  was  telling  his  friends 
that  he  worked  at  a  blacksmith's. 

"But  you're  not  big  enough  to  shoe 
horses,"  said  one  of  his  friends. 

"No,"  he  replied.  "I  shoe  flies." 

•  •    • 

"Business  is  business,"  but  men  are  men. 

Toiling  and  working,  dreaming, 
Toiling  with  pencil  or  spade  or  pen, 

Roistering,  planning,  scheming, 
"Business  is  business,"  but  he's  a  fool 

Whose  business  has  gone  to  smother 
His  faith  in  men  and  the  Golden  Rule, 

His  love  for  a  friend  or  brother. 
"Business  is  business,"  but  life  is  life; 

Though  we're  all  in  the  game  to  win 

it, 
Let's  rest  sometimes  from  the  heat  and 
strife 
And  try  to  be  friends  a  minute. 
Let's  seek  to  be  comrades  now  and 
then. 
And  slip  from  our  golden  tether; 
"Business  is  business,"  but  men  are  men 
And  we're  all  good  pals  together. 

•  •    • 

A  woman  was  overheard  recently 
phoning  these  astounding  instructions  to 
the  meat  market:  "Well,  I'll  take  a 
small  roast — and  if  I'm  not  at  home 
when  your  boy  gets  here,  tell  him  to 
stuff  it  through  the  key  hole." 

•  •    • 

A  man  is  loyal  when,  first,  he  has 
some  cause  to  which  he  is  loyal;  when, 
.  second,  he  willingly  and  thoroughly  de- 
votes himself  to  this  cause;  and  when, 
thirdly,  he  expresses  his  devotion  in 
some  substantial  and  practical  way,  by 
acting  steadily  in  the  service  of  his 
cause. 

— JOSIAH  ROYCE 


outstanding  operations,  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania potato  industry.  And  at  the  same 
time,  see  the  Association  trade-marked 
Blue  Label  bags  in  use  for  all  packing 
demonstrations  given,  many  times  daily, 
before  the  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
visitors  to  the  Farm.  All  of  this  for  the 
second  season. 

The  prominence  of  this  display  and 
the  enormity  of  its  advertising  value 
to  Pennsylvania  potatoes  cannot  be 
minimized.  The  Association  has  there 
a  display  for  which  other  similar  Asso- 
ciations would  gladly  pay  $500.00  or 
more  a  month,  and  we  have  been  given 
it,  gratis,  for  the  principles  upon  which 
we  are  founded  alone.  Even  the  Long 
Island  package  is  conspicuous  by  its 
absence — and  practically  in  its  own 
back  yard. 

Each  member  of  this  Association 
should  make  a  visit  to  this  Electrical 
farm  and  our  display  first,  ahead  of 
everything  when  he  visits  the  Fair.  You 
will  be  gratified  and  pleased. 

As  our  friend,  Ed.  Malley  remarked, 
"It's  a  Blitzkrieg  for  the  Pennsylvania 
potato  growers!" 


Lecturer  (in  low  voice) — "I  venture 
to  assert  there  isn't  a  man  in  this  audi- 
ence who  has  ever  done  anything  to  pre- 
vent the  destruction  of  vast  forests." 

Man  in  audience  (timidly) — "I've 
shot  woodpeckers." 

They  talk  about  a  woman's  sphere,  as 

though  it  had  a  limit, 
Why,   there's  not  a  place  in  earth  or 
heaven,  there's  not  a  task  to  man- 
kind given, 
There's  not  a  blessing  or  a  woe,  there's 

not  a  whispered  yes  or  no. 
There's  not  a  life,  or  death,  or  birth, 
there's   not   a   feathers   weight   of 
worth 
Without  a  woman  in  it. 

—Kate  Fields. 


18 


THE   GUIDE  POST 


June,  1940 


June,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


19 


Lycoming  County  Vocational  Agriculture  Students 
Assist  in  the  Breeding  Work  and  Visit 

''  Camp  Potato  " 

by  Chas.  D.  Carey, 
County  Supervisor,  Lycoming  County  Vocational  Agriculture 


For  the  second  year,  Lycoming 
County  Future  Farmers  have  cooperat- 
ed with  the  Pennsylvania  Potato  Grow- 
ers' by  planting  trial  plots  of  the  more 


promising  of  the  new  seedling  varieties 
developed  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  E. 
L.  Nixon.  The  Jersey  Shore  and  Hep- 
burnville  Chapters  have  been  most  ac- 
tive in  this  program. 


f»V'^ 


Seedling  Nursery  Plot  al  "Camp  Potalo." 
Here  grew  over  8,000  prospective  new  varieties  developed  from  seed  balls.  In 
the  process  of  elimination,  almost  from  the  time  of  birth,  over  half  are  elimi- 
nated due  to  disease  susceptibility;  fifty  percent,  of  those  remaining  are  elimi- 
nated because  of  poor  yield  or  misshapen  tubers.  Finally,  if  half  a  dozen  are 
left  out  of  8,000,  one  would  consider  the  project  successful.  "Camp  Potato"  will 
have  a  finer  selection  of  promising  new  varieties  on  display  this  season  than 
ever  before.  In  fact,  there  are  several  varieties  that  are  now  multiplied  up  to 
50  bushels  or  more  which  have  outstanding  promise. 


This  year,  the  Jersey  Shore  Chapter 
has  planted,  on  their  leased  20  acre  farm 
near  Jersey  Shore,  about  U  acres  of 
these  new  varieties  and  will  make  a 
complete  report  on  them. 


Last  year,  a  display  of  the  new  varie- 
ties at  the  Lycoming  County  Fair  arous- 
ed considerable  favorable  comment. 
(Continued  on  page  26) 


EDINBORO  F.F.A.  WILL  GROW  202 

POTATO  VARIETIES 

(Continued  from  page  11) 

time.  The  rear  disc  covers  the  row. 
Twelve  hundred  pounds  of  8-24-24  fer- 
tilizer will  be  applied  on  the  two  acres. 
On  one  side  of  the  row  the  fertilizer 
will  be  placed  below  the  potato,  while 
the  other  side  will  drop  the  fertilizer 
above  the  potato.  This  alone  has  been 
found  to  increase  the  yield  by  approx- 
imately 40  bushels  per  acre.  The  po- 
tatoes will  then  be  planted  and  covered 
by  hand.  Markers  will  bear  numbers 
which  will  correspond  to  a  chart  bear- 
ing the  same  number  on  each  row.  The 
varieties  have  not  received  names  be- 
cause many  will  never  become  com- 
mercially prominent.  Few  will  be  se- 
lected as  desirable,  but  already  one 
variety  has  been  discovered  which  has 
yielded  as  high  as  900  bushels  per  acre. 
The  location  of  this  row  will  remain  a 
strict  secret  for  obvious  reasons.  The 
fact  has  been  cited  here  as  an  example 
of  the  possibilities  of  such  an  experi- 
ment. 

The  necessary  supervision  of  this  pro- 
ject will  be  given  personally  by  Dr.  Nix- 
on and  Mr.  L.  T.  Denniston.  Again  the 
boys  will  have  available  a  vast  fund 
of  experiences  in  these  persons  co- 
operating. Much  of  this  information 
will  remain  in  Erie  County.  As  many 
as  500  visitors  are  expected  to  visit  the 
project.  Tours  will  probably  pass 
through  the  county  enroute  to  other 
places  of  interest,  and  many  of  these 
will,  undoubtedly,  inspect  the  project. 

True  to  Type? 

The  shape  of  a  tuber  is  no  indication 
that  it  will  yield  similar  tubers.  Pota- 
toes are  as  unpredictable  as  the  weather. 
Once  a  variety  has  been  discovered  and 
established,  it  will  yield  uniform  pota- 
toes, but  the  shape  will  not  yield  to  ac- 
curate selection  such  as  all  long  or  all 
round  potatoes.  Such  characteristics 
must  be  dominant  and  this  is  one  of  the 
facts  which  the  experiment  will  prob- 
ably indicate. 

Hand  Work  and  Spraying 

Throughout  the  summer  a  large  per- 
centage of  the  work  will  be  done  by 
hand.  An  occasional  machine  cultiva- 
tion will  be  put  into  practice,  but  hand 
work  will  be  the  chief  mode  of  culture. 
Spraying,  of  course,  will  come  at  regu- 


SPRAY 


WITH 


FOR  BEST  RESULTS 

Use 

Whiterock  Lump  and  Pebble  Lime 
Whiterock  High  Calcium 

Quadruple  Separated 

Superfine  Spray  Hydrate 

or 

Whiterock  Micro-Mesh 

They  lead  the  field  in  Spray  limes 

Write 

Whiterock  Quarries 

Bellefonte,  Pa. 


lar  intervals.  Harvesting  will  be  the 
major  problem.  Each  variety  will  be 
hand  dug  and  weighed  carefully  into 
separate  sacks.  From  the  facts  collect- 
ed at  this  time,  additional  selections  will 
be  made  for  future  plantings.  Few  will 
be  retained  for  these  future  plantings. 

Potato  Industry  Gaining 

The  potato  industry  of  North  West- 
ern Pennsylvania  is  below  the  total 
acreage  of  a  generation  ago.  It  is  now 
gaining  slowly.  North  Western  Penn- 
sylvania must  eventually  become  the 
leading  potato  area  in  the  State.  Con- 
ditions are  ideal  in  the  area.  Pennsyl- 
vania imports  nearly  ten  million  bushels 
of  potatoes  annually.  The  food  dis- 
tributors would  purchase  more  pota- 
toes should  they  be  able  to  get  them  in 
greater  quantity.  Pennsylvania  pota- 
toes, properly  grown  and  graded,  will 
receive  preference  to  many  of  the  dis- 
tantly imported  varieties. 

Finally 

Vocational  agricultural  pupils,  as  well 
as  their  instructors,  are  always  anxious 
to  cooperate  with  all  agencies  in  the 
promotion    of    improved    agricultural 

(Continued  on  page  28) 


20 


THE   GUIDE  POST 


June,  1940 


.■^:.-.:.::v.rr.*v.S^.x 


DR.  E.  L.  NIXON  SEVERS 

CONNECTION  WITH  COLLEGE 

(Continued  from  page  14) 

For  two  years  afterwards,  then,  he 
was  connected  with  the  Ohio  Agri- 
cultural Experiment  Station,  at  Wooster, 
Ohio. 

In  1915,  he  procured  his  Masters' 
Degree  from  Ohio  University,  and  later 
that  year  entered  Columbia  University, 
where  he  received  his  Doctorate,  in 
recognition  of  his  scientific  genius,  and 
was  elected  to  Sigma  Xi,  the  honorary 
scientific  society,  and  also  as  a  Fellow  in 
the  American  Association  for  the  aa- 
vancement  of  science. 

By  accident— or  Providence— which- 
ever—to  the  everlasting  appreciation  ot 
many  potato  growers  in  Pennsylvania, 
Dr  Nixon  was  employed  as  Extension 
Pathologist  at  The  Pennsylvania  State 
College  in  1917,  and  has  remained  with 
this  institution  ever  since. 

Here,  as  a  practical  farmer  himself, 
and  a  clear  thinking  scientist,  he  adopt- 
ed scientific  facts  to  farm  conditions  in 
such  a  complete  manner  that  the  most 
humble  farm  in  the  country  is  in  posi- 
tion to  receive  the  benefits. 

He  saw  where  the  State's  80  bushel 
potato  average  acre  yield  presented  an 
excellent  opportunity,  as  a  fertile  field 
of  effort,  and  he  plunged  into  his  task 
and  developed  the  modern  methods  of 
profitable  potato  production  to  replace 
the   age-old   traditional  methods. 

During  the  period  from  1918  to  1928, 
he  traveled  the  length  and  breadth  of 
the  State — and  into  a  dozen  other  states 
in  the  American  potato  growing  belt, 
spreading  the  gospel  of  "potato  men- 
tality," speaking  at  2,452  meetings,  and 
personally  reaching  three-quarters  of  a 
million  farmers.  Through  his  teachings, 
he  increased  the  average  yield  from  80 
bushels  per  acre  in  1918  to  130  bushels 
in  1928.  He  stressed  the  necessity  of 
Good  Seed  and  secured  the  first  carload 
of  foundation  seed  to  be  shipped  into 
Pennsylvania  from  Michigan.  He  inau- 
gurated an  extensive  spray  program 
which  began  in  1918  with  196,000  gal- 
lons of  Bordeaux  Mixture  and  increased 
to  125,000,000  gallons  in  1928.  Dr.  Nixon 
personally  mixed,  in  demonstrations, 
over  a  million  gallons  of  spray  mixture 
during  the  period. 


In  1922,  Dr.  Nixon  established  the  400- 
Bushel  Potato  Club  which  gave  im- 
proved morale  and  brought  dignity  and 
pride  to  thousands  of  farms.  In  its  first 
seven  years,  this  Club  honored  801 
growers  who  produced  400  or  more  bu- 
shels per  acre. 

During  these  years  it  was  Nixon's 
amazing  ability  to  adopt  principles  and 
practices  to  meet  conditions  as  he  saw 
them  in  the  field. 

He  put  technical  science  to  work  in  the 
interests  of  farm  practices  and  adopted 
or  invented  machinery  to  meet  the 
needs  as  they  arose.  He  developed  and 
brought  into  general  use  a  suitable  spray 
boom  which  is  now  used  wherever  po- 
tatoes are  sprayed.  He  created  demand 
for  better  planters  and  diggers  and  when 
the  program  required  the  extensive  use 
of  legumes,  he  fathered  that  practice. 

His  teachings  have  brought  innumer- 
able benefits  to  American  agriculture, 
and  above  all,  have  established  confi- 
dence in  a  movement,  in  an  institution, 
and  in  a  science  that  has  revolutionized 
agriculture  and  agricultural  thought. 

His  genius  of  making  adaptations  for 
the  production  of  potatoes,  in  the  devel- 
opment of  a  new  spray  boom,  in  the 
improvements  of  planters  (deep-plant- 
ing-shallow-covering), adaptation  of 
tractors  and  culivators  to  potato  culture, 
and  seed  sources  and  varieties  most 
profitable  to  the  industry  fulfilled  the 
problem  of  production — and  when  the 
biggest  stumbling  block  to  the  industry 
crept  upon  us — and  the  public  agencies 
through  their  specialists  failed  to  fill 
the  niche  to  efficiently  and  economically 
dispose  of  our  product — he  came  for- 
ward with  the  new  boom  of  distribution. 
The  present,  well-known  program 
which  was  unanimously  adopted  by  the 
Food  Distributors  and  the  Potato  Grow- 
ers' Association  came  from  the  pen  of 
Dr.  Nixon. 

In  1928,  Dr.  Nixon  was  transferred 
from  the  Extension  Service  to  go  into 
research  in  the  field  of  Pathology,  and  in 
these  years  following,  has  worked  re- 
lentlessly in  a  breeding  program  of  great 
magnitude,  in  an  effort  to  propagate  the 
potato  for  Pennsylvania.  During  the 
past  month.  Dr.  Nixon's  100,000th  potato 
seedling  was  planted  on  the  "Camp 
Potato"  site — which  camp  was  the  frui- 

(Continued  on  page  28) 


' 


» 


The  Champion  Twins  No.  444  2'Tow  power  diggers  -easily 

dig  15  to  25  acres  per  day. 

Less  LABOR  COSTS  Cleaner  POTATOES 
with  OK  Champion  POTATO  DIGGERS 


#  Here's  the  result  of  40 
years  of  experience  —  OK 
Champion  No.  444— a  2-row 
potato  digger  built  for  use 
with  any  tractor,  even  me- 
dium sized  "20'\  Holds  its 
place  on  side  hills  — turns  in 
extremely  short  radius. 
Streamlined—  electrically 
welded  one-piece  frames. 
Spring  balanced  levers. 

Adjustable  from  30"  to  42" 
—rigidly  attached  to  tractor. 
Weighs  less  than  2,000  lbs. 


O  K  Champion  digs  cleaner — f aster- 
wit  h  light  draft. 


-■^ 


Write  for  Circular 


No.  888  OK  Champion  one -row  power 
diggers  with  same  features  as  No.  444. 

OK  Champion  MOVABLE  IRRIGATION 

Takes  Dry  Years  Out  of  Farming 

Defeat  drought— raise  more  and  better  yields  per 
acre  O  K  Champion  movable  irrigation  has  in- 
creased potato  yields  up  to  250%  more  per  acre. 
Soon  pays  for  itself  in  more  No.  I's-less  culls.  Costs 
as  low  as  $10  per  acre.  Ask  for  irrigation  circular. 

^tm  m  m  mm  «V  V 


^.r*^^.^B»Ma%aviAM   4733  Sheffield  Ave. 

CHAMPION  CORPORATION  hammond,  iwdiana 


^>  .i% 


22 


THE   GUIDE  POST 


June,  1940 


Grower  to  Grower  Exchange 

The  rate  for  advertising  in  this  column  is  a  penny  a  word,  minimum  cost  25  cents, 
payable  with  order.  (10%  reduction  when  four  or  more  insertions  are  ordered  at 
one  time.)  Count  name  and  address.  Send  ads  to  reach  the  GUIDE  POST,  Masonic 
Temple  Building,  Bellefonte,  Penna.,  by  the  20th  of  the  month  previous  to  publi- 
cation. 


AVAILABLE:  Copies  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Nix- 
on's book,  "The  Principles  of  Potato 
Production,"  $1.25  per  copy.    Write  for 

your  copy  today,  to  Association  office, 
Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania. 

DIGGER  FOR  SALE:  One  single  row 
take  off  digger.  Good  repair.  Will  sell 
reasonably.  Write  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon, 
State  College,  Penna. 

SPRAY  BOOM  FOR  SALE:  John  Bean 
Spray  boom.  Complete  without  nozzles. 
10  row.  Good  condition.  Will  sell  cheap. 
Ed.  Fisher,  Coudersport,  Pa. 


SPRAYER  WANTED:  4  or  6  row  en- 
gine or  power  take-off  sprayer.  Write 
J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  F.  D.,  No.  1  Emlen- 
ton,  Penna.  (Venango  County) 

SPRAYER  WANTED:  Horse  drawn 
traction  sprayer  4-Row  boom.  Good 
condition.  Write  J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  F. 
D.  No.  1,  Emlenton,  (Venango  County) 
Penna. 


Membership  Drive  Report 


Yes,  we  are  still  pushing  hard  for  new 
members  to  the  Association,  and  some  of 
our  men  are  still  pulling  for  us  toward 
this  end. 

Roy  R.  Hess,  our  Vice-President  from 
Stillwater,  Columbia  County,  and  a 
real  rib  in  the  back-bone  of  this  drive, 
leads,  by  far,  this  month  with  18  new 
memlDers.  Think  of  it!  This  is  a  phe- 
nominal  contribution. 

J.  A.  Jones,  of  Bath,  Northampton 
County,  was  another  leader  this  month, 
having  sent  in  three  new  members  from 
his  county. 

Charles  H.  Frey,  Director  of  North 
Girard,  Erie  County,  too,  had  three  new 
members  this  month. 

J.  C.  McClurg,  former  Director  from 
Geneva,  Crawford  County,  consistently 
prominent  in  this  drive,  added  two  more 
new  members  to  his  very  long  list. 

Then  a  few  more  interested  growers 
came  into  the  Association  unsolicited. 

All  of  this  helps  a  lot — and  it  is  ap- 
preciated. We  only  hope  to  see  them 
keep  on  coming.  If  your  new  member 
hasn't  yet  materialized,  we  assure  you 
he  will  still  be  welcomed  to  this  group 
when  he  does. 

We  enthusiastically  greet  the  follow- 
ing new  members  to  the  Association: 


Sam  Houck,   Elysburg,  Col.  Co. 

Victor  Rupp,  Elysburg,  Col.  Co. 

Jacob  Leisenring,  Bear  Gap,  Col.  Co. 

Chas.  M.  Rarig,  Catawissa,  (iol.  Co. 

Bruce  Bittner,  Catawissa,  Col.  Co. 

Elmer  Levan,  Catawissa,  Col.  Co. 

David  L.  Adams,  Elysburg,  Col.  Co. 

Calvin  B.  Adams,  Elysburg,  Col.  Co. 

Robert  Miller,  Catawissa,  Col.  Co. 

Carl  Fritz,  Benton,  Col.  Co. 

Thos.  Benjamin,  Benton,  Col.  Co. 

William  Fritz,  Benton,  C!ol.  Co. 

Chas.  Sandt,  Easton,  Northampton  Co. 

Stephen  Dest,  Nazareth,  Northampton 
Co. 

Homer  Snayburger,  Orefield,  North- 
ampton Co. 

John  L.  Robertson,  Girard,  Erie  Co. 

Edward  Jones,  Girard,  Erie  Co. 

Frank  Hunter,  North  Girard,  Erie  Co. 

Wm.  Holabaugh,  Conneaut  Lake, 
Crawford  Co. 

Anthony  Rendulic,  Conneaut  Lake, 
Crawford  Co. 

Ralph  Heidler,  Fairview,  Erie  Co. 

Harold  Johnson,  Port  Allegany,  Mc- 
Kean  Co. 

W.  M.  Makowski,  Elysburg,  Col.  Co. 

C.  D.  Hornberger,  Elysburg,  Col.  Co. 

Wm.  H.  Dimmick,  Elysburg,  Col.  Co. 

Clarence  Kreischer,  Catawissa,  Col. 
Co. 

Walter  Kuziak,  Catawissa,  Col.  Co. 

Howard  M.  Johnson,  Catawissa,  Col. 
Co. 


Th 


ere  Is 


Ti 


me 


To  Apply  Potash 


Potatoes  are  greedy  feeders  on  potash  and  remove  from 
the  soil  more  of  this  plant-food  element  than  both  nitrogen 
and  phosphoric  acid  combined.  If  at  planting  time  you  did 
not  apply  fertilizer  containing  enough  potash  to  insure 
profitable  yields,  there  is  still  time  to  apply  more.  Side- 
dress  with  muriate  of  potash  at  the  rate  of  100-200  lbs.  per 
acre.  The  fertilizer  should  be  placed  along  the  row  about 
3  inches  from  the  plant  and  down  2  or  3  inches  in  the  soil. 

Potash  not  only  increases  the  yield  of  potatoes,  but  is 
the  plant  food  which  has  the  greatest  influence  on  improv- 
ing the  quality.  For  a  good  crop  of  No.  I's,  at  least  200  lbs. 
of  actual  potash  (K^O)  must  be  available  in  the  soil.  To 
make  sure  just  what  your  soil  will  supply  in  the  way  of 
available  plant  food  without  the  use  of  fertilizer,  see  your 
county  agent  or  experiment  station  about  having  your  soil 
tested.  Then  see  your  fertilizer  dealer.  You  will  be  sur- 
prised how  little  it  costs  to  use  enough  potash  for  profitable 
yields. 


If  we  can  be  of  any  help  to  you, 
please  write  us  for  free  information 
and  literature  on  kow  to  fertilize 
your  crops. 


flmerican  Potash  Institute,  Inc. 


Investment  Building 


Washington,  D.  C. 


24 


THE   GUIDE  PO'=^T 


June,  1940 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE 

"CAMP  POTATO"  SITE 

(Continued  from  page  5) 
that  only  one  or  two  were  inclined  to 
stay  and  carry  on  farming  as  activities 
elsewhere  seemed  much  more  profit- 
able. So,  one  by  one,  these  farms  be- 
came more  or  less  abandoned. 

Father  died  in  1903  and  mother  died 
in  1907,  and  shortly  after  that  I  left  the 
farm,  returning  only  on  rare  occasions. 

"But  I  always  dreamed  of  the  day 
when  I  might  see  some  public  institu- 
tion or  other  permanent  enterprise  lo- 
cated there.  My  hopes  were  first  height- 


ened a  number  of  years  ago  by  the  con- 
struction of  the  Roosevelt  Highway, 
and  in  more  recent  years,  by  C.C.C.  ac- 
tivities. 

"But  little  can  I  say  that  would  ex- 
press my  gratitude  when  I  learned,  a 
year  or  so  ago,  of  the  establishment  of 
'Camp  Potato.'  No  more  fitting  tribute 
could  be  paid  to  those  early  settlers 
who  struggled  for  the  mere  existence 
while  clearing  this  land,  and  then  passed 
on — and  are  all  but  forgotten — than  the 
carrying  on  of  a  project  such  as  yours. 

Yours  very  sincerely 

B.  J.  Butler" 


The  Big  Plow  at  Work 

A  22  inch  furrow  of  virgin  soil  upside-down — ^Ihe  first  step  in  preparing  "Camp 
Potato"  fields  for  the  seedling  plantings.  Those  who  visit  the  camp  this  summer 
will  be  amazed  to  see  the  fields  to  the  left  of  the  camp  which  were  in  trees  this 
time  last  year,  now  planted  to  potatoes.  There  will  be  over  6,000  seed  varieties 
in  this  field. 


ERIE  COUNTY  OUTLOOK 

Director  Chas.  H.  Frey,  of  Girard,  re- 
ports that  in  both  Erie  and  Crawford 
County  the  bulk  of  the  early  varieties 
have  had  a  little  too  much  early  rain 
and  have  been  somewhat  weedy  be- 
cause they  have  been  too  wet  to  work. 


Few  late  potatoes  have  been  planted 
(by  June  14th),  but  are  now  being  plant- 
ed ten  days  to  two  weeks  late,  where 
soils  are  sufficiently  dry. 

In  many  sections  of  these  counties  the 
season  has  been  more  dry,  and  here  the 
Cobblers  and  Chippewas  are  looking 
and  growing  fine. 


EUREKA  LOW  TANK  SPRAYERS 


The  Eureka  has  the  latest  in  Sprayer  developments,  designed  by  men  with  long 
Sprayer  experience. 

Equipped  with  or  without  engines  and  with  power  take-off  for  high  pressures. 
Supplied  with  various  styles  of  spray  booms  and  with  spray  guns  for  fruit. 

Endorsed  by  leading  growers. 

EUREKA  MOWER  CO.,  Utica,  N.  Y.. 


Modern  Marketing  Methods 
Call  for  Paper  Bags 

Attractively  Printed  Bags  Bring  Repeat  Orders 

HAMMOND  Betterbags 

Combine  High  Grade  Printing  with 
Essential  Strength  and  Quality 


Hammond  Bag  &  Paper  Company 
Wellsburg,  W.  Va. 

Paper  Bags  for  Lime,  Limestone,  Fertilizer,  Flour,  Feed  and  Potatoes 


26 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


June,  1940 


LYC.  CO.  VOC.  AG.  STUDENTS 

ASSIST  IN  BREEDING  WORK 

(Continued  from  page  18) 

Previous  to  1940,  a  few  Lycoming 
County  Future  Farmers  had  visited 
"Camp  Potato."  This  year,  on  learning 
that  most  of  the  experimental  work  was 
to  be  concentrated  at  the  camp,  it  was 
planned  to  have  groups  from  all  the 
nine  chapters  of  Future  Farmers  in 
Lycoming  County  visit  "Camp  Potato" 
sometime  during  the  season. 

To  date,  three  chapters  have  had 
groups  make  this  worth-while  excur- 
sion, comprising  25  boys,  15  from  Hep- 
burnville,  and  5  each  from  Montours- 
ville  and  Montgomery. 

By  first-hand  active  participation, 
they  have  learned  of  some  of  the  varied 
activities  at  the  camp,  have  learned 
something  of  plant  breeding  work,  and 
have  had  an  enjoyable  outing  at  the 
same  time. 

All  in  all,  it  is  a  fine  and  profitable 
trip  for  any  group  to  make,  with  just 
the  right  mixture  of  work,  learning  and 
play.  • 

(Editor's  Note:  Mr.  Carey's  three 
groups  of  Lycoming  County  Future 
Farmers  visited  "Camp  Potato"  during 
the  opening  week  of  the  camp,  and  these 
boys  took  part  in  the  planting  of  many 
hundreds  of  seedlings.  The  complete  list 
of  boys  in  these  three  groups  includes: 
In  the  Hepburn  Chapter:  —  Russell 
Beach,  Glenn  Beach,  Willard  Dangle, 
Meredith  Ludwig,  Floyd  Ulman,  Arthur 
Ulman  (father  of  Floyd)  William  Um- 
stead,  William  Beach,  Allen  Isbell,  Rich- 
ard Horn,  Bruce  Bartley,  and  CJeorge 
Seitzer,  all  of  Cogan  Station;  Don  Lud- 
wig and  Robert  Bower,  both  of  Hep- 
burnville,  and  their  instructor,  D.  E. 
Woomer,  of  Williamsport.  In  the  Mont- 
gomery Chapter:  —  Robert  Tallman, 
Harold  Johnson,  John  La  Forme,  of 
Montgomery,  and  Stanley  Feoster,  of 
Allenwood.  Luther  C.  Rahauser,  Ad- 
viser for  this  group,  of  Montgomery.  In 
the  Montoursville  Chapter:  — Herbert 
Hoover,  Montour;  Clayton  Garver,  Carl 
Wetzler  and  Mark  Harrison,  of  Mon- 
toursville; and  Chas.  D.  Carey,  County 
Adviser,  Williamsport.) 


ALLEN  SELL,  NEFFS,  DIES 

Allen  Sell,  outstanding  local  Associa- 
tion Grade  Supervisor  and  member  of 
the  Association,   died   at  his  home   at 


Neffs,  Penna.,  on  June  1st,  of  a  com- 
plication of  diseases,  following  an  illness 
of  several  months'  duration. 

Mr.  Sell,  the  late  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fred  N.  Sell,  of  Schnecksville,  was  26 
years,  6  months  and  7  days  old  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  and  is  survived  by 
his  wife  and  two  small  daughters, 
Carolyn,  aged  6,  and  Catherine,  aged  2. 

Mr.  Sell  was  raised  in  Lehigh  County, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  was  employed 
by  the  Trexler  Farms,  at  Schnecksville. 
For  the  past  four  years  he  had  been  em- 
ployed by  Mr.  Clinton  J.  Geiger,  at 
Neffs,  and  it  was  in  this  position  that  he 
became  a  Grade  Supervisor  on  Decem- 
ber 10th,  1936. 

Mr.  Sell  was  a  Deacon  at  the  Heidel- 
burg  Church  at  Saegersville,  Penna. 

The  Association  deeply  regrets  his 
untimely  death,  and  expresses  deep 
sympathy  to  his  bereaved  family. 

DEATH  TAKES   JENS   JACOBSEN 

It  was  with  profound  sorrow  that 
members  of  this  Association  and  their 
staff,  learned  of  the  death,  on  May  13th, 
of  Jens  Jacobsen,  of  Girard,  Penna. 

Mr.  Jacobsen  was  a  dealer  in  farm 
machinery  and  a  blacksmith,  and  his 
sympathies  and  endeavors  were  always 
exercised  in  the  interests  of  agriculture 
and  the  farm. 

It  was  the  farmers'  privilege  to  work 
with  him  at  his  best  and  to  share  his 
friendship  through  it  all,  and  his  service 
to  Erie  County  potato  growers  had  much 
to  do  with  the  advancement  of  the  in- 
dustry in  his  locality. 

We  extend  our  heartfelt  sympathy  to 
those  for  whom  his  passing  will  leave 
a  place  impossible  to  fill. 


Jiggs:  If  a  man  married  a  widow  by 
the  name  of  Elizabeth,  who  had  one 
child,  what  does  he  have? 

Briggs:  I  don't  know.  What  does  he 
have? 

Jiggs:  A  second  hand  Lizzie  and  a 
runabout. 

Every  man  carries  with  him  the  world 
in  which  he  must  live. 


1 


SPRAYING  is  a  battle  of  grim  necessity  —  a 
fight  to  protect  what  you  grow  against  insidi- 
ous attacks  from  bugs,  blights,  insects  and  fungus 
pests.  The  tiny  foe  is  merciless  —  your  spray 
equipment  must  not  fail.  Whatever  your  spray 
requirements,  it  pays  to  remember  that  MYERS 
Spray  Pumps  are  thoroughly  practical  fighting  tools, 
built  to  exactly  fit  the  job  for  which  they  are  in- 
tended. Three  generations  of  American  growers 
have  learned  to  depend  on  MYERS  sprayers  for 
effective,  reliable,  economical  service.  The  MYERS 
line  is  the  largest  and  most  complete  in  the  world. 
It  includes  everything  from  the  biggest  power  spray 
rigs  down  to  the  smallest  hand  outfits.  Catalog 
free  on  request. 

THE  F.  E.  MYERS  &  BRO.  CO. 

IV/SI'^^  Iff  Ip)  ^S  ' '  P>"«P  Builders  Since  1870" 

UVU  M  l&lr^^9 : flp^^=^ 


Self-Oilina    POWER  SPRAYERS 


The  F.  E.  Myers  &  Bro.  Co.,        62  Fourth  Street.    Ashland.  Ohio 

Power  Sprayers D         Hand  Pumps      D         Sump  Pumps      D 

Hand  Sprayers  .  .  .  .  □        Water  Systems 

Power  Pumps  _ 

GS  403 


MYERS  offers  you  thoroughly 
dependable  spray  equipment  of 
every  wanted  type  and  capacity 
—for  orchards,  groves,  vineyards, 
cotton,  tobacco,  row  crops,  nur- 
series, greenhouses  and  gardens. 
Gun  sprayers,  boom  sprayers  and 
combination  sprayers.  Engine 
powered,  tractor  powered,  trac- 
tion driven  and  hand  operated 
sprayers.  "Wheeled  sprayers,  sta- 
tionary sprayers  and  portable 
sprayers.  Tank  sprayers,  barrel 
sprayers,  knapsack  and  com- 
pressed air  sprayers.  Mail  the 
convenient  coupon  TODAY. 


Centrifugal  Pumps     .  D 
Hay  Unloading  Tools  D 
,      ,     ,  Door  Hangers   .  .  .  .  D 

Send  free  information  on  items  checJccd  „.„„,.  ^-„i« 

and  the  name  of  your  nearest  dealer. 


Name. 


_  Addresi. 


i^if^ 


28 


THE   GUIDE  POST 


June,  1940 


DR.  E.  L.  NIXON  SEVERS 

CONNECTION  WITH  COLLEGE 

(Continued  from  page  20) 

tion  of  his  dreams  for  such  a  place  for 
the  breeding  work. 

In  1932,  Dr.  Nixon  was  given  the 
unique  distinction  of  being  made  an 
honorary  member  of  the  Philadelphia 
Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Agricul- 
ture, the  oldest  agricultural  society  in 
America. 

Since  those  first  days,  back  in  1917, 
Dr.  Nixon  has  heeded  the  call  of  every 
need  in  the  potato  industry  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, having  only  the  rural  peoples' 


interests  at  heart.  It  is  not  surprising, 
then  that  he  accepted  this  new  post 
which  encourages  him  to  further  his 
activity  in  their  behalf,  and  render  one 
of  his  greatest  service  to  his  constituen- 
cy. 

Hundreds  of  growers  who  have  fol- 
lowed him,  and  who  have  endorsed  his 
program,  in  toto,  and  who  owe  to  him 
the  successes  they  have  enjoyed  from 
his  patient  preachments,  join  the  staff 
and  Directors  of  this  Association  in 
wishing  him  every  happiness  and  oppor- 
tunity in  his  new  work,  and  in  thanking 
him  for  his  sincerity  and  loyalty  in  mak- 
ing this  change  in  their  behalf. 


A  few  of  the  more  prominent  new  seedling  selections.  You  will  notice  that 
some  are  considerably  elongated  while  others  are  oval  or  disc  shaped  or  spheri- 
cal like  a  baseball.  This  group  of  potatoc^s  was  placed  before  growers  and  con- 
sumers and  records  made  as  to  preferences  for  culinary  purposes.  In  breeding 
potatoes,  not  only  any  shape  but  almost  any  color  or  combination  of  color  can 
be  had.  In  addition  to  this,  there  is  a  great  range  of  quality  when  placed  in  the 
skillet. 


SPRAY  and  DUST 


with 


t 


MILLARD  MODERN  LLMES 


Rotary  Kiln  Products 


Crop  Protection 


Service 


Reasonable  Cost 


H.  E.  MILLARD 


Phone  7-3231 


Annville,  Pa. 


#  Engine-equipped  sprayers 
to  spray  from  2  to  10  rows; 
Tractor  Trailers  powered  by 
tractor  engine  for  4  to  10  rows; 
truck-mounted  row  sprayers 
with  and  without  truck  power 
take-off  for  8  to  10  rows.  There 
is    a    specialized    Hardie    row 


sprayer  for  your  particular  job 
whatever  your  acreage  may- 
demand.  Sold  and  serviced  by 
leading  dealers  everywhere. 
Write  for  the  Hardie  Row  Crop 
Sprayer  Catalog.  The  Hardie 
Mfg.  Company,  Hudson,  Mich. 


EDINBORO  F.F.A.  WILL  GROW 

POTATO  VARIETIES 

(Continued  from  page  19) 

technique.  Vocational  education  is  a 
practical  type  of  education  whereby 
the  pupil  has  an  opportunity   to  par- 


ticipate and  actually  earn  as  he  learns. 
This  is  a  favorable  factor  since  we  are 
striving  to  become  economically  effi- 
cient, and  socially  fitted  to  assume  our 
proper  relationship  within  the  com- 
munity. The  Future  Farmers  of  Ameri- 
ca are  now  at  work. 


ent^^  SPRAYERS 


30 


THE   GUIDE  POST 


June,  1940 


JAMES  L.  ZELLERS 

(Continued  from  page  8) 

of  one  of  the  Stewartstown  groups 
which  included  sixteen  growers  who 
had  a  total  of  IOV2  acres.  This  group 
purchased  a  traction  sprayer  coopera- 
tively. The  number  of  applications  var- 
ied from  two  to  five.  Only  three  growers, 
W.  O.  H.  Keesey,  W.  B.  Kearns,  and 
J.  P.  O.  Keesey,  sprayed  their  crop  five 
times.  The  average  increase  per  acre, 
as  a  result  of  spraying,  for  the  entire 
group  was  27  bushels,  or  24.8%.  Mr. 
Zellers  was  chairman  of  this  group  and 
the  total  membership  included  the  fol- 
lowing: 

"J.  L.  Zellers,  C.  M.  Johnson,  C. 
A.  Webb,  C.  W.  Liggitt,  J.  W.  Lanius, 
John  Fulton,  Russell  Hersey,  Howard 
Fishel,  H.  P.  Stitely,  E.  J.  Sweitzer,  J. 
P.  O.  Keesey,  W.  B.  Kearns,  J.  C.  Trout, 
W.  O.  H.  Keesey  and  Foster  Keesey. 

"The  spraying  was  done  by  C.  H.  Gor- 
man, who  was  then  a  student  at  The 
Pennsylvania  State  College.  Each  grow- 
er furnished  his  team  to  spray  his  own 
crop  and  to  transport  the  sprayer  to  the 
next  growers*  farm.  Home-made  Bor- 
deaux made  up  on  the  formula  8-8-100 
was  used  exclusively  for  spraying.  The 
average  application  was  about  100  gal- 
lons per  acre.  At  least  four  unsprayed 
rows  were  left  in  each  field  to  be  used 
as  a  basis  for  determining  the  amount 
of  increased  yield  due  to  spraying.  At 
the  end  of  the  season,  some  of  these 
unsprayed  rows  were  dug  for  compari- 
son with  an  equal  area  of  sprayed  rows. 
In  addition  to  a  monthly  wage  rate, 
which  was  paid  to  the  man  operating 
the  equipment,  he  also  received  a  bonus 
on  the  number  of  bushels  per  acre  of 
increased  yield  on  each  farm." 

Funeral  services  were  held  from  Mr. 
Zellers'  late  home  at  Stewartstown,  on 
April  14,  1940,  with  the  Rev.  Chas.  B. 
Roley,  of  Calvary  Methodist  Church, 
Stewartstown,  officiating,  with  the  text, 
*'God  is  Love." 

The  membership  joins  the  staff  in  an 
expression  of  deep  sympathy  to  the 
members  of  the  family  of  the  deceased. 


SOME  OBSERVATIONS  AT 

"CAMP  POTATO" 

(Continued  from  page  15) 

Roy  Dahlgren,  Lawrence  Sines,  Calvin 
White,   Merle   Swartzentruber,   Harlen 


POTATO  CHIPS 

(Continued  from  page  13) 

years  later  our  own  Horace  Greely  made 
the  following  classic  statement  along 
the  same  vein  of  thought;  "Fame  is  va- 
por, popularity  an  accident,  riches  take 
wings,  those  who  cheer  today  will  curse 
tomorrow,  only  one  thing  endures — 
character." 


■D- 


"DAFFYNITIONS" 

RECESSION  —  A  time  in  which  you 
tighten  up  your  belt. 

DEPRESSION  —  A  time  in  which  you 
have  no  belt  to  tighten. 

PANIC  —  A  time  when  you  have  no 
pants  to  hold  up. 

ARCHIVES  —  Place  where  Noah  kept 
his  bees. 

BORE  —  A  man  who  talks  about  him- 
self when  you  want  to  talk  about  your- 
self. 

BUTTRESS  —  A  female  goat. 

CANNIBAL  —  One  who  loves  his  fel- 
low men. 

COLLEGE  EDUCATION  —  Some- 
thing which  never  hurts  anybody  who 
is  willing  to  learn  something  afterwards. 

CONSULT  — To   seek    another's   ap- 
proval of  a  course  already  decided  upon. 
FLIRT  — A  hit-and-run  lover. 
CYPHER  —  A  bottle  that  squirts. 
OASIS  —  A  futile  spot  in  a  desert. 
SENATOR  —  Half  horse,  half  man. 

STETHOSCOPE  —  A  spy-glass  for 
looking  into  people's  chests  with  your 
ears. 

POLITICAL  ECONOMY  — The  sci- 
ence which  teaches  us  to  get  the  great- 
est benefit  with  the  least  amount  of 
honest  labor. 

MONOTONY  —  Christians  are  allow- 
ed only  one  wife. 

"Bill"  Shakespud 


Stall,  John  Fitzwater,  Billie  Welch  and 
John  Schlorsnagle,  all  of  Oakland, 
Maryland;  Harold  Beckman,  Junior 
Reckman  and  Wells  Bioy,  of  Swanton, 
Maryland;  Jasper  F.  Bowman,  of  Crel- 
lin,  Maryland;  and  William  Truban  and 
Walter  Cooper,  of  Garmania,  West 
Virginia.) 


Bean   Potato  Sprayers 


CUT    SPRAYING    COSTS    .INCREASE    YIELDS      .SPRAY    FASTER 
^  BETTER  QUALITY  .  NO  WORRIES  .  MAKE  MONEY 

SPRAY  WITH  HIGH  PRESSURE 

TJn  crrowpr  is  safe  unless  he  sprays  with  high  pressure.   High  pressure 
prSecfs  you  ag^nst  excessive  spraying  costs,  low  yield,  delays  in  spray- 

%S  Sy^otveftigitrhTh  pressure  spraying  and  eliminate  the 

^'^ttllnrorSp-ssuTe  potato  sprayers  offer  a  variety  of  price  and 
sizes  that  will  meet  your  requirements,  that  you  can  afford  to  invest  m, 
and  that  wTll  come  back  to  you  in  savings  in  a  larger  and  better  crop. 


(ii 


1 


RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 

Cleans  as  it  grades.  Does  not  bruise  or  cut  the  potatoes  All  grading  is 
done  on  rubbef  Much  more  accurate  and  when  you  are  fimshed  grading 
you  have  a  fine  looking  pack  that  will  sell. 

Investigate  this  Grader  at  once. 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co. 


Division  Food  Machinery  Corporation 


LANSING 


MICHIGAN 


\ 


30 


THE   GUIDE  POST 


l^tei 


June,  1940 


JAMES  L.  ZELLERS 


(Continued  from  page  8) 

of  one  of  the  Stewartstown  groups 
which  included  sixteen  growers  who 
had  a  total  of  IOV2  acres.  This  group 
purchased  a  traction  sprayer  coopera- 
tively. The  number  of  applications  var- 
ied from  two  to  five.  Only  three  growers, 
W.  O.  H.  Keesey,  W.  B.  Kearns,  and 
J.  P.  O.  Keesey,  sprayed  their  crop  five 
times.  The  average  increase  per  acre, 
as  a  result  of  spraying,  for  the  entire 
group  was  27  bushels,  or  24.8%.  Mr. 
Zellers  was  chairman  of  this  group  and 
the  total  membership  included  the  fol- 
lowing: 

"J.  L.  Zellers,  C.  M.  Johnson,  C. 
A.  Webb,  C.  W.  Liggitt,  J.  W.  Lanius, 
John  Fulton,  Russell  Hersey,  Howard 
Fishel,  H.  P.  Stitely,  E.  J.  Sweitzer,  J. 
P.  O.  Keesey,  W.  B.  Kearns,  J.  C.  Trout, 
W.  O.  H.  Keesey  and  Foster  Keesey. 

"The  spraying  was  done  by  C.  H.  Gor- 
man, who  was  then  a  student  at  The 
Pennsylvania  State  College.  Each  grow- 
er furnished  his  team  to  spray  his  own 
crop  and  to  transport  the  sprayer  to  the 
next  growers'  farm.  Home-made  Bor- 
deaux made  up  on  the  formula  8-8-100 
was  used  exclusively  for  spraying.  The 
average  application  was  about  100  gal- 
lons per  acre.  At  least  four  unsprayed 
rows  were  left  in  each  field  to  be  used 
as  a  basis  for  determining  the  amount 
of  increased  yield  due  to  spraying.  At 
the  end  of  the  season,  some  of  these 
unsprayed  rows  were  dug  for  compari- 
son with  an  equal  area  of  sprayed  rows. 
In  addition  to  a  monthly  wage  rate, 
which  was  paid  to  the  man  operating 
the  equipment,  he  also  received  a  bonus 
on  the  number  of  bushels  per  acre  of 
increased  yield  on  each  farm." 

Funeral  services  were  held  from  Mr. 
Zellers'  late  home  at  Stewartstown,  on 
April  14,  1940,  with  the  Rev.  Chas.  B. 
Roley,  of  Calvary  Methodist  Church, 
Stewartstown,  officiating,  with  the  text, 
"God  is  Love." 

The  membership  joins  the  staff  in  an 
expression  of  deep  sympathy  to  the 
members  of  the  family  of  the  deceased. 


POTATO   CHIPS 

(Continued  from  page  13) 

years  later  our  own  Horace  Greely  made 
the  following  classic  statement  along 
the  same  vein  of  thought;  "Fame  is  va- 
por, popularity  an  accident,  riches  take 
wings,  those  who  cheer  today  will  curse 
tomorrow,  only  one  thing  endures — 
character." 


SOME  OBSERVATIONS  AT 

"CAMP  POTATO" 

(Continued  from  page  15) 

Roy  Dahlgren,  Lawrence  Sines,  Calvin 
White,    Merle   Swartzentruber,   Harlen 


■Q 


"DAFFYNITIONS" 

RECESSION  —  A  time  in  which  you 
tighten  up  your  belt. 

DEPRESSION  —  A  time  in  which  you 
have  no  belt  to  tighten. 

PANIC  —  A  time  when  you  have  no 
pants  to  hold  up. 

ARCHIVES  —  Place  where  Noah  kept 
his  bees. 

BORE  —  A  man  who  talks  about  him- 
self when  you  want  to  talk  about  your- 
self. 

BUTTRESS  —  A  female  goat. 

CANNIBAL  —  One  who  loves  his  fel- 
low men. 

COLLEGE  EDUCATION  —  Some- 
thing which  never  hurts  anybody  who 
is  willing  to  learn  something  afterwards. 

CONSULT  — To  seek  another's  ap- 
proval of  a  course  already  decided  upon. 

FLIRT  — A  hit-and-run  lover. 

CYPHER  —  A  bottle  that  squirts. 

OASIS  —  A  futile  spot  in  a  desert. 

SENATOR  —  Half  horse,  half  man. 

STETHOSCOPE  —  A  spy-glass  for 
looking  into  people's  chests  with  your 
ears. 

POLITICAL  ECONOMY  — The  sci- 
ence which  teaches  us  to  get  the  great- 
est benefit  with  the  least  amount  of 
honest  labor. 

MONOTONY  —  Christians  are  allow- 
ed only  one  wife. 

"Bill"  Shakespud 


Stall,  John  Fitzwater,  Billie  Welch  and 
John  Schlorsnagle,  all  of  Oakland, 
Maryland;  Harold  Beckman,  Junior 
Reckman  and  Wells  Bioy,  of  Swanton, 
Maryland;  Jasper  F.  Bowman,  of  Crel- 
lin,  Maryland;  and  William  Truban  and 
Walter  Cooper,  of  Garmania,  West 
Virginia.) 


Bean   Potato   Sprayers 


CUT    SPRAYING    COSTS      INCREASE    YIELDS    ^SPRAY    FASTER 

BETTER  QUALITY  .  NO  WORRIES  .  MAKE  MONEY 

SPRAY  WITH  HIGH  PRESSURE 

No  grower  is  safe  unless  he  sprays  with  high  P';ef^^,'^'•«^  «Vf  i^s^p^ay- 
protects  you  against  excessive  spraying  costs,  low  yield,  delays  in  spray 

^"!>e^cX  S^'fnieftigltrhTgl^-  pressure  spraying  and  eliminate  the 

°tnSif  ElSEsSer  C^  ytu-eaVS  t  Kt^S 
InTthafwTu  Lme'L'^k  lo'y^u  in  savings  in  a  larger  and  better  crop. 


RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 

r.i^o.,c  ,=  it  oraHes  Does  not  bruise  or  cut  the  potatoes.  All  grading  is 
doS'on^rbblrMuch  mo?e"accurate  and  when  you  are  finished  grading 
you  have  a  fine  looking  pack  that  will  sell. 

Investigate  this  Grader  at  once. 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co. 


Division  Food  Machinery  Corporation 


LANSING 


MICHIGAN 


I 


'<.'"g 


FARQUHAR  DUSTERS 


/^  — -ii 


^1 


Speed  and 

Economy 

in  Pest  Control 


You  can  cover  a  whale  of  a  lot  of  acreage  in  less  time  than 
it  takes  to  tell  it  with  a  quick  hook-up  Farquhar  Duster. 

Real  economy,  too,  as  a  duster  is  inexpensive  and  needs 
little  or  no  repairs  or  upkeep. 

Why  not  buy  your  Farquhar  Duster  now,  and  be  ready 
for  the  enemy. 

We  have  a  new  catalog  showing  over  a  hundred  duster 
styles  and  combinations,  one  of  which  will  suit  you  exactly. 


Write  Today! 


A.  B.  FARQUHAR    CO.,  Limited 

329DUKEST.,    YORK,    PENNA. 


NUMBER  7 


The  Four-Hundred  Bushel  Club  Medal 


0^^t%. 


CMWfAS 


JULY    •    I940 

PuJduked  luf,  ike 

PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE 
POTATO  GROWERS  ASSOCIATION 


INCORPORATED 


I 


SUMMER  ACTIVITIES 


99 


Open  House  At  "CAMP  POTATO 

State- Wide  Meeting 

AUGUST  21st 


SOUTH  EASTERN  FIELD  DAY— JULY  30th 

Hugh  McPherson  farm,  Bridgeton  (York  County)   9:00  A.M. 
Jacob  K.  Mast  farm,  Elverson  (Chester  County)   9:00  A.  M. 
Hershey  Estates,  Hershey,  Penna.,  12:00  Noon. 

EASTERN  FIELD  DAY— JULY  3l8t 
Robert  Getz  farm,  KresgeviUe,  (Monroe  County)  9:00  A.  M. 
Harry  K.  Roth  farm,  Moorestown,  (Northampton  County)  11  A.  M. 

NORTH  BRANCH  FIELD  DAY— AUGUST  Ist 
A.  D.  Knorr  farm,  near  Numidia   (Columbia  County)  9: 00  A.  M. 

CENTRAL  FIELD  DAY— AUGUST  2nd 
John  B  Schrack  farm,  Loganton  (Clinton  County)  9:00  A.M. 

Future  Farmers  of  America  farm,  .  x  , ,  ««  a  n/r 

Jersey  Shore  (Lycoming  County)  11 :  00  A.  M. 

SOUTH  WESTERN  FIELD  DAY— AUGUST  13th 

Claud  Bauermaster  farm,  Berlin  (Somerset  County)  9:00  A.  M. 

WEST  CENTRAL  FIELD  DAY— AUGUST  14th 
Yahner  Brothers  farm,  Patton  (Cambria  County)  9:00  A.M. 
P.L.Leiden  farm,  St.  Lawrence  (Cambria  County)  10:00  A.M. 

WESTERN  FIELD  DAY— AUGUST  15th 

J  A  Donaldson  farm,  Emlenton  (Venango  County)  9:00  A.M. 
Thos.  Denniston  farm,  Slippery  Rock  (Butler  County)  12: 00  Noon. 

NORTH  WESTERN  FIELD  DAY— AUGUST  16th 

Erie  County  Future  Farmers  of  America  Seedling  Project  on  the 

C.  W.  Billings  farm,  Edinboro  (Erie  County)  9:00  A.  M. 

JUNIOR  POTATO  GROWERS— BOYS  AND  GIRLS 

Ages  9-14  inclusive— at  "CAMP  POTATO" 

AUGUST  18lh-2l8t 

SONS  OF  POTATO  GROWERS 

Ages  18-80  inclusive  at  "CAMP  POTATO" 

AUGUST  21st  to  26th 

Detailed  description  oj  activities  on  pages  16  and  17. 

All  times  given  are  Eastern  Standard  Time. 


Dr.  Nixon  Comments  on  Practical  Potato 

Storage  Construction 

It  took  19  bags  of  cement  to  construct      19  bags  of  cement .$16.00 

"Camp  Potato.  ^^  2^  4's— 12  ft.  long 30.00 

It  took  four  nine  hour  days  of  ten      j  j^^g  ^f  ^^jjs 4.00 

men  (including  myself)  to  lay  the  walls,  g„  ^^  diameter,  cut  from  the 

erect  the   rafters,   sheet   and  roof  the  ^^'^„P  ^s 

storage— in   other   words    to   construct  ,       ^j      gter  for  plates, 

the  storage  complete  not  countmg  the  ^S^ft^poles  b^  m^a^^^ 

excavation.  ,      jj  j  «^-,, 

open  market  was: —  ""^  ^'^ 


^ 


'^'om-ym 


-™—       -^^^pv      ^vmp^    ^9WtF  ^^^V^J^^Hv  «Hug^  -M^^  ^^   II  I II I        ^^  ^^      ^^  ^W^  ^■r  ^MP  ^^B  4^ml  .— Z:---^^  ^^  ^^HR-**!* ^» «*  ^  „    ^L» 


^  Mil  Mil  mt  '^^'^^"^^"^^^^rvi^-^^.mmm 


"''««w«s? 


PUrina  the  straw  in  olace  on  the  storage  of  Everett  Blass,  Coudersport,  Potter 
Coun?v  As  y?u  wilTnote  this  job  was  done  before  the  roof  was  put  on.  This  saved 
Srlnd  uVor  n  doubtful\f  he  will  need  to  replace  the  straw  for  six  or  eight 
yeTrs^  the  storage  is  allowed  to  dry  out  thoroughly  during  the  summer. 


Total  needed  cash  outlay— $220.  and 
no  cents,  but  some  sense. 

What  did  it  construct?  The  storage 
at  "Camp  Potato"  holds  nicely  12,000 
bushels  of  potatoes— and  it's  cost,  pay- 
ing for  everything  (exclusive  of  the 
excavating)  at  the  market  price  would 
barely  cross  the  three  hundred  dollar 
mark. 


There  has  been  so  much  mysticism  put 
in  storages  and  storage  construction 
along  the  line  of  impracticalities  that 
potato  growers  have  been  scared  away 
from  building  storages— yet  this  is  one 
of  the  most  vital  needs  of  the  industry 
today. 

(Continued  on  page  26) 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,  1940 


July,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


The  straw  loft  storage  on  the  farm  of  Austin  Donaldson,  near  Emlenton.  Venango 
Sunt  A  practical  and  economical  storage  that  keeps  potatoes  in  ideal  condition 
for  packing  and  for  market. 


Interior  view  of  the  Austin  Donaldson  storage  showing  construction.  Second  hand 
lumber  can  be  utilized  in  construction  as  there  is  no  excess  moisture  to  cause  rapid 
rotting  of  rafters  and  other  parts. 


Timely  Observations  and  Suggestions 

L.  T.  Denniston 
Asssociation  Field  Representative 


This   is   the   first  of  July.    Pennsyl- 
vania potato  crop  prospects  are  equal  to 
if  not  better  at  this  date  than  any  year 
since  1927.   There  are  exceptions  to  this 
in   some   sections   and   with   individual 
growers  but  if  the  State  as  a  whole  is 
taken  into  account  the  above  statement 
will  hold  its  ground.  Stands  in  general 
are  good  even  to   including  the  small 
garden  and  farm  patch.  Stands  to  the 
East  will  average  better  than  those  m 
the  Western  Counties.   There  are  a  few 
wet  areas  in  some  fields  that  did  not  sur- 
vive the  heavy  rains  or  wet  conditions 
during  or  immediately  following  plant- 
ing    There  are  a  few  fields  where  the 
stands  are  thin  but  here   again   these 
are  the  exception. 

Moisture  and  growing  conditions  were 
nearly  ideal  for  rapid  growth,  most  too 
ideal,  during  June.  Due  to  the  moist 
cool  conditions  it  is  doubtful  if  potatoes 
have  ever  bloomed  as  prolifically  in 
Pennsylvania  as  they  have  this  year. 
Another  reaction  to  the  cool  moist  con- 
ditions has  been  the  early  rapid  setting 
of  tubers. 

Just  as  surely  as  crop  conditions  are 
so  favorable  as  of  July  1st  do  we  face 
disaster  if  we  should  have  a  continua- 
tion  of   wet   conditions    through   July. 
This  will  bring  with  it  a  Late  Blight 
epidemic    that    will    mean    disaster    to 
many  a  field  and  trying  circumstances 
to  even  the  best  grower  unless  a  real 
job  has  been  done  in  applying  the  first 
sprays.     An    old    saying    passed    down 
from  some  years  back  has  it  that,    three 
inches  of  rain  fall  during  July  will  be 
followed  by  Late  Blight."  We  now  face 
July  with  having  had  anywhere  from 
three  to  five  inches  of  rain  fall  in  ail 
parts  of  the  state  during  the  month  ot 
June     Growers  who  are  wise  will   be 
making  up,  during  these  early  days  ot 
Julv  for  failure  due  to  wet  conditions  or 
otherwise  to  make  the  needed  sprays 
during  past  weeks. 

Still  another  serious  situation  may 
face  us.  Just  the  opposite  of  the  above. 
It  can  be  equally  disastrous  to  many 
a  grower.  Dry  and  hot.  There  is  an- 
other old  saying  that  I  heard  repeated 
a  number  of  times  last  week—  one  ex- 
treme is  generally  followed  by  another. 
Due  to  the  rapid  succulent  growth  of  the 


tops  during  the  past  weeks  it  would 
take  some  time  for  many  plantings  to  ad- 
just themselves  to  such  a  changed  con- 
dition. Here  is  a  place  where  deep  plant- 
ing will  show  its  worth  as  such  planted 
fields  will  not  suffer  so  severely.  Fields 
containing  an  abundance  of  humus  will 
also  come  through  better.  The  grower 
can  help  by  refraining  from  deep  cul- 
tivation if  dry  and  hot  is  to  be  the  order 
of  the  day. 

In  either  event,  continued  wet  or  dry 
and  hot,  thorough  spraying  is  in  order 
and  will  pay  the  best  dividend  of  any 
operation  from  now  until  digging  time 
It  might  be  well  to  add  that  dry  hot 
weather  is  no  time  to  pull  weeds  out  ot 
the  potato  rows. 

FUTURE   FARMERS  JUDGE  SEED 
POTATOES:     In  spite  of  a  most  busy 
time  in  carrying  forward  the  program  of 
the  Association,  particularly  the  plant- 
ing of  seedlings   at  Camp   Potato,   we 
found  time  to  arrange  the  annual  seed 
potato  judging  contest  for  the  Future 
Farmers   Annual    Conference   at   State 
College,  June  12th.  The  following  letter 
from  Henry  S.  Brunner,  head  of  the  de- 
partment of  agricultural  education    is 
an  expression  of  appreciation  to  the  As^ 
sociation  for  its  assistance.    Also  listed 
below  are  the  first  ten  winners  in  the 
contest.    A  number  of  these  boys  are 
sons  of  prominent  potato  growers  and 
members  of  the  Potato  Growers  Associ- 
ation. 

My  dear  Mr.  Denniston: 

Enclosed  you  will  find  check  for 
$9  50  in  accordance  with  the  ac- 
count you  rendered  for  expenses  of 
conducting  the  Future  Farmers  po- 
tato judging  contest. 

Please  be  assured  that  we  are 
very  grateful  to  you  and  the  As- 
sociation for  assistance  in  this  work. 
Your  willingness  to  go  to  the  trouble 
to  make  these  arrangements  is 
worth  much  more  than  we  could  re- 
pay in  dollars  and  cents.  The  con- 
test is  one  of  the  most  satisfactory 
we  have  and  we  sincerely  hope  that 
we  may  count  upon  your  continued 
assistance. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Henry  S.  Brunner 


6 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,  1940 


t 


July,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


The  ten  winning  contestants  were  as 
follows: 

Lester  Kline,  Washington  Twp.,  Vo- 
cational School,  Franklin  County;  John 
Rubisch,  Ebensburg  Vocational  School, 
Cambria  County;  Paul  Orner,  Sugar 
Valley  Vocational  School,  Clinton 
County;  John  Pardee,  Cambridge 
Springs  Vocational  School,  Crawford 
County;  W.  Cougher,  Polk  Twp.  Voca- 
tional School,  Monroe  County;  Clair 
McCarl,  Stoneboro  Vocational  School, 
Mercer  County;  John  Heckert,  Lower 
Mahoney  Vocational  School,  North- 
umberland    County;     Paul     Mosteller, 


Stoney  Creek  Twp.  Vocational  School, 
Somerset  County;  John  Yarmosh 
Green-Dreher  Vocational  School, 
Wayne  County;  Sherman  Barnes,  New 
Enterprise  Vocational  School,  Bedford 
County. 

NATIONAL  POTATO  CHIP  INSTI- 
TUTE MEETS  AT  BEDFORD:  I  as- 
sume that  all  potato  growers  have  at 
some  time  eaten  freely  of  delicious  po- 
tato chips.  A  good  percentage  of  grow- 
ers no  doubt  have  heard  or  know  of  cer- 
tain brands  or  packs  put  up  by  a  certain 
manufacturer.  I  doubt  however,  if  few 
growers  have  any  idea  to  what  extent 


The  first  step— the  olanting  of  the  seedlings— 202  of  them— by  the  Erie  County 
F  F  A.  under  the  supervision  of  Norman  P.  Manners.  Left  to  right  are:  Lawrence 
Hermann,  Samuel  Lewis,  Harold  Mack,  Aaron  McCombs,  Supervisor  Manners  and 
Joseph  Whiteman. 


the  potato  chip  industry  has  developed 
in  recent  years.  While  it  is  true  that 
Pennsylvania  is  a  leader  in  the  business 
of  chip  making  with  a  number  of  the 
largest  plants  in  the  entire  country,  yet 
the  manufacture  of  tasty  potato  chips  is 
nation  wide  in  scope  with  large  factories 
scattered  throughout  the  country. 

On  June  14th  and  15th  the  National 
Potato  Chip  Institute  an  organization 
made  up  of  Potato  Chip  Manufacturers 
held  their  Summer  Convention  at  Bed- 
ford Springs,  Pa.  The  meeting  was  well 
attended  and  packed  full  of  intensely  in- 
teresting discussion.  A  discussion  of 
Pennsylvania's  Potato  Program  as  it  is 
being  carried  forward  by  the  State  Po- 


tato Growers  Association  was  well  re- 
ceived by  the  group,  particularly  the 
aims  and  efforts  of  the  Camp  Potato  pro- 
ject in  working  for  new  and  better  po- 
tato varieties.  A  contribution  has  since 
been  received  by  the  Association  from 
the  Chip  Institute  as  an  expression  of 
their  interest  and  support  of  this  work. 

Some  of  the  more  vital  problems  com- 
ing before  the  conference  were:  Pure 
Food  Laws,  Salesmanship,  Advertising, 
Packages  and  Packaging,  Distribution, 
Problem  of  the  Chiseler,  Potatoes  Suit- 
able for  Chipping,  and  Problems  of  Or- 
ganization. 

(Continued  on  page  24) 


t 


POTATO  CHIPS 


The  potato  market  has  been  weaken- 
ing of  late  because  of  shipments  of  from 
800  to  1100  cars  a  day,  which  is  more 
than  the  terminals  can  absorb  regularly, 
in  addition  to  truck  shipments,  without 
a  weakened  demand.    Shipments  of  all 
new  potatoes  to  July   first  is  slightly 
greater  than  during  the  previous  year 
to  the  same  date,  which  because  of  the 
late  start  of  the  season  in  all  sections  has 
meant  a  gradual  catching  up  this  year. 
It  would  be  impossible  to  suppose  that 
the  market  would  be  anything  but  con- 
siderably lower  when  the  Pennsylvania 
crop  is  ready  (digging  a  few  early  plant- 
ed stock  in  Lancaster  County  now)   to 
be  harvested  in  commercial  quantities, 
unless  some  unusual  condition  should 
set  in  over  a  widespread  area  to  reduce 
prospects  considerably. 

Although  some  growers  report  pota- 
toes all  growing  to  vines  with  few  po- 
tatoes setting,  the  prospects  look  very 
favorable    for    a    large    c^op    of    good 
quality    in   Pennsylvania— EXCLPiii 
is  a  year  when  everything  is  all  set  for 
the  worse  dose  of  Blight  that  we  ever 
experienced  for  the  growers  who  do  not 
spray  properly  or  sufficiently.    So  far 
it  has  been  a  year  of  luxuriant  growth 
of  plant  growth   and  that  also  means 
luxuriant  growth  of  diseases.    Scab  on 
fruit  trees  as  well  as  other  fungus  dis- 
eases and  rots  of  fruit,  vegetable  and 
plant  growth  is  reported  to  be  much 
more  common  than  usual  this  year.   A 
word  to  the  wise  is  sufficient.   Don  t  be 
caught  napping.    Keep  the  old  sprayer 
working  overtime  and  leave  no  stone 
unturned  in  doing  a  thorough  job. 

Quitters  never  win;  winners  never 
quit,  cooperate— remember  the  banana; 
every  time  it  leaves  the  bunch  it  gets 
skinned. 

Did  you  ever  know  how  much  fer- 
tility a  300  bushel  yield  of  potatoes  took 
out  of  your  soil?  According  to  the 
American  Potash  Institute  a  300  bushel 
yield  will  reduce  the  fertility  of  an  acre 
by  125  lbs.  of  nitrogen,  35  lbs.  of  phos- 
phoric acid,  and  170  lbs.  of  potash  A  lack 
of  potash  is  indicated  by  a  dark  green 
color,  which  looks  attractive,  but  a  light, 
brighter  green  is  more  indicative  of  the 
properly  balanced  plant  ration. 


We  read  the  item  in  the  last  issue  of 
the  Guide  Post  about  Doctor  Nixon  re- 
signing from  the  State  College  staff  with 
a  feeling  that  the  College  has  lost  a  man 
very  difficult  to  replace  and  that  the 
Pennsylvania  potato  industry  has  gain- 
ed the  greater  services  of  the  Doctor, 
even  though  his  new  title  happens  to  be 
some  high-faluting  thing  about  "Agri- 
cultural Counsel  for  the  Pennsylvania 
Chain  Store  Assn."  Any  one  who  knows 
the  Doc  also  knows  that  potatoes  are 
his  first  and  foremost  love  and  that  the 
potnto  industry  will  not  be  neglected. 


Recently  looking  over  a  Chicago  paper 
and  ran  across  an  editorial  which  struck 
me  as  having  considerable  more  to  it 
than  the  ink  with  which  it  was  printed. 
It  may  be  a  little  too  long  to  be  called 
a  CHIP  but  is  well  worth  printing  here. 
"Despite  a  couple  of  unfavorable  court 
decisions  in  its  tangle  with  the  Federal 
Trade  Commission,  A  &  P  seems  to  have 
struggled  through  a  fair-to-middling 
sort  of  a  year.  Its  sales  for  the  12 -month 
period  ending  February  29,  1940  were 
$990,358,339  as  compared  with  only 
$878,972,184  for  the  preceding  year-  That 
in  the  vernacular  is  quite  a  hatful  of 
lettuce. 

What  about  profits?  Well,  A  &  P  kept 
out  of  the  red  all  right.  After  paying 
taxes,  allowing  for  depreciation  and 
meeting  other  charges  there  was  $18,- 
663,571  left.  The  year  before  profits 
were  $15,883,783.   Not  too  bad  a  record. 

Naturally  A  &  P  will  be  attacked  on 
the  strength  of  the  huge  sales  and 
profits.  The  "octopus"  will  be  pictured 
as  more  menacing  than  ever  before. 
There'll  be  talk  of  captive  dollars 
squeezed  out  of  a  thousand  small  towns 
being  dragged  in  chains,  may  we  say  to 
Wall  Street.  For  it's  still  a  cardinal  sin 
in  the  eyes  of  a  considerable  number  of 
people  to  grow  big  and  be  successful. 

In  the  meantime  it  may  be  found  that 
so-called  independents  in  the  groceries 
field  grew  stronger  and  sold  a  bigger 
part  of  all  the  groceries  sold  last  year 
than  they  had  merchandised  before.  The 
last  decade  has  seen  a  revolution  in  food 
distribution   methods   in   this   country, 

(Continued  on  page  20) 


8 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,  1940 


t 


July,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


9 


THE  GUIDE  POST 

Published  monthly  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Cooperative  Potato  Growers,  Inc. 

OFFICERS 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  Emlenton  . .  President 
Roy  R.  Hess,  Stillwater   . . .  .Vice-Pres. 

E.  B.  Bower,  Belief onte, 

Sec*y-Treas.  and  Gen.  Mgr. 


DIRECTORS 

Jacob  K.  Mast Elverson,  Chester 

P.  Daniel  Franlz Coplay,  Lehigh 

Hugh  McPherson Bridgeton,  York 

John  B.  Schrack Loganton,  Clinton 

Roy  R.  Hess Stillwater,  Columbia 

Ed.  Fisher Coudersport,  Potter 

Charles  Frey   North  Girard,  Erie 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.l,  Emlenton,  Venango 
R.  W.  Lohr   Boswell,  Somerset 

Annual  membership  fee  $1.00.  This  in- 
cludes the  Guide  Post. 

All  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary-Treas- 
urer and  General  Manager,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania. 


DAYS  OF  JULY 

For  each  and  every  joyful  thing, 
For  twilight  swallows  on  the  wing, 
For  all  that  nest  and  all  that  sing, — 


•  !■•  .».• 


For  fountains  cool  that  laugh  and  leap. 
For  rivers  running  to  the  deep, 
For  happy,  care-forgetting  sleep, — 

For  stars  that  pierce  the  sombre  dark, 

For  morn,  awaking  with  the  lark, 

For  life  new-stirring  'neath  the  bark, — 

For  sunshine  and  the  blessed  rain, 
For  budding  grove  and  blossomy  lane. 
For  the  sweet  silence  of  the  plain, — 

For  bounty  springing  from  the  sod, 
For  every  step  by  beauty  trod, — 
For  each  dear  gift  of  joy,  thank  God! 

— Florence  Earl  Coates 


Plan  to  Attend  Summer 
Activities  of  the  Association 

The  most  intensive  program  of  sum- 
mer meetings,  outings  and  tours  ever  yet 
scheduled  for  a  single  season  for  Penn- 
sylvania growers  is  given  m  this  issue 
of  the  GUIDE  POST. 

These  meetings  have  been  planned 
entirely  for  your  benefit  and  pleasure, 
and  have  been  scheduled  with  great 
care,  in  order  that  each  grower  will  have 
a  sectional  meeting  near  enough  to  his 
own  farm  that  he  will  not  need  to  miss 
it. 

By  all  means,  go  over  the  program  to- 
day, and  set  aside  the  days  on  which 
meetings  will  be  held  near  you,  so  that 
you  can  be  present — without  fail. 

Without  question,  then,  all  members 
should  definitely  reserve  Wednesday, 
August  21st,  irrespective  of  their  section, 
for  the  State-wide  Open  House  at 
"Camp  Potato."  You  owe  it  to  yourself 
and  your  families  to  visit  the  Camp  on 
this  occasion.  It  is  being  planned  as  the 
highlight  in  the  history  of  the  Camp. 

At  this  early  date  (July  16th)  pro- 
grams for  none  of  these  meetings  are 
entirely  filled,  but  by  their  respective 
dates,  we  assure  you  they  will  provide 
you  with  full  days  of  profitable  pleasure. 

Make  these  dates  now!  And  see  your 
fellow-members  from  the  entire  State  at 
"Camp  Potato"  on  August  21st. 


Will  You  Have  a 
Four  Hundred  Bushel 

Acre  This  Year? 

With  the  Pennsylvania  crop  of  pota- 
toes fast  becoming  an  actuality,  we  here 
at  the  Association  office  are  beginning  to 
wonder  how  many  growers  this  year 
will  make  a  400-Bushel  acre  yield  or 
better. 

It  is  not  too  early  for  you  growers  to 
give  this  possibility  for  your  own  yield 
some  serious  thought,  and  to  familiar- 
ize yourself  again  with  the  Association 
regulations  for  the  administration  of 
the  Club. 

(Continued  on  page  28) 


T, 


Comments  by  Doctor  Nixon  on  ''Harry  and 

the  Guide  Post" 


(From  McGuffeifs  Third  Reader) 


There  are  a  large  number  of  Pennsyl- 
vania potato  growers  who  are  menjbers 
of  the  Association  and  readers  of  the 
GUIDE  POST,  who  do  not  know  how  or 
why  the  Association  paper  got  its  name. 
Well,  the  idea  came  from  the  poem  en- 
titled "Harry  and  the  Guide  Post 
found  in  McGuffey's  Third  Reader, 
which  was  first  published  in  1857. 

As  I  quote  the  verses,  I  would  like 
with  your  permission,  to  write  a  few  of 
the  thoughts  and  ideas  that  they  bring 
to  mind.  You,  no  doubt,  will  have 
others.  Ponder  on  them.  It  will  do  you 
good.  Note  the  word  picture  in  the  first 
verse: 

"The  night  was  dark,  the  sun  was  hid 
Beneath  the  mountain  gray. 
And  not  a  single  star  appeared 
To  shoot  a  silver  ray." 
(Note  the  action  in  the  second  verse 
—the  stage  is  getting  all  set). 

(2) 

"Across  the  heath  the  owlet  flew 
And  screamed  along  the  blast 
And  onward  with  a  quickened  step 

Benighted  Harry  passed!" 
(An  owl  does  not  scream— it  hoots. 
How  do  you  explain  this?  Why  did  Har- 
ry quicken  his  step?  Scared?  And  when 
scared,  look  how  it  effects  one,  as  the 
next  two  verses  indicate) : 

(3) 
"Now  in  the  thickest  darkness  plunged 
He  groped  his  way  to  find 
And  now  he  thought  he  spied  beyond, 
A  form  of  horrid  kind." 

(4) 

"In  deadly  white  it  upward  rose 
Of  cloak  and  mantle  bare, 
And  held  its  naked  arms  across 
To  catch  him  by  the  hair. 
(Did  you  ever  get  scared?) 

"Poor  Harry  felt  his  blood  run  cold 

At  what  before  him  stood 

But  then,  thought  he,  no  harm,  I  m 
sure 

Can  happen  to  the  good." 

(Boy  if  he  had  set  out  to  run,  this 
would  have  ended  the  story) .  But: 


(6) 


"Calling  all  his  courage  up 
He  to  the  monster  went, 
And  eager  through  the  dismal  gloom, 
His  piercing  eyes  he  bent." 
(With  rain  and  weeds  and  blight,  it 
takes  all  our  courage— If  you  run,  that 
ends  the  story.) 

(7) 

"And  when  he  came  well  nigh  the  ghost 
That  gave  him  such  a  fright 
He  clapped  his  hands  upon  his  sides 
And  loudly  laughed  outright." 

(Ninety-five  per  cent  of  our  worries 
never  come  to  pass.  There  is  no  excel- 
lence without  great  labor,  however.  The 
admonition  to  lean  on  the  Lord  was  in- 
tended for  the  weary,  not  the  lazy.  Some 
of  our  worst  ghosts  turn  out  to  be  our 
greatest  benefactors,  as  with  Harry  in 
the  next  verse) : 

(8) 
"For  'twas  a  friendly  guide-post  stood, 
His  wandering  steps  to  guide 
And  thus  he  found  that  to  the  good 
No  evil  should  betide." 
(And  do  we  learn  our  lesson  as  well 
as  Harry  did?) 

(9) 
"Ah,  well,  thought  he,  one  thing  I've 
learned 
Nor  soon  shall  I  forget 
Whatever  jrightens  me  again 
ril  march  straight  up  to  ?t. 
And  when  I  hear  an  idle  tale — 

(It  rained  all  times,  patch  got  weedy, 
blight  got  in.  I  found  that  you  do  not 
have  to  do  this,  that  and  the  other 
thing-  I  got  by  with  three  sprays,  low 
pressure,  hydrated  lime,  dust,  poor 
seed,  corn  stalks,  and  what  not!) 

(10) 
"And  when  I  hear  an  idle  tale, 
Of  a  monster  or  a  ghost, 
I'll  tell  of  this,  my  lonely  walk 

And  one  tall,  white  GUIDE  POST." 

(Have  you  got  your  new  member? 
The  GUIDE  POST  was  established  for 
his  and  your  good.  When  right  we  will 
stand  by  it,  and  when  wrong  we  will 
help  right  it.) 


10 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,   1940 


July.  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


11 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 


hy  Inspector 

Give  me   the   money   that  has  been 

spent  in  war,  and  I  will  clothe  every 

man,  woman  and  child  in  an  attire  of 

which    kings    and    queens    would    be 

proud.    I  will   build   a  schoolhouse    in 

every  valley  over  the  whole  earth.  I  will 

crown  every   hillside   with   a  place  of 

worship   consecrated   to    the   gospel   of 

peace. 

— Charles  Summer 

•  •     • 

We  have  committed  the  Golden  Rule 
to  memory;  let  us  now  commit  it  to  life. 

We  have  preached  brotherhood  for 
centuries;  we  now  need  to  find  a  ma- 
terial basis  for  brotherhood.  Govern- 
ment must  be  made  the  organ  of  Fra- 
ternity— a  working-form  for  comrade 
love. 

Think  on  this — work  for  this. 

— Edwin  Markham 

•  •     • 

Despise  not  any  man,  and  do  not 
spurn  anything;  for  there  is  no  man  that 
has  not  his  hour,  nor  is  there  anything 
that  has  not  its  place. 

•  •     • 

*1  know  better  than  to  make 
speeches,"  Pat  O'Malley  once  remark- 
ed. "I  am  reminded  of  the  famous  doc- 
tor who  once  said: 

'Speeches  are  like  babies  —  easy  to 
conceive  but  hard  to  deliver!'  " 

•  •     • 

A  Scottish  farmer,  being  elected  to 
the  school  board,  visited  the  village 
school  and  tested  the  intelligence  of  the 
class  by  the  question: 

"Now  boys  can  any  of  ye  tell  me  what 
naething  is?" 

After  a  moments  silence,  a  small  boy 
in  the  back  seat  rose. 

"It's  what  ye  gi'd  me  the  ithcr  day  fer 
holding  yer  horse." 

•  •     • 

The  old  idea  of  romance:  The  country 
boy  goes  to  the  city,  marries  his  em- 
ployer's daughter,  enslaves  hundreds  of 
his  fellow  humans,  gets  rich,  and  leaves 
a  public  library  to  his  home  town. 

The  new  idea  of  romance:  To  undo 
some  of  the  mischief  done  by  the  old 
idea  of  romance. 


Throwout 

Folks  who  never  do  any  more  than 
they  get  paid  for,  never  get  paid  for  any 
more  than  they  do. 

•     •     • 

Man,  like  Deity,  creates  in  his  own 
image. 

When  a  painter  paints  a  portrait  he 
makes  two — one  of  himself  and  one  of 
the  sitter. 

If  there  is  a  sleazy  thread  in  your 
character  you  will  weave  it  into  the 
fabric  you  are  making. 


Would  you  have  your  name  smell 
sweet  with  myrrh  of  remembrance  and 
chime  melodiously  in  the  ear  of  future 
days,  then  cultivate  faith,  not  doubt, 
and  give  every  man  credit  for  the  good 
he  does,  never  seeking  to  attribute  base 
motives  to  beautiful  acts.  Acts  count. 


The  farmer  took  the  man  out  to  the 
field  and  started  him  at  plowing  behind 
two  horses. 

Two  hours  later,  the  new  farmhand 
returned  to  the  house,  utterly  exhaust- 
ed. The  farmer  asked  him  how  he  was 
getting  along. 

"Not  getting  along  at  all,"  snapped 
the  new  man  disgustedly;  "how  do  you 
expect  me  to  hold  a  plow  with  two  big 
horses  trying  to  pull  it  away  from  me 
all  the  time?' 


i»» 


Among  the  hybrids  the  Marx  Brothers 
plan  to  raise  on  their  farm  is  corn 
crossed  with  typewriters,  producing  an 
ear  with  a  little  bell  attachment  which 
will  ring  when  you've  reached  the  end. 

•     •     • 

A  man  somewhat  the  worse,  or  the 
better,  for  drink,  entered  a  barber  shop 
in  a  genial  mood. 

"What  will  you  have?"  asked  the  bar- 
ber. 

"Oh,  give  me  a  haircut,  and  have  one 
yourself,"  was  the  generous  reply. 

(Continued  on  page  30) 


Official  Regulations  and  Instructions  for  Administering 

Pennsylvania's  400-Bushel  Club 


The  original  400-Bushel  Potato  Club 
organized  in  1922,  the  first  of  its  kind  in 
the  United  States,  contributed  much  to- 
ward making  a  real  reputation  for  Penn- 
sylvania.   After  its  abandonment,  sev- 
eral years  ago,  the  potato  growers  began 
to  more  fully  appreciate  the  stimulus 
it  had  created  for  putting  into  operation 
all  the  sound  cultural  practices,  so  nec- 
essary to  produce  a  quantity,   quality 
crop  of  potatoes,  was  lacking;  that  the 
enthusiasm,  the  fine  competitive  spirit 
and    the   good    fellowship    which   such 
competition  creates  were  greatly  dimin- 
ished,   urged   the    Association    to    take 
steps  to  revive  the  club. 

Therefore,   pursuant   to   a  resolution 
passed  by  the  Board  of  Directors  at  a 
meeting  held  March  24,  1937,  reading  in 
part  as  follows:    "That  the  Pennsylvania 
400-Bushel  Potato  Club  be  revived,  as 
an  Association  project;  that  rules  for 
certification  of  eligible  membership  be 
promulgated  by  the  Association,  elimi- 
nating all  summary  documents,    which 
action  was  subsequently   approved  by 
the  Association  at  the  annual  meeting 
held  January  17,  1939,  reading  in  part  as 
follows:   "That  regulations  be  promul- 
gated by  the  Association  and  the  recom- 
mendation that  medals  should  be  given 
to  all  who  earned  them,  so  long  as  a 
member  of  the  Association,  and  begin- 
ning at  such  time  as  the  Association  of- 
fice was  in  position  to  finance  same 
The  following  regulations  and  instruc- 
tions for  administering  Pennsylvania  s 
400-Bushel   Club   are   hereby   promul- 
gated: 

1  Any  Pennsylvania  potato  grower 
is  eligible  to  make  application  to  Qualify 
for  membership  in  Pennsylvania  s  400- 
Bushel  Club  and  to  have  an  acre  of  po- 
tatoes officially  checked. 

2  No  summary  documents  or  reports 
shall  be  required  from  any  grower. 

3  Requests  for  applications  must  be 
made  to  the  State  office  of  the  Associa- 
tion' O^  ,   1^      *u 

a  From  persons  designated  by  the 
Association  residing  in  the  same 
county  as  the  applicant,  as  desig- 
nated in  five  (5). 

4  All  applications  must  be  signed  by 
the  applicant  in  his  or  her  own  hand 


writing,  in  space  provided  for  that  pur- 
pose on  the  application. 

5.  The  following  persons  may  make 
the  official  check: 

a.  County  Agent 

b.  County  Vocational  Supervisor 

c.  Vocational  Agricultural  Instruc- 

d.  A   competent  person   designated 
by  the  Association 

6.  Applications  for  400-Bushel  Club 
membership  must  be  forwarded  to  the 
office  of  the  Pennsylvania  Cooperative 
Potato  Growers'  Association,  Inc.,  Belle- 
fonte,  Pennsylvania. 

In  order  to  be  admitted  to  Club  mem- 
bership or  be  awarded  the  400-Bushel 
Club  Medal,  all  applications  must  reach 
the  Association  office  on  or  before  De- 
cember 1st  of  each  year. 

7  No  grower  will  be  awarded  the  of- 
ficial 400-Bushel  Club  Medal,  unless  the 
applicant  is: 

a.  A  member  of  the  Association  in 
good  standing,  for  the  current 
year  in  which  the  application  is 

filed,  or  ^    ,.      A 

b.  Becomes  a  member  of  the  As- 
sociation prior  to  or  at  the  time  ot 
filing  his  or  her  application:  that 
is,  not  later  than  December  1st,  of 
each  year. 

8.  The  Association  will  award  to 
every  grower  who  has  been  properly 
qualified  and  who  has  met  all  the  above 
requirements,  a  suitable  medal,  for  the 
following  achievements: 

a.  A  grower  who  produces  400  or 
more  bushels  of  potatoes  on  a 
measured  acre,  without  or  with 
irrigation,  the  regular  400-Bushel 
Club  Medal. 

b.  A  grower  who  produces  500  or 
more  bushels  of  potatoes  on  a 
measured  acre.  Medal  to  be  suit- 
ably engraved  to  designate  this 
accomplishment. 

c.  A  grower  who  produces  600  or 
more  bushels  of  potatoes  on  a 
measured  acre.  Medal  to  be  suit- 
ably engraved  to  commemorate 
such  a  feat. 

(Continued  on  next  page) 


12 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,  1940 


Regulations  for  Checking  Yield  of  Potatoes 

for  400-Bushel  Club 


Hints  on  Locating  Best  Acre: 

Determine  by  lay  of  land,  by  sampling, 
knowledge  of  the  grower,  and  character 
of  vine  growth,  where  the  probable  high 
yielding  acre  lies. 

A  few  preliminary  checks  made  by 
digging  and  weighing  the  potatoes  from 


50  ft.  of  row  at  different  points  in  the 
acre  will  reveal  fairly  accurately 
whether  a  400,  500,  600,  or  700  bushel 
yield  is  to  be  checked.  The  following 
table  gives  the  necessary  pounds  from 
50  ft.  of  row  to  indicate  a  yield  of  400, 
500,  600,  or  700  bushels  per  acre: 


Length  of 

Width  of 

400 

500 

600 

700 

check 

row 

bushels 

bushels 

bushels 

bushels 

50  ft.  of  row 

28  inch  rows 

64.4  lbs. 

80.5  lbs. 

96.6  lbs. 

112.7  lbs. 

50  "    "     " 

29 

66.7    •' 

83.3    " 

100.0    " 

116.7    " 

50  "    "     " 

30 

69.0    " 

86.2    *' 

103.5    " 

120.7    " 

50  "    "     " 

31 

71.2    " 

89.0    " 

106.8    " 

124.6    •' 

50  "    ''     " 

32 

73.5    " 

91.8    " 

110.2    '' 

128.6    " 

50  "    "     " 

33 

75.7    " 

94.5    '' 

113.5    *' 

132.4    " 

50  "    "     " 

34 

78.0    " 

97.5    " 

117.0    " 

136.5    " 

Regulations  for  Checking  Acre: 

1.  The  acre  to  be  checked  shall  be 
made  up  of  any  number  of  continuous 
equal  length  rows. 

2.  To  qualify  for  a  400  or  500  bushel 
yield  at  least  one  tenth  of  the  acre  must 
be  dug  and  this  area  shall  include  the 
two  outside  rows  of  the  acre.  Equally 
spaced  intermediate  rows  shall  be  in- 
cluded in  the  check  so  that  not  more 
than  ten  consecutive  undug  rows  will 
be  left  in  any  portion  of  the  acre. 

3.  To  qualify  for  a  600  or  700  bushel 
yield  the  entire  acre  shall  be  dug  and 
weighed. 

4.  Selection  of  rows  to  be  dug  may  in- 
clude rows  adjacent  to,  and  rows  not 
adjacent  to  sprayer  wheel  tracks.  A 
proportionate  number  of  each  shall  be 
dug.  The  number  of  rows  adjacent  to, 
and  not  adjacent  to  sprayer  wheel  tracks 
will  vary  with  the  size  of  the  spray  boom 
used. 

5.  Accuracy  in  measuring  and  mark- 
ing the  acre  to  be  dug,  in  weighing  and 
computing  the  yield  shall  be  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  checking  Supervisor. 
The  Supervisor  will  consult  with  and 
check  with  the  grower,  who  in  turn  will 
be  responsible  for  providing  sufficient 
help  and  asssitance  in  digging  and 
weighing  the  potatoes. 


6.  All  applications,  either  for  Club 
membership  or  to  have  the  400-BUSHEL 
MEDAL  awarded,  (including  official 
yields)  must  be  forwarded  to  the  office 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Cooperative  Potato 
Growers'  Association,  Inc.,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania  NOT  LATER  THAN  DE- 
CEMBER FIRST  OF  EACH  YEAR.  Ap- 
plications may  be  forwarded  either  by 
the  grower  or  the  Official  Supervisor. 


OFFICIAL  REGULATIONS 
AND  INSTRUCTIONS 

FOR  400-BUSHEL  CLUB 

(Continued  from  last  page) 

d.  A  grower  who  produces  400  or 
more  bushels  of  potatoes  on  a 
measured  acre  for  five  (5)  con- 
secutive years.  A  special  gold 
medal  will  be  suitably  engraved 
to  designate  this  accomplishment. 

e.  A  grower  who  produces  700  or 
more  bushels  of  potatoes  on  a 
measured  acre  (without  irriga- 
tion), a  special  gold  medal  will  be 
suitably  engraved  to  commemo- 
rate the  achievement. 

9.  All  awards  will  be  made  by  the  As- 
sociation during  its  sessions  held  at  the 
Pennsylvania  Farm  Products  Show, 
Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania  during  the 
month  of  January  of  each  year. 


July,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


13 


Record  of  Official  Application  for  Having  An 

Acre  of  Potatoes  Checked  and/or  for 

Qualifying  for  Membership  in 

Pennsylvania's  400-Bushel 

Club 


_19. 


Gentlemen:    In  accordance  with  the  regulations  and  instructions  promulgated  by 
the  Association  for  administering  Pennsylvania's  400-Bushel  Club 


I, 


.of 


(Signature  of  applicant  in  own  hand  writing)  (Post  office) 

j^  P   J) ^ ,  Pennsylvania  have  requested  and  had 

(County) 

an  acre  of  potatoes  checked  by . -— ; — ; ^"°  "^^ 

dii  dK,ic  ux  p  .7  (Name  of  Official  Supervisor) 

performed  this  service  as  evidenced  by  his  official  report  appearing  below.    I 
understand  that  any  grower  who  has  an  acre  of  potatoes  o^^^^i^y  j^^^^^^^^^^ 
makes  the  required  yield,  thereby  becomes  a  bona  fide  member  of  Pennsylvania  s 
SSshel  Club    (see  Regulation  1) .    It  is  understood,  however,  that  in  order  for 
t  Club  me^^^^^^^  awarded  the  Official  400-Bushel  Club  Medal    applicable  to 

his  c^ass  Sulation  8)  that  Regulation  7,  parts  a.  and  b.,  must  be  fully  complied 
with. 

Check  one-    (     )   I  am  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Cooperative  Potato 
UhecK  one.    ^     ;    Growers'  Association,  Inc.,  in  good  standing  for  the  current 

(     )   I  apply  hereby  for  membership  in  the  Association,  and  my 
dollar  membership  fee  is  attached  to  this  application. 

AS  A  MATTER  OF  HISTORICAL  RECORD: 

In  view  of  the  many  new  varieties  being  introduced,  this  yield  was  made 


Recognizing  the  possibilities  of  other 


with . —— ; — 

improvements  or 'i?inrvaS\he  following  departure  from  the  usual  practices 

was  used: 


OFFICIAL  RECORD:  ,       ,  , 

As  suoervisor  in  the  checking  of  an  acre  of  potatoes  for  the  above  named  ap- 
As  suP*^'^Y       "  .iA,  thnt  T  have  nerformed  that  serv  ce  and  the  yield  as  stated 

phcant  I.  hereby  cen.fythat^  hav^epertorniea        ^^^  ^^^  ^^^  conditions  set 

?o'r\Tin  th*^  SuatroTaTd  iAs'truct^ns,  that  the  Official  Association  400-Bushel 
Club  Medal,  applicable  to  his  class,  be  awarded  as  a  mark  of  distmction. 


Yield  per  acre: 


.bushels. 


Date  checked: 


19. 


(Signed) 


Official  Supervisor 


-^m^' 


14 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,  1940 


Julv,  ]940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


15 


Notice  to  All  Local  Association  Grade  Supervisors: 

Change  of  Supervisor  Stamp 


In  compliance  with  a  ruling  unani- 
mously approved  by  the  Joint  Confer- 
ence Committee  at  its  session  in  Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania,  on  April  10,  1940, 
the  old  type  local  grade  supervisor's 
stamp,  which  has  been  in  use  since  1936, 
and  which  type  is  now  in  your  posses- 
sion, HAS  BEEN  REVOKED.  This  ac- 
tion was  taken  because  this  type  stamp 
was  not  clearly  legible  when  imprinted 
on  association  potato  bags. 

To  replace  this  old  type  unsatisfactory 
stamp  we  will  issue  to  each  grade  super- 
visor, a  new  more  legible  stamp  in  ex- 
change for  the  one  now  in  your  posses- 
sion, without  any  additional  cost.  Will 
you  please  mail  in  to  this  office  your  pre- 
sent stamp  and  we  will  return  immedi- 
ately a  new  one  in  exchange. 

Below  we  show  a  facsimile  of  the  de- 
sign which  will  be  printed  on  the  bottom 
of  all  association  bags  and  the  exact  size 
and  type  of  figures  on  the  new  stamp, 


which  in  the  future  will  be  imprinted 
within  the  outline  of  the  Keystone,  as 
shown. 

Pennsylvania  Cooperative  Potato 

Growers'  Association,  Inc. 

E.  B.  Bower,  General  Manager 


Making  the  Wheels 

Go  Round 

That  is  what  Joe  Glick,  his  good  wife 
Mrs.  Glick  and  daughter  Mary  helped  to 
do  at  Camp  Potato  during  the  opening 
days  last  month  and  for  two  weeks  fol- 
lowing. The  Association  Management 
and  those  responsible  for  the  success  of 
Camp  Potato  and  its  many  activities  for 


Joe  Glick,  Mrs.  Glick  and  daughter 
Mary  who  snent  two  weeks  at  Camp 
Potato  assisting  with  Camp  activities 
and  the  planting  of  the  thousands  of 
seedlings.  This  contribution  was  made 
possible  by  Director  J.  K,  Mast. 

the  season  will  ever  be  indebted  for  the 
contribution  of  these  people  which  was 
made  possible  by  Director  J.  K.  Mast, 
Lancaster  County. 

The  jobs  were  many,  the  tasks  not 
light,  yet  they  were  all  done  with  good 
spirit  and  narry  a  grumble.  Plowing, 
disking,  pulling  stones  and  stumps, 
picking  stones  and  roots,  planting,  cut- 
ting seed,  etc.  were  the  order  of  the 
day,  and  some  days  included  all  of 
these. 

Expert  in  handling  equipment,  Joe 
was  indispensible  in  assisting  the  man- 
agement at  the  Camp  in  making  the 
(Continued  on  page  20) 


) 


4 


I 


ATTENTION 

Important  Notice  to  All  Growers  Desiring  to  Participate 
In  the  Association  1940-1941  Potato  Making  Program 


Pursuant  to  a  ruling  unanimously 
adopted  by  the  Joint  Conference  Com- 
mittee at  its  session  held  in  Pittsburgh, 
Pa.,  April  10th,  the  following  associa- 
tion trade-marked  bags  have  been 
eliminated,  as  standard  packages,  for 
the  coming  season: 

The  Red  Label  60-pound,  U.  S.  No.  1 
Size  B;  the  Green  Label  60-pound,  U.  S. 
Commercial  and  the  Orange  Label  60- 
pound,  U.  S.  No.  2. 

During  the  same  session  the  advisa- 
bility of  establishing  a  new  pack  which, 
with  the  use  of  the  Blue  Label  15  and  60- 
pound  pack;  the  Red  Label  15-pound 
pack  and  the  Unclassified  60-  pound 
pack  and  the  Unclassified  60-pound 
of  their  entire  crop  more  efficiently  and 
economically,  was  discussed. 

There  was  general  agreement  by  the 
members  in  favor  of  establishing  a  new 
pack.  The  chairman  appointed  a  special 
committee  of  growers  and  distributors 
to  work  out  the  necessary  details  as  to 
grade,  design,  etc. 

The  special  committee  met  at  Har- 
risburg.  Pa.,  on  May  17th,  and  unani- 
mously recommended  and  agreed  that 
the  grade  should  be  U.  S.  Commercial 
and  the  container  a  15-pound  paper 
bag.  The  design  to  be  used  should  in- 
clude the  Keystone  with  the  word 
'ECONOMY';  the  words  PACK  and  PO- 
TATOES, and  that  it  should  be  desig- 
nated as  the  ECONOMY  PACK.  In  this 
design  the  Keystone  is  printed  in  solid 
green,  to  meet  the  requirements  of  Act 
275,  and  all  lettering  and  trimming  in 
black. 

This  design  was  submitted  to  the 
members  of  the  Joint  Conference  Com- 
mittee for  consideration  and  final  ap- 
proval. 

The  grade  and  design  has  been  un- 
animously approved  and  is  now  in  the 
hands  of  the  bag  manufacturer.  We 
hope  to  have  samples  of  this  bag  avail- 
able to  show  at  all  the  District  Field 
Meetings  and  also  at  the  State-wide 
Field  Meeting  to  be  held  at  "Camp  Po- 
tato" on  August  21st. 


Bag  Prices,  1940,  1941  Crop 
Marketing  Season 

Your  management  feels  that  progress 
of  a  beneficial  nature  has  been  made 
since  July  1st,  1936,  in  the  matter  of  an 
efficient  bag  set-up,  in  which  price  re- 
ductions, to  participating  growers,  has 
been  the  order  of  the  day. 

We  had  looked  forward,  not  without 
reasonable  hope  of  success,  to  again 
make  Association  trade-marked  bags 
available  at  a  substantial  saving  to  the 
growers  over  that  of  last  season,  as  well 
as  establishing  additional  distributing 
points  for  the  convenience  of  all  those 
desiring  the  service. 

However,  since  there  have  been  con- 
tinual price  advances  on  wood  pulp  and 
paper  since  the  war  in  Europe  began, 
wood  pulp  and  paper  now  is  selling  at  al- 
most twice  the  price  of  a  year  ago,  this 
same  time,  and  the  price  of  paper  having 
jumped  40%  since  August  1939,  further 
reduction  on  the  price  of  our  bags  would 
be  economically  unsound. 

We  feel  gratified,  in  view  of  the  fore- 
going unavoidable  circumstances  and 
conditions  that,  a  drastic  increase  will 
not  be  necessary  and  that  only  a  com- 
paratively slight  increase  will  be  re- 
quired to  insure  sufficient  revenue  to 
maintain  the  Association  potato  mar- 
keting program  and  to  give  efficient  and 
ecromkal  service  to  Participating 
growers  and  also  to  carry  on  other  As- 
sociation activities. 

Below  we  publish  the  bag  prices  and 
regulations  governing  the  deal  for  the 
coming  season.  These  prices  are  guaran- 
teed for  the  entire  crop  marketing 
period,  1940-1941.  This  feature  alone  is 
of  inestimable  value  to  our  cooperators 
because  bag  manufacturers,  generally, 
refuse  to  guarantee  prices  for  longer 
periods  than  three  months,  even  in  nor- 
mal times. 

May  we  again  call  your  attention  to 

the  fact  that   we   have   graduated   the 

prices  in  order  to  bring  the  cost  of  bags, 

in  which  the  lower  grades  of  potatoes 

(Continued  on  page  18) 


1 


^^ 


^'ri-i,-:'--; 


16 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,   1940 


*  

Summer 

A  considerable  number  of  potato  growers'  Field  Meetings  have  been 
scheduled  in  the  most  accessible  areas  to  the  largest  number  of  growers 
so  that  every  grower  can  have  the  advantage  of  attendmg  at  least  one 
meeting. 

The  purpose  of  these  meetings  is  to  acquaint  the  growers  with  the 
most  useful  information  which  pertains  to  the  business  of  potato  g^owmg 
As  many  fields  adjacent  to  the  points  of  assembly  will  be  visited,  as 
time  permits. 

Potato  growers'  problems  will  be  discussed  at  the  various  places  and 
many  thing!  of  value  to  the  growers  will  be  pointed  out  by  experts  who 
know  their  field.  It  is  good  to  know  that  Dr.  Nixon  plans  to  be  present  at 
all  of  these  meetings. 

THE  OPEN  HOUSE  AT  ^'CAMP  POTATO",  which  will  be  a  state- 
wide meeting  will  be  held  at  the  camp,  at  Coudersport,  on  August  21st  An 
all  day,  full  program  is  being  arranged,  and  lunch  will  be  served  at  the 
Camp.  Be  there  at  9: 00  A.M.  sharp,  and  plan  to  stay  all  day. 

THE  SOUTH  EASTERN  FIELD  DAY  will  be  held  as  a  triangular 
affair,  the  day's  activity  beginning  with  one  group  ^^f  ^^^1^:!^^^^^ 
McPherson  farm  at  Bridgeton  (near  Stewartstown) ,  York  County  and 
another  group  at  the  Jacob  K.  Mast  farm,  at  Elverson,  both  at  9.00  A.M. 
July  31st,  where  new  potato  seedlings  will  be  observed  ^^der  test  and 
comparison.  The  two  groups  then  will  join  at  Hershey,  at  12:00  Noon 
where  the  Hershey  experiments  will  be  gone  over  and  a  pleasant  outing 
enjoyed  in  the  Hershey  Park.  Other  fields  of  interest  will  be  visited  en- 
route. 

THE  EASTERN  FIELD  DAY,  on  July  31st,  will  begin  at  the  Robert 
Getz  farm,  one  mile  east  of  Kresgeville,  on  Route  No.  209,  at  9:00  A.M. 
Here  202  seedling  varieties  are  being  tested  and  65  acres  of  potatoes  being 
grown  on  a  reclaimed  farm.  From  here  the  next  stop  will  be  made  at  the 
farm  of  Harry  K.  Roth,  2  miles  east  of  Moorestown,  in  Northampton 
County,  where  12  new  varieties  are  being  tested  and  compared.  From 
here,  visits  may  be  arranged  to  adjacent  potato  areas  in  neighboring 
Lehigh  County. 

THE  NORTH  BRANCH  FIELD  DAY  will  meet  on  August  1st,  at  the 
farm  of  A  D.  Knorr,  10  miles  south  of  Bloomsburg,  on  Route  No.  42,  near 
Numidia,  Columbia  County,  at  9:00  A.M.  Twelve  new  varieties  are  on 
test  and  comparison  here,  and  other  nearby  interesting  fields  will  be 
visited. 

THE  CENTRAL  FIELD  DAY  will  begin  at  the  farm  of  John  B. 
Schrack,  near  Loganton,  Clinton  County,  at  9:00  A.M.,  August  2nd.  Seed- 
hngs  under  experimentation  here  will  be  seen,  and  also  65  acres  of  com- 
mercial potatoes.  The  group  will  continue  on  to  Jersey  Shore,  then,  where 
on  the  Future  Farmers  of  America  farm,  where  the  Lycoming  County 
Vocational  students  are  conducting  the  seedUng  test  for  this  section,  19 
seedling  varieties  will  be  seen  on  test. 


^ 


July,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


17 


Activities 

THE  SOUTHWESTERN  FIELD  DAY  will  assemble  on  August  13th, 
at  the  farm  of  Claude  Bauermaster,  near  Somerset,  at  the  junction  of 
Routes  No.  219  and  31,  where  the  Future  Farmers  of  America  of  Somer- 
set County  have  200  new  seedling  varieties  under  test.  Other  fields  will 
be  visited  in  this  vicinity  as  time  permits. 

THE  WEST  CENTRAL  FIELD  DAY  will  be  held  August  14th,  as- 
sembling at  9:00  A.M.  at  the  Yahner  Brothers  farm  at  Patton,  Cambria 
County,  where  their  200  acres  will  be  studied.  From  here  the  group  will 
proceed  to  the  P.  L.  Leiden  farm  St.  Lawrence,  where  19  new  seedhngs 
are  on  test. 

THE  WESTERN  FIELD  DAY  will  assemble  on  August  15th  at  the 
farm  of  Association  President  J.  A.  Donaldson,  on  Route  No.  38,  south  of 
Nickleville,  in  Venango  County.  From  here  the  tour  will  proceed  to  the 
farm  of  Thomas  Denniston,  2  miles  south  of  Slippery  Rock.  At  each  of 
these  farms  new  storages  can  be  observed  as  well  as  the  new  seedling 
varieties  under  experimentation. 

THE  NORTHWESTERN  FIELD  DAY  will  be  held  August  16th,  at 
Edinboro,  Erie  County,  where  on  the  farm  of  C.  W.  Billings,  on  Route  No.  6 
North,  just  outside  Edinboro,  the  Future  Farmers  of  America  of  Erie 
County  have  planted  200  new  seedUng  varieties,  and  they  will  make  it 
worth  your  while  to  attend  this  meeting. 

JUNIOR  POTATO  GROWERS  —  BOYS  AND  GIRLS  will  be  the 
guests  of  ''Camp  Potato"  from  August  18th  to  21st.  Boys  and  girls  must  be 
from  9  to  14  years  old.  Expert  attendants  will  be  on  hand  to  teach  the 
youngsters  industry,  thrift,  and  wholesome  fun.  It  is  clear  that  the  ac- 
commodations are  limited— for  50  youngsters  at  the  outside,  so  it  must  be 
first  come,  first  served.  The  total  cost  while  at  the  camp  will  be  50c  per  day 
per  child.  Parents  bringing  the  children  to  the  camp  should  plan  on  ar- 
riving for  Sunday  evening  supper  (August  18th)  and  bring  for  each  child 
two  blankets,  and  if  desired,  bed  linen.  Comfortable  cots  and  mattresses 
will  be  provided.  If  the  parents  who  accompany  the  children  desire  to 
stay  overnight  (Sunday)  there  will  be  ample  sleeping  space  if  own  bed- 
ding is  supplied.  Parents  meals  will  be  served  Sunday  night  and  Monday 
morning  at  20c  a  meal,  if  we  know  in  advance  you  will  be  there.  Let  your 
reservation  for  your  eligible  children  come  to  the  Association  office  at 
once.  Remember,  first  come,  first  served. 

SONS  OF  POTATO  GROWERS  (Ages  18  to  80  inclusive)  will  be  the 
guests  of  ''Camp  Potato'^  from  August  21st  to  26th.  Thirty-six  is  the  limit 
for  this  party,  therefore  your  reservation  should  come  in  promptly.  Again 
first  come,  first  served.  Those  who  take  this  vacation  can  arrive  at  the 
Camp  on  August  21st  for  the  Field  Day  and  remain  through  this  period 
Meals  will  be  served  for  this  group  beginning  on  the  evening  of  August 
21st,  and  continuing  through  the  period  at  20c  per  meal.  (All  you  can  eat) . 
This  group,  too,  must  supply  its  own  blankets,  and  bed  linen  if  desired. 
We  will  furnish  the  beds— and  the  water! 


18 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,   1940 


IMPORTANT  NOTICE  TO  ALL 
GROWERS  DESIRING  TO 
PARTICIPATE  IN  THE  AS- 
SOCIATION   1940-1941    PO- 
TATO MARKETING 

PROGRAM 

(Continued  from  page  15) 

will  be  packed,  in  line  with  the  returns 
on  such  potatoes  and  not  penalize  the 
grower.  In  other  words,  there  is  no  dif- 
ferential made  to  the  Association  in 
prices  on  bags,  all  are  of  the  same 
weight  basis  and  quality  whether  used 
for  packing  unclassified  potatoes,  the 
medium  grades  or  the  top  grades.  The 
Association  takes  a  reduction  in  it's 
commission  on  bags  used  to  pack  the 
lower  grades,  absorbing  this  loss  in  or- 
der that  the  growers  net  return  might 
be  more  nearly  equalized. 

All  previous  bag  quotations  are  here- 
by withdrawn. 

Effective  August  1st,  1940,  the  follow- 
ing prices,  on  the  Association  trade- 
marked  paper  potato  bags,  will  prevail: 

Specifications: 

15-pound  bags,  two  wall  60/50-110 
Weight,  Natural  Kraft. 

60-pound  bags,  two  wall  70/70-140 
Weight,  Natural  Kraft. 

60-pound  bags,  three  wall  50/50/50- 
150  Weight,  Natural  Kraft. 

Prices  Quoted  are  Per 

Blue  Label,  15's  (2- 

Red  Label,  15's  (2- 

Economy  Pack,  15's  (2- 

Blue  Label,  60's  (2- 

Blue  Label,  60's  (3- 

Unclassified,  60's  (2- 

The  above  prices  are  for  delivery  to 
any  point  in  Pennsylvania  and  include 
the  wire  loop  ties  and  the  commission  to 
the  Association. 

Grade   Symbols.   Printing   and 
Nomenclature: 

Blue  Label,  15's  (Keystone  Blue,  red 
trim)   15-pounds  Net-U.  S.  No.  1. 

Red  Label,  15's  (Keystone  Red,  green 
trim)  15-pounds  Net-U.  S.  No.  1,  Size  B. 

Economy  Pack,  15's  (Keystone  Green, 
black  trim)  15-pounds  Net-U.S.  Com- 
mercial. 

Blue  Label,  60's  (Keystone  Blue,  red 
trim)  60-pounds  Net-U.  S.  No.  1. 


1000  : 

Delivered 

wall) 

$18.00 

wall) 

$17.50 

wall) 

$17.00 

wall) 

$45.50 

wall) 

$48.75 

wall) 

$38.50 

Unclassified,  60's  (Black  Letters)  60- 
pounds  Net-"UNCLASSIFIED  POTA- 
TOES." 

Legality: 

The  size  of  printing,  lettering  and  no- 
menclature on  the  Association  trade- 
marked  bags  meets  all  the  requirements 
of  Act  275,  approved  May  28th,  1937, 
and  the  rules  and  regulations  promul- 
gated by  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture 
for  administering  the  Act.  ADDITION- 
AL TAGGING  OR  PRINTING  IS  UN- 
NECESSARY. 

Bag  Orders 

All  orders  for  Association  trade- 
marked  paper  potato  bags  must  clear 
through  the  office  of  the  Association, 
Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania.  NO  EXCEP- 
TIONS WILL  BE  MADE  TO  THIS 
REGULATION. 

Packing 

All  bags  are  bundled,  wrapped  and 
tied.  The  60-pound  bags  are  packed  100 
to  the  bundle;  the  15-pound,  250  to  the 
bundle.  BUNDLES  CANNOT  BE  BRO- 
KEN. 

Delivery 

All  bags  will  be  shipped  either  by 
rail  or  truck  whichever  is  most  efficient 
and  economical  to  all  concerned. 

Terms 

All  Association  bags  are  shipped  on  a 
C.O.D.  basis,  (No  exceptions).  When 
bags  are  forwarded  by  rail,  shipments 
will  be  made  sight  draft  attached  to  bill 
of  lading;  when  shipments  go  forward 
by  truck  arrangements  must  be  made  by 
the  consignee  to  settle  for  same  at  desti- 
nation, either  by  check  or  in  cash. 

Payment 

When  bags  are  shipped  sight  draft 
attached  to  bill  of  lading,  pay  only  the 
amount  of  the  draft  when  same  corres- 
ponds with  the  number  of  bags  ordered 
and  if  in  accordance  with  the  above 
price  schedule. 

When  bags  are  delivered  by  truck, 
pay  either  by  check  or  in  cash.  Indi- 
vidual or  company  checks  will  be  ac- 
cepted by  the  tucking  company  handling 
the  shipment.  IN  NO  INSTANCE  PAY 
ANY  ADDITIONAL  COLLECTION, 
FREIGHT  OR  TRUCKING  CHARGES. 
Prices  quoted  are  delivered. 

Should  any  irregularities  occur,  con- 
tact the  Association  office  at  once. 


It  Pays  to  Learn 

-PLANT  LANGUAGE- 

Plants,  of  course,  cannot  talk.  However,  many  of  them 
by  definite  signs  will  indicate  what  they  are  looking  for  in 
the  way  of  plant  food.  Potatoes,  for  instance,  will  show 
their  need  for  potash  with  leaves  that  have  an  unnatural, 
dark  green  color  and  become  crinkled  and  somewhat 
thickened.  Later  on,  the  tip  will  become  yellowed  and 
scorched.  This  tip-burn  then  will  extend  along  the  leaf 
margins  and  inward  toward  the  midrib,  usually  curUng 
the  leaf  downward  and  resulting  in  premature  dying. 

It  pays  to  watch  for  these  signs,  but  it  is  a  far  better 
practice  never  to  give  them  a  chance  to  appear.  They  are 
signs  of  extreme  potash  starvation  and  long  before  they 
appear,  the  potash  content  of  your  soil  may  be  so  low  as 
to  greatly  reduce  the  yield  and  quality  of  your  crop.  If 
you  do  not  know  just  how  fertile  your  soil  is,  see  your 
county  agent  or  experiment  station  about  having  samples 
of  it  tested.  Then  plan  a  fertihzer  program  which  will  re- 
store and  maintain  a  plant-food  content  which  will  bring 
you  the  greatest  profits.  For  a  good  crop  of  No.  1  potatoes, 
soil  and  fertilizer  must  supply  at  least  200  lbs.  of  available 
potash  (K.jO)  per  acre.  Your  fertilizer  dealer  will  tell  you 
how  little  it  costs  to  apply  enough  potash. 


If  we  can  be  of  any  help  to  you, 
please  write  us  for  free  information 
and  literature  on  how  to  fertilize 
your  crops. 


American  Potash  Institute,  Inc 


Investment  Building 


Washington,  D.  C. 


20 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,  1940 


Field  Notes 


I  spent  two  days  last  week  going  over 
A.  C.  Ramseyers'  potato  plantation  in 
Ohio.  He  has  had  very  wet  conditions. 
The  stand  is  very  good  considering, 
though  not  quite  up  to  par.  He  is  getting 
his  spraying  done,  however,  with  the 
use  of  a  truck  mounted  sprayer — a  700 
gallon  tank  mounted  on  the  largest  rub- 
ber tires  available.  It  is  interesting  how 
these  large  tires  roll  over  the  soft  dirt. 


It  just  shows  how  a  blind  pig  occasion- 
ally gets  an  acorn — When  someone  sug- 
gested to  Mr.  Ramseyer  that  he  reverse 
the  fan  blades  and  blow  the  air  out  in- 
stead of  sucking  the  spray  material  in 
the  "pig  got  the  acorn" — for  it  worked! 


Saw  200  acres  of  Potter  County  Nit- 
tanys  recently,  and  actually  found  but 
two  diseased  plants — believe  it  or  not! 


Mr.  Ramseyer  appreciates  two  haz- 
zards  that  may  overtake  him  this  season. 


Deep 
cultivating 
should  J\/at 
be  practiced 
during  dry 
hot  days  of 

July  and 
early  August 


First,  if  the  weather  conditions  continue 
wet,  the  danger  from  late  blight  is  in- 
creasing hourly.  If  it  turns  dry  and 
hot,  spraying  is  equally  as  important. 
There  will  be  more  weeds  in  potato 
patches  this  year  than  for  a  number  of 
years.  This  applies  to  the  entire  state  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  is  more  the  case  in 

Ohio. 

— Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon 


John  H.  Richter,  Association  member 
and  owner  of  the  beautiful  Benvenue 
Farms,  located  at  Duncannon,  Penna., 
(near  Amity  Hall)  has  recently  instal- 
led an  irrigation  system  on  his  farm  de- 
signed so  that  36  acres  of  potatoes  are 
irrigated  in  12  hours  with  one  inch  of 
water,  which  system  is  movable  by  one 
man. 

Results  attained  through  irrigation 
on  many  fields  have  been  most  interest- 
ing, and  it  will  be  of  real  interest  to 
watch  for  the  success  of  Mr.  Richter's 
''rain"  system,  and  the  benefits  expected 
of  it  in  yield.  Growers  who  have  watch- 
ed with  interest  Mr.  Richter's  outstand- 
ing potato  fields  from  year  to  year  may 
find  real  pleasure  in  inspecting  this  new 
irrigation  system. 

— R.  J.  Hamilton, 

Ephrata,  Penna. 


Columbia  County  potatoes  are  looking 
nice  and  have  a  good  stand.  Two  spray 
rings  are  operating  in  the  County,  one 
in  the  Southwestern  part  and  one  in  the 
Northern  end  of  the  County. 


M.  P.  Whitonight,  former  Director  and 
Vice-President  of  the  Association,  of 
Bloomsburg,  Penna.,  recently  enjoyed 
the  fine  distinction  of  seeing  his  five 
sons  all  become  members  of  the  Wil- 
liamsport  Consistory  in  Masonry  in  one 
day.  The  whole  Whitenight  group 
(father  and  five  sons)  were  pictured  on 
this  day  in  the  Bloomsburg  Daily  news- 
paper. Mr.  Whitenight  is  well  known 
throughout  the  State,  and  a  great  boost- 
er of  the  Association  and  its  program. 
He  raises  100  acres  of  potatoes  annually, 
and  he  markets  them  all  through  the 
Association. 

— Roy  R.  Hess 

Stillwater,  Penna. 


i 


The  Champion  Twins  No.  444  2-row  power  diggers  —  easily 

dig  15  to  25  acres  per  day. 

Less  LABOR  COSTS  Cleaner  POTATOES 
with  OK  Champion  POTATO  DIGGERS 


•  Here's  the  result  of  40 
years  of  experience  —  OK 
Champion  No.  444— a  2-row 
potato  digger  built  for  use 
with  any  tractor,  even  me- 
dium sized  **20".  Holds  its 
place  on  side  hills  —  turns  in 
extremely  short  radius. 
Streamlined—  electrically 
welded  one-piece  frames. 
Spring  balanced  levers. 

Adjustable  from  30"  to  42" 
—rigidly  attached  to  tractor. 
Weighs  less  than  2,000  lbs. 

Write  for  Circular 


O  K  Champion  digs  cleaner — faster — 
with  light  draft. 


1 


No.  888  OK  Champion  one -row  power 
diggers  with  same  features  as  No.  444, 

OK  Champion  MOVABLE  IRRIGATION 

Takes  Dry  Years  Out  of  Farming 

Defeat  drought — raise  more  and  better  yields  per 
acre.  O  K  Champion  movable  irrigation  has  in- 
creased potato  yields  up  to  250%  more  per  acre. 
Soon  pays  for  itself  in  more  No.  I's  — less  culls.  Costs 
as  low  as  $10  per  acre.  Ask  for  irrigation  circular. 

CHAMPION  CORPORATION  HAMM^NriNmANA 


22 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,  1940 


Grower  to  Grower  Exchange 

The  rate  for  advertising  in  this  column  is  a  penny  a  word,  minimum  cost  25  cents, 
payable  with  order.  (10%  reduction  when  four  or  more  insertions  are  ordered  at 
one  time.)  Count  name  and  address.  Send  ads  to  reach  the  GUIDE  POST,  Masonic 
Temple  Building,  Bellefonte,  Penna.,  by  the  20th  of  the  month  previous  to  publi- 
cation. 


AVAILABLE:  Copies  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Nix- 
on's book,  "The  Principles  of  Potato 
Production,"  $1.25  per  copy.  Write  for 
your  copy  today,  to  Association  office, 
Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania. 

DIGGER  FOR  SALE:  One  single  row 
take  off  digger.  Good  repair.  Will  sell 
reasonably.  Write  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon, 
State  College,  Penna. 

SPRAY  BOOM  FOR  SALE:  John  Bean 
Spray  boom.  Complete  without  nozzles. 
10  row.  Good  condition.  Will  sell  cheap. 
Ed.  Fisher,  Coudersport,  Pa. 

SPRAYER  WANTED:  4  or  6  row  en- 
gine or  power  take-off  sprayer.  Write 
J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  F.  D.,  No.  1  Emlen- 
ton,  Penna.  (Venango  County) 


Vac-A-Way  Seed  Cleaners 
Hand  power  or  electric 
Farm  &  Commercial  sizes 

(Exclusive  Distributor  for  Pa.) 

Trescott  Fruit  Graders 

Various  units  for  any  capacity 

Kleen-Line  Electric  Fencer 
Kills  Weeds— Holds  Stock 

OK  Champion  Potato  Diggers 
1  or  2-Row   Power  Diggers 
Caster  Wheels-Rubber  Tires 
Streamlined  with  electric  weld- 
ed one  piece  frames 
Digs  15  to  25  acres  per  day 

Write  for  Circular  and 
Name  oj  Dealer 

HAMILTON  &  CO. 

EPHRATA,  PENNA. 

Wholesale  Distributors  for 

Eastern  Pennsylvania 
Delaware  and  Maryland 


SPRAYER  WANTED:  Horse  drawn 
traction  sprayer  4-Row  boom.  Good 
condition.  Write  J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.  F. 
D.  No.  1,  Emlenton,  (Venango  County) 
Penna. 

POTATO  EQUIPMENT  FOR  SALE: 

One  two-row  Cletrac  Avery  Cultivator 
complete,  one  two-row  Cletrac  Avery 
Weeder,  one  Killifer  Disc  Harrow  with 
24"  blades,  all  slightly  used.  Good  condi- 
tion. Reasonable.  If  interested,  write  W. 
J.  Braddock,  c/o  Wheeling  Bronze  Cast- 
ing Company,  Wheeling,  W.  Va. 

PLANTER  WANTED:  2  row  Iron-Age 
Picker  Type.  Can  also  use  good  used 
grader  and  Digger.  Write  Ray  Salmon, 
Waterford,  Erie  County,  Penna. 


WARNING 


Blight  will  be  upon  us 
if  moist  to  wet  condi- 
tions prevail  during 
the  coming  weeks.  • 

Thorough  spraying 
now  should  be  the  or- 
der of  the  day  not  after 
blight  is  upon  you. 


i 


i«rdii*iiiMakB 


SPRAY  and  DUST 


with 


MILLARD  MODERN  LIMES 


Rotary  Kiln  Products 


Crop  Protection 


Service 


Reasonable  Cost 


H.  E.  MILLARD 


Phone  7-3231 


Annville,  Pa. 


Modern  Marketing  Methods 
Call  for  Paper  Bags 

Attractively  Printed  Bags  Bring  Repeat  Orders 

HAMMOND  Betterhags 

Combine  High  Grade  Printing  with 
Essential  Strength  and  Quality 


Hammond  Bag  &  Paper  Company 
Wellsburg,  W.  Va. 

Paper  Bags  for  Lime,  Limestone,  Fertilizer,  Flour,  Feed  and  Potatoes 


24 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,  1940 


TIMELY  OBSERVATIONS 
SUGGESTIONS  — 

DENNISTON 

(Continued  from  page  6) 

THERE  IS  MUCH  TO  SEE  IN  PENN- 
SYLVANIA: How  many  of  you  have 
seen  the  new  AMOCO  sign  with  the  pic- 
ture of  the  Capitol  Dome  and  the  in- 
scription, "There  is  much  to  see  in  Penn- 
sylvania."? Besides  stating  a  fact  or  self 
evident  truth,  which  many  of  ur  do  not 
fully  appreciate,  this  is  smart  aavertis- 
ing.  As  Pennsylvania  potato  growers 
we  should  ever  be  striving  to  broaden 
our  knowledge  of  and  appreciation  of 
not  only  our  own  community  and 
County  but  of  the  hundreds  of  other 
communities  and  sections  of  this  great 
Commonwealth. 

Brooks,  rivers,  wooded  hills  and 
mountains  are  so  common  place  with 
most  of  us,  because  we  were  born  and 
grew  up  among  them,  that  we  seldom 
take  time  to  think  or  appreciate  what 
they  mean  to  our  agriculture  and  more 
specifically  to  us  as  potato  growers.  To 
some  these  brooks,  rivers,  wooded  hills 
and  mountains  mean  recreation,  fishing, 
hunting,  camping,  boating,  all  of  which 
is  a  great  natural  and  human  asset  to 
our  state  and  her  people.  They  are  a 
great  aid  in  commerce,  supplying 
natural  resources,  transportation,  pow- 
er, and  the  raw  material  for  hundreds 
Of '  industries  and  the  manufacturing  of 
thousands  of  products. 

And  what  do  these  brooks,  rivers, 
wooded  hills  and  mountains  mean  to  the 
potato  grower?  Well,  where  do  you  go 
during  leisure  moments  on  the  hot  days 
of  summer?  To  the  shade  of  the  old  oak, 
the  maple  or  the  hemlock.  Take  away 
these  babbling  cool  brooks,  and  wooded 
hills  or  mountains  and  this  would  be  a 
hot  desolate  country  side.  We  too  would 
have  the  heat  of  the  middle  west  plains 
where  potato  production  is  dependent 
on  irrigation  and  water  supply  not  too 
certain.  We  would  have  dust  storms, 
tornadoes,  and  cyclones.  Industry  would 
not  be  here  nor  would  our  markets.  We 
would  have  no  seed  industry  with  all 
seed  of  necessity  being  imported. 

And  so  there  is  much  to  see  in  Penn- 
iylvania.  There  is  much  to  be  thankful 
for.  In  these  trying  days  for  so  many 
peoples  of  the  world  we  are  privileged 
to  live  here  in  peace,  and  in  what  we 
term  the  pursuit  of  happiness.  We  owe 
it  to  ourselves  and  others  to  do  our  best 


what  ever  the  task  for  we  have  little 
reason  to  shirk  or  grumble. 

S.  S.  KESGIE  CHAPTER  FUTURE 
FARMERS  PLANT  POTATOES:  The 
following  members  of  the  S.  S.  Kesgie 
Chapter  and  Vocational  Students  of  the 
Polk  Township  School,  Monroe  County 
answered  an  emergency  call  "to  arms," 
Wednesday,  July  3rd:  Luther  Getz, 
Warren  Griffith,  Raymond  Krome,  Ellis 
Bartholomew,  Wilmer  Bartholomew. 
Walter  Beer,  Wayne  Smale,  Sterling 
Sherer.  This  was  not  a  call  to  meet  an 
enemy  but  a  call  to  do  a  constructive 
task,  the  planting  of  202  Seedling  Po- 
tato Varieties.  This  planting  had  been 
delayed  a  number  of  weeks  due  to  other 
pressing  work  on  the  part  of  the  As- 
sociation. Although  the  date  is  quite 
late,  in  fact  the  latest  I  have  ever  planted 
potatoes,  we  will  in  an  experimental 
way  get  all  the  information  we  desire. 
We  will  have  ample  chance  to  study  the 
foliage  under  Monroe  County  climatic 
conditions  and  ample  chance  to  get  a 
check  on  soil  reaction  and  tuber  shape. 

We  appreciate  the  cooperation  of  Mr. 
Harold  Davis,  Vocational  Agricultural 
Instructor,  Polk  Township  School  for 
his  assistance  in  sending  out  the  call 
to  the  above  boys  who  stuck  to  the 
task  until  finished.  The  acre  of  land  on 
which  the  plot  is  planted  was  provided 
by  Robert  Getz,  long  a  member  of  the 
State  Potato  Growers  Association  and 
a  willing  cooperator.  He  will  see  that 
the  plot  is  properly  cultivated  and 
sprayed  during  the  season.  Fertilizer 
was  donated  by  two  neighboring  grow- 
ers, Homer  Shupp,  Effort;  and  Switz- 
gable  Brothers,  Broadheadsville.  Mr. 
William  High,  Effort,  a  large  potato 
grower  and  long  an  active  member  of 
the  State  Association  showed  his  in- 
terest by  assisting  with  the  planting 
during  a  most  busy  day  of  potato  spray- 
ing, cultivating,  and  harvesting  on  his 
own  farm. 

A  FEW  ITEMS  OF  INTEREST:  The 
thousands  of  seedlings  at  Camp  Potato 
were  all  planted  ten  days  ahead  of 
schedule  of  previous  years. 

The  Association  office  is  already  re- 
ceiving inquiries  on  marketing  the  1940 
crop. 

There  are  twelve  major  seedling 
plantings  over  the  State  and  from  re- 
cent inspection  they  are  all  showing 
up  well  at  this  time. 

(Continued  on  page  28) 


SPRAYING  is  a  battle  of  grim  necessity  — a 
fight  to  protect  what  you  grow  against  insidi- 
ous attacks  from  bugs,  blights,  insects  and  fungus 
pests.  The  tiny  foe  is  merciless  —  your  spray 
equipment  must  not  fail.  Whatever  your  spray 
requirements,  it  pays  to  remember  that  MYERS 
Spray  Pumps  are  thoroughly  practical  fighting  tools, 
built  to  exactly  fit  the  job  for  which  they  are  in- 
tended. Three  generations  of  American  growers 
have  learned  to  depend  on  MYERS  sprayers  for 
effective,  reliable,  economical  service.  The  MYERS 
line  is  the  largest  and  most  complete  in  the  world. 
It  includes  everything  from  the  biggest  power  spray 
rigs  down  to  the  smallest  hand  outfits.  Catalog 
ftee  on  request.  ^^^  ^    ^    ^^^^^   ^  ^^^    ^^ 

|\ZI'^^|^  fSk  ^^  "Pump  Builders  Since  1870  " 


Self-Oilina   POWER  SPRAYERS 


MYERS  offers  you  thoroughly 
dependable  spray  equipment  of 
every  wanted  type  and  capacity 
—for  orchards,  groves,  vineyards, 
cotton,  tobacco,  row  crops,  nur- 
series, greenhouses  and  gardens. 
Gun  sprayers,  boom  sprayers  and 
combination  sprayers.  Engine 
powered,  tractor  powered,  trac- 
tion driven  and  hand  operated 
sprayers.  Wheeled  sprayers,  sta- 
tionary sprayers  and  portable 
sprayers.  Tank  sprayers,  barrel 
sprayers,  knapsack  and  com- 
pressed air  sprayers.  Mail  the 
convenient  coupon  TODAY. 


The  F.  E.  Myers  &  Bro.  Co..        62  Fourth  Street.    Ashland.  Ohio 


Power  Sprayers D         gf  "^  ^""1^'      n 

Hand  Sprayers D        Water  Systems U 

Power  Pump □        P^^p  Jacks     u 

Send  free  information  on  items  checked    ^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^^,^^ 


Sump  Pumps  .  .  .  .  □ 
Centrifugal  Pumps  .  O 
Hay  Unloading  Tools  D 
Door  Hangers   .  .  .  .  D 


GS  408 


Namc- 


Addresi. 


'^^^L'-'2i^i-'-  ' 


26 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,   1940 


DR.  NIXON  COMMENTS  ON 
PRACTICAL  POTATO 
STORAGE  CONSTRUCTION 

(Continued  from  page  4) 

Take  the  concrete  slab,  for  example, 
over  the  entire  top  of  the  storage.  The 
cost  of  this  slab  is  five  or  six  times  that 
of  the  rest  of  the  entire  storage,  and  the 
concrete  slab  is  just  dead  wrong.  The 
concrete  floor  is  also  dead  wrong. 

There  are  three  vital  points  in  stor- 
ages:   First,  temperature  control,  sec- 


ond, humidity  or  moisture  control,  and 
third,  low  cost  construction. 

I  have  touched  on  the  latter  above, 
and  for  those  who  are  interested  in  this, 
a  day  at  "Camp  Potato"  will  reveal  how 
a  12,000  bushel  capacity  storage  can  be 
constructed  for  $300.  cash  outlay,  be- 
lieve it  or  not. 

The  first  vital  point — namely  tem- 
perature control,  revolves  around  two 
principles,  sufficient  insulation  to  with- 
stand low  temperatures,  and  manipula- 
tion of  the  storage,  while  filling  in  the 


The  straw  loft  storage  on  the  farm  of  Joe  Schwabenbauer,  Elk  County.  The  walls 
were  layed  up  with  stone  since  stone  was  readily  available.  Some  of  Pennsylvania's 
finest  Blue  Label  Pecks  have  been  packed  from  this  storage  during  the  past  two 
seasons.  A  little  landscaping  will  complete  this  job  and  Joe  has  this  in  mind«  how- 
ever he  is  very  busy  right  now  growing  this  years  fine  potato  cron. 


fall  and  during  the  early  winter.  Pota- 
toes piled  deep  in  the  storage  while  hot 
will  not  keep  well.  They  should  be  al- 
lowed to  cool  as  they  are  filled  in.  Pota- 
toes cool  rapidly  if  given  a  chance.  On 
the  other  hand,  potatoes  are  good  insu- 
lators of  heat  and  cold.  Neither  will 
penetrate  much  beyond  a  layer  a  foot 
deep.  Heat  goes  up  so  that  the  top  of  the 
pile  is  always  warmer  than  the  bottom. 
The  best  potatoes  from  any  storage  are 
those  which  lie  right  on  the  ground  even 
if  there  are  ten  feet  of  potatoes  above 


them.  The  reason  is  that  here  both  the 
moisture  and  the  temperature  are  the 
nearest  ideal. 

The  ideal  temperature  for  potatoes  is 
around  45-50  degrees  Fahrenheit.  Stor- 
ages may  be  manipulated  so  that  they 
may  get  down  lower  than  this  in  cold 
weather  but  such  temperatures  cannot 
be  maintained  when  the  outside  tem- 
perature rises,  except  artificially. 

It   is  obvious  that  opening  storages 

(Continued  on  page  28) 


[ 


YOUR  EXTRA  PROFIT 

FROM  THE  USE  OF  A  BEAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 

WILL  PAY   FOR  IT 


3  CAPACITY  SIZES  OF  BEAN  GRADERS 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  BRUISING 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  CUTTING 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  INACCURACY 
IN  YOUR  POTATO  GRADING 

..YOU  DON'T  GET  IT.. 

WITH  A   BEAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 
OUR  CATALOG  SHOWS  YOUR  WAY  TO  PROFIT 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co, 


LANSING 


MICHIGAN 


28 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


July,   1940 


DR.  NIXON  COMMENTS  ON 
PRACTICAL  POTATO 

(Continued  from  page  26) 

when  the  outside  temperature  is  higher 
than  the  inside  only  raises  the  inside 
temperature.  It  is  obvious  that  the  re- 
verse is  also  true.  Consequently  in  the 
fall,  open  the  storage  on  cold  days  to 
get  the  temperature  down  to  the  desir- 
able point,  and  in  the  spring  leave  it 
closed  as  tight  as  possible  to  conserve 
the  cold. 

The  idea  that  potatoes  need  a  change 
of  air  is  hocus-pocus.  If  they  are  hot 
they  need  to  be  cooled.  Of  course,  they 
should  not  freeze. 

The  other  vital  point  in  storages  men- 
tioned above  is  humidity.  Potatoes  need 
alniost  a  saturated  atmosphere.  No 
moisture  should  condense  to  such  an 
extent  that  it  drips  on  the  potatoes.  The 
straw  loft  is  the  most  fool-proof  con- 
struction yet  devised  for  maintaining 
the  proper  humidity.  In  addition  to 
this,  it  is  the  cheapest  insulation  against 
(Continued  on  page  20) 


TIMELY  OBSERVATIONS 
SUGGESTIONS  — 

DENNISTON 

(Continued  jrom  page  24) 
We  had  a  white  frost  at  Camp  Po- 
tato on  the  morning  of  June  13th.  Who 
said  it  wasn't  a  cool  place  to  grow  pota- 
toes? 

Wayne  and  Mrs.  Hindman,  resident 
managers  of  Camp  Potato  report  nu- 
merous visitors  day  to  day.  The  Camp  is 
open  to  inspection  by  potato  growers 
md  their  friends  at  all  times. 

I  have  been  rushing  this  article  so 
that  Miss  Sloop  can  get  away  on  a  much 
deserved  vacation.  We  all  wish  her  a 
whale  of  a  good  time  and  that  she  re- 
turns with  what  it  takes  to  put  millions 
of  pecks  of  Pennsylvania  potatoes  over 
to  the  distributors  and  consumers  dur- 
ing the  fall  and  winter. 

Nixon  was  telling  me  yesterday  how 
dumb  we  all  were  that  no  one  had 
thought  to  reverse  the  fan  on  the  truck 
of  our  truck  mounted  sprayers  so  as  lo 
blow  the  spray  out  rather  than  suck  it 
into  the  radiator  and  engine.  This  came 
from  a  novice. 

For  the  first  time  in  12  years  I  have  a 
row  of  potatoes  in  my  garden.  It  is  one 
of  the  promising  seedlings  and  Barbara, 
nine,  and  Carol,  four,  are  watching  it 
grow  and  the  tubers  form  with  a  great 
deal  of  interest. 


Mrs.  Kepler  here  in  Centre  County, 
better  known  as  one  of  our  good  potato 
growers,  had  an  unusual  crop  of  straw- 
berries. Her  potato  fields  are  looking 
good  too. 

Reports  coming  in  from  Maine  are  that 
it  has  been  exceedingly  wet  through- 
out Aroostook  County  the  great  Maine 
potato  belt. 

A  recent  report  has  reached  us  that 
Ohio  our  good  neighbor  to  the  west  has 
set  up  a  potato  marketing  plan  pattern- 
ed very  much  after  our  Pennsylvania 
program. 

I  received  in  the  mail  today  a  letter 
from  the  Graham  County,  Safford,  Ari- 
zona, Chamber  of  Commerce  asking  for 
information  on  our  Pennsylvania  Pota- 
to Program,  particularly  Camp  Potato 
and  the  Marketing  Program. 

A  large  number  of  field  meetings  and 
summer  activities  are  being  announced 
in  this  issue  of  the  Guide  Post.  Talk 
these  over  with  your  fellow  growers, 
your  neighbors  and  friends  and  plan  on 
attending  one  or  more  of  them.  They 
will  bring  much  of  interest  and  im- 
portance to  potato  growers. 

There  are  potato  growers  in  your 
community  who  should  be  getting  the 
Guide  Post.  Show  them  your  copy  and 
give  them  a  sales  talk  on  becoming  an 
Association  Member. 


WILL  YOU  HAVE  A  400-  _^  ^  „ 
BUSHEL  ACRE  THIS  YEAR 

(Continued  from  page  8) 
In  this  issue  of  the  GUIDE  POST  are 
printed  full  particulars  concerning  the 
Club,  including  the  regulations  and  in- 
structions for  the  Club  set-up,  the  regu- 
lations required  in  the  checking  of 
yields,  and  the  complete  record  form 
which  must  be  submitted  following  the 
determination  of  your  yield. 

Many  growers  who  have  not  acquaint- 
ed themselves  with  the  regulations  of 
this  Club  have  consequently  failed  to  be 
given  400-Bushel  Club  membership 
though  actually  they  have  produced  the 
necessary  yield.  Don't  let  this  happen 
to  you.  400-Bushel  Club  membership  is 
indeed  a  signal  honor — and  it  is  a  goal 
which  we  hope  you  are  all  striving  to 
gain  this  1940  season. 

A  facsimile  of  the  medal  for  this  hon- 
or appears  on  the  front  cover.  Though  it 
looks  good  there,  in  gold  it  will  be  a 
good  deal  more  handsome  on  your 
watch  chain. 


If  / 'H '      '      ""^j^  ■"        ■.■""-■''"'I 


THE  COMING  WEEKS  ARE 

IMPORTANT  TO  YOUR 

POTATO  CROP 

PROTECT  THIS  CROP 
UNTIL  HARVEST 

with 


It  Pays  to  Irrigate 

The  0  K  Champion  Way 


LIME 

Especially  processed  for         | 
Spraying  and  Dusting  I 

Write  for  prices  and  I 

particulars  I 

Whiterock  Quarries 

Bellefonte,  Pa. 


The  same  pipe  is  used  to  irrigate 
acre  after  acre. 

We  invite  vour  irrigation  prob- 
lems, will  plan  your  system  and 
furnish  an  estimate. 

HAMILTON   &  CO. 

Specialists  In  Irrigation 
EPHRATA,  PENNA. 

Distributors  for  Eastern  Penna. 
Delaware  &  Maryland 


r^^^  Potato  Digg 


ers 


They  Get  the  Potatoes  with  Least  Cost  and  in 
Best    Marketable  Condition. 

Require  Fewest  Repairs 

u-  u  ^^^^vH  fnr  Inne  service  and  low  cost.  Growers  report  digging  150 

continuous  elevato-nd^^^^^^^^^^^  ^^, 

Adapaieo^ior  ^^  ^.^^^^^^  ^^g^^^  attachments. 

Write  for  catalog. 

EUREKA  MOWER  COMPANY 

UTICA.  N.  Y. 


30 


th£  guide  post 


July,  1^40 


POTATO  CHIPS    ^ 

(Continued  jrom  page  7) 

That  revolution  came  because  it  had  to 
come.  If  independent  merchants  hadn  t 
changed  many  of  their  methods,  aping 
the  successful  chains,  they  would  have 
been  entirely  unable  to  compete  with 
the  corporate  chains  and  thence  out  of 
business  by  now.  A  &  P  founded  the 
modern  system  of  mass  distribution  oi 
food  products  in  this  country.  A  &  P 
along  with  Safeway,  American,  Kroger, 
First  National  and  others  taught  the  in- 
dependents countless  lessons  in  skillful 
merchandising.  They  brought  the  vol- 
untary chains  into  existence  by  creating 
an  urgent  need  for  them. 

Competition  being  what  it  is,  A  &  P 
has  been  charged  with  all  sorts  of 
crimes,  misdemeanors  and  blunders. 
Possibly  it  has  been  guilty  of  plenty  of 
offences.  Possibly  it  has  driven  out  com- 
petitors with  its  low  prices.  Possibly  it 
has  made  life  miserable  for  processors 
and  manufacturers  with  its  tremendous 
bargaining  power.  The  A  &  P  has  been 
incredibly  short-sighted  at  times  and 
100  per  cent  wrong  in  some  of  its  judg- 
ments. So  what?  The  octopus  has  been 
right  nine  times  out  of  ten  or  it  never 
could  have  grown  into  the  giant  it  is 
today." 

If  the  rules  of  the  game  are  fair  who 
will  deny  the  right  of  a  Babe  Ruth  to 
sock  the  ball  over  the  fence  as  often  as 
he  can?  By  the  same  token  who  will 
deny  the  right  of  a  capable  manufac- 
turer to  make  a  satisfactory  margin  of 
profit  in  a  vear?  Our  present  problem 
is  not  to  find  new  sources  of  taxation  so 
that  the  unfit  and  misfits  can  live  in 
comparative  luxury;  but  to  offer  such 
security  and  reward  to  enterprise,  that 
men  of  foresight  and  ability  will  be  en- 
couraged to  proceed  full  steam  ahead. 

''Bill  Shakespud" 

DR.  NIXON  COMMENTS  ON 

PRACTICAL  POTATO 

(Continued  from  page  28) 
heat  or  cold  yet  devised.  It  has  put 
storage  construction  within  the  reach 
of  the  smallest  potato  grower.  It  is  also 
good  for  the  apple  and  vegetable  grower 
where  high  humidity  and  constant  tem- 
peratures may  be  had  by  proper  man- 
ipulation. It's  only  weakness  is  that  in 
warm  weather  its  temperature  cannot 
be  gotten  any  lower  than  the  natural 
soil  of  the  storage  itself  except  by  arti- 
ficial means.    By  a  little  manipulation, 


however,  it  will  keep  potatoes  well  from 
September  to  May  inclusive  —  very 
creditable  in  the  climate  of  Pennsyl- 


vania. 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 

(Continued  from  page  10) 
In  a  trial  before  a  justice  of  the  peace 
to  determine  the  ownership  of  an  auger, 
a  witness,  noted  more  for  his  enthusiasm 
than  for  his  veracity,  was  asked  if  he 
recognized  the  tool  in  question. 

"Know  that  auger?"  the  witness  ex- 
claimed. ''Why,  I've  known  that  auger 
since  it  was  a  gimlet.'* 

CHEMICAL  LIME  COMPANY, 
INC.,  BELLEFONTE,  DONATES 
LIME  FOR  "CAMP  POTATO" 

The  Chemical  Lime  Company,  Inc., 
of  Bellefonte,  recently  donated  to 
"Camp  Potato,"  2|  tons  of  spray  lime 
and  2  tons  of  hydrated  lime  for  use  in 
the  potato  project  at  the  Camp.  This 
is  a  very  worthwhile  gift  and  is  greatly 
appreciated  by  the  membership  and  the 
management,  and  is  proving  a  great 
help  in  the  production  of  the  potatoes  at 
the  Camp. 

Two  other  of  Bellefonte's  fine  lime 
companies,  the  Warner  Company  and 
Whiterock  Quarries,  have  made  similar 
valuable  contributions  in  the  past  to  the 
"Camp  Potato"  project. 


MAKING  THE  WHEELS 

GO  ROUND 

(Continued  jrom  page  14) 

wheels  go  round  so  that  all  of  these 
tasks  could  move  forward  to  com- 
pletion. Mrs.  Glick  in  turn  was  indis- 
pensible  in  assisting  Mrs.  Hindman  with 
the  first  large  group  of  boys  (from  40  to 
60  Monday,  Tuesday  and  Wednesday, 
June  3,  4,  and  5).  During  the  latter 
days  of  the  two  weeks  that  they  were 
in  Camp  she  could  be  found  at  the 
storage  cutting  potatoes  which  made  it 
possible  to  keep  up  with  the  planter. 

There  were  jobs  for  Mary  too  and 
she  performed  them  creditably.  To 
these  people  we  say,  "You  are  always 
welcome  at  Camp  Potato."  They  will 
not  soon  forget  the  deer,  the  June  frost 
at  the  Camp,  the  fire-place  at  night,  the 
good  eats,  the  bear  in  the  second  hollow, 
eating  ice  cream  across  in  New  York,  the 
bag  of  Special  Seedlings — Very  early^ 
the  thousands  of  small  bags  of  seed- 
lings, all  of  which  were  planted  in  good 
season. 


"Acres  More  Spray  Before 


Throwing  the  Disc  Away' 


1 


IT'S  ALL  IN  THE  HOLE 

Jennings'  Hardened  Steel  (Rust  Proof)  Spray  Discs, 
Keep   Your  Pressure   Up,   Wastes   Less  Material. 

Lasts  Two  or  Three  Times  Longer  and  Costs 

No  More   Than  the  Average  Soft  Disc 

BUY  from  any  of  the  following  well  known  and  friendly  Penna.  Dealers, 
they  have  stocks  and  will  be  glad  to  serve  you. 


COUNTY 

ADAMS 

BERKS 

ERIE 

LANCASTER 

LEHIGH 

POTTER 

SCHUYLKILL 

SOMERSET 

UNION 


NAME 

George  E.  Hoffman 
Schlonker  Motor  Co. 
J.  Jacobsen  &  Son 
A.  B.  C.  Groff 
Shipman's  Feed  Store 
E.  R.  Blass 
John  E.  Huntsinger 
Joseph  H.  Fisher 
J.  L.  Rietz 

Growers  Attention 


CITY 

Bigerville 

Kutztown 

Girard 

New  Holland 

Williamsport 

Coudersport 

Higgins 

Boswell 

Lewisburg 


CPCC       Make  this  simple  and  pratical  test  at  my  expense,  put  my  "Black 
■  "^^^      Diamond"  discs  in  your  booms  along  side  the  disc  you  are  using, 

and  under  the  same  mix  of  material  and  pump  pressure,  let  the 

discs  speak  for  themselves. 

Samples  Are  Yours  For  The  Asking  And  You  Are  Under 

No  Obligation 

Satisfaction  Absolutely  Guaranteed 

Buy  From  Your  Dealer— If  He  Will  Not  Supply  You,  Order  Direct 

But  Accept  No  Substitute 

A  Disc  For  Every  Size  Nozzle — A  Hole  For  Every  Purpose 


Lloyd  E.  Jennings 


Soxners,  Conn. 


MARK 


VISION 


Now  You  Can  Benefit  from 


HIGH  PRESSURE  SPRAYING 


Iron  Agre  power  take- 
off sprayer  with  ex- 
clusive "Compak** 
folding:  boom  for  6,  8, 
or  10  rows.  Rubber- 
tired  wheels  at  sliffht 
extra  cost  if  desired. 


The  VICTORY  PUMP, 
heart  of  all  Iron  Age 
sprayers.  Horizontally 
designed  for  working 
pressures  up  to  1000 
lbs.  per  square  inch. 
Slower  speed  for  longr- 
er  life.  Built  in  6,  10, 
14,  20,  and  37  gallons- 
per-minute  sizes. 


HjOVi  can  make  more  money  from 
i  .your  potatoes  if  you  kill  their  twin 
enemies — insects  and  fungi.  But  only 
high  pressure  atomization  gets  the  best 
results  from  your  fungicide  or  insec- 
ticide. 

Formerly  available  only  to  large 
growers,  IRON  AGE  now  makes  high 
pressure  spraying  possible  for  all 
growers.  Low  cost  6  and  10  gallons- 
per-minute  sizes  with  any  pressures  up 
to  600  pounds  per  square  inch.  One 
just  right  for  every  grower. 

With  Iron  Age  High  Pressure  spray- 
ing you'll  find  potato  profits  go  up — 
spraying  costs  go  down,  for  high  pres- 
sures make  every  drop  of  fungicide  or 
insecticide  do  a  far  better  job. 


V^rxte.  for 

Sprayer 

Maniuil  40 


IROMAQE 


Row 

Crop 

Sprayers 


A.  B.  FARQUHAR  CO.,  LTD.  — 334  Duke  St.  — YORK,  PENNA. 


<y  ///y  ///  ^A  A 


VlHHSUV4/V^ 


NUMBER  8 


LIBRARY 

SCHOOL  OF  AGRICULTURE 

AND  EXPERIMENT  STATIOK 


/•I 


1,4 


ii 


AUGUST    •    I940 


^#n%,: 


CMWFM 


PuMldJied  lui  the. 

PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE 
POTATO  GROWERS  ASSOCIATION 


INCORPORATED 


■■■f-V^.Y- 


1' 


The  packing  scene  on  the  front  cover  was  photographed 
on  the  farm  of  Frank  Bausch,  of  Fairview,  during  the  1939 
season — it  is  illustrative  of  the  activity  on  hundreds  of 
Other  Pennsylvania  farms  during  a  marketing  season — 
and  Blue  Labels  are  the  more  popular  brand  packed  as 
the  years  go  along. 


Marketing  Program  Holds  Big  Promise 

for  Season 


The  Association  marketing  program 
is  now  ready  again  to  serve  participat- 
ing potato  growers  with  the  right  sort  of 
a  potato  market,  and  it  promises  to  do 
more  than  ever  before  to  popularize 
Pennsylvania  potatoes. 

With  the  adoption  of  the  ''Economy 
Pack"  which  will  merchandise,  with 
profit,  in  the  consumer  (fifteen  pound 
package,  potatoes  of  ^  S.  Commercia 
quality,  millions  more  bushels  of  Penn- 
sylvania potatoes  will  be  available  to 
the  trade-marked  package  than  ever  be- 


fore. 

This  step  was  taken  with  great  confi- 
dence and  buyers  are  expecting  tnat, 
through  the  use  of  this  brand  supplies 
will  be  sufficiently  abundant  through- 
out the  season  to  give  the  brand  a  real 
advertising  push  and  put  it  over  the  top. 

The  elimination  of  the  Red  Label  (U. 
S.  No.  1,  Size  B),  the  Green  Label  (U.b. 
Commercial)  and  the  Orange  Label  (U. 
i^No.  2)  packs  in  the  sixty  pound  u^^^^^ 
will  also  improve  the  workability  of  tne 


E  R  Spory,  Outstanding  Somerset  Grower 
give  the  right  reputation. 

marketing  plan.  The  Red  and  Green 
^bet  will  be  packed  only  in  peck  units 
i^H  will  therefore,  reach  the  consumer 
^^  necked  The  Orange  label,  never  a 
luc?ess  will  be  completely  elimmated 
Is  the  Unclassified  sixty-pound  pack 
will  absorb  all  potatoes  which  would 
make  the  Orange  label  grade. 

The  Association  bag  deal  has  been 
worked  out  most  successfully,  in  view 
of  the  extreme  advances  m  prices  of  all 
materials  used  in  the  manufacture  of 


and  Packer  puts  up  Blue  Labels  which 


baes     The  Association  bags  are  avail- 
abfe  to  participating  growers  at  prices 

scarcely  higher  than  during  the  1939-40 
selson-while  most  bag  P^ces  have  al- 
most doubled  themselves  in  the  year 
These  prices,  too,  are  guaranteed  for  the 
entire  crop  marketing  season.  This  fea- 
ture alone  is  of  inestimable  value  to  our 
cooperators  because  bag  manufacturers, 
generally,    are    refusing    to    guarantee 
prices   for   longer   periods   than   three 
months,  even  in  normal  times. 
(Continued  on  page  5) 


THE  GUIDE  POST August.  1940 

THE  GUIDE  POST  heat  affect^otato  crop 

^"SfraTv^ta^V^^ro^wTs!^^^^^^^^^  ^Here  is  no  doubt  that  the  13  day  hot 

neriod  of  late  July— a  record  breaker 

OFFTCERS  for  all  time-has  removed  millions  of 

OFFICERS  I,  ohpls  of  potatoes  from  the  State. 

J   A.  Donaldson,  Emlenton  .  .President  bushels  oi  poia 

Roy  R.  Hess.  Stillwater  . . .  .Vice-Pres.  Garden  patches  anduncared  for  farm 

-  n  11  t^^t^  r.ptrhp«i  have  gone   almost  completely 

E.  B.  Bower  Beneipnte    ^^^  ^^^  ^^^       patches  ^ha  ^.  g^^^  ^^ 

L- member  that  almost  60  percent  of  Penn- 

DIRECTORS  sylvania's  acreage  is  still  grown  on  the 

T-r«hKMast  ..Elverson,  Chester  farm  patch. 

?Dan?e'l^ranVz'.:. Coplay.  Lehigh  Reliable    information    ind  -^^  ^"^f, 

Hugh  McPherson Bridgeton,  York  Blight  is  active  -  New  York    ta^e^^U 

John  B.  Schrack Loganton  Chnton  ha^^^^n  found  m  Gentry  ^^y    . ^ 

Roy  R.  Hess Stillwater.  Columbia  ^^^^''^^^^^J^^ie  damabe  in  several 

Ed.  Fisher Coudersport,  Potter  °  ^^^g  j^ania  Counties  so  that  the  look- 
Charles  Frey  North  Girard.  Erie  ^^  ^^^  bumper  Pennsylvania  potato  crop 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.l,  Emlenton,  Venango  j^  not  yet  in  the  bag.  A  1°*  of  things  can 

R.  W.  Lohr  Boswell.  Somerset  happen  between    now  and  then. 

Annual  membership  fee  $1.00.  This  in-  ^hat  is  most  feared  is  long  continued 

eludes  the  Guide  Post.  drought  through  August  an^  Sepjf  ""h 

All   communications    should   be    ad-  ^er.  On  the  other  hand,  l°"g^^°"tf  "f_° 

dressed  to  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary-Treas-  ^.^j^  through  August  is  almost  as  ais 

urer  and  General  Manager,  Bellefonte,  ^gtrous. 
Pennsylvania.  ^^^^^^^^  ^^^^j^  ^^^  ^^  -^  too  big  a 

^         T-»        •  J       ^   C  hurry  to  get  the  early  crop  on  the  mar- 

Our   President   Says:-  ket-when    there    is    no    market.    Re- 

Aueust  5   1940         member,  a  surplus  commodity  cannot  be 
August  D,  IJW  ^^^^  ^^  ^  p^^^^    ggjj.j^g  potato-s  in  the 

As  we  wind  up  the  first  half  of  the  g^^^  ^^^    jg  ^ke  selling  sand  to  tne 
scheduled  potato  tours  of  the  present  ^^^    r^,^^  ^^.^  sand— too  much  pota- 

season,  the  lines  of  the  old  song.    The 

Bear  Went  Over  the  Mountain  to  See  '•"'==■• 

What  He  Could  See"  comes  to  our  mind. 

Day  after  day  we  view  fine  fields  of 
Pennsylvania  potatoes,  each  one  appear-  dothine  merchant's  son  asked  him 

ing  to  be  as  fine  as  can  be  produced  yet  .   ^^^.'"^'""hicT  "Veil  I  will  show  you," 

when  we  go  "over  the  other  side  of  the  to  define  ethics,     veil  i  w  .y 

^,,v^+r,;K> ''  thorp  are  more  fields  to  see  said  the  latner.     j^uppuist;  tx  m^y  ^ 

^n  that  sidfand^  who  can  tell  which  into  the  store,  buys  a  lot  of  goods  and 

fields  ti      produce  the  best?  pays  me  ten  dollars  too  much  when  she 

Each  county  we  visit  we  all  feel  is  goes    out.      Then    ethics    comes    in!-- 

the  best  p^ace  to  live  and  grow  potatoes,  Should  I  or  should  I  not  tell  my  Part 

until  we  arrive  at  the  next  one— and  ner?" 
new  preferences  must  be  formed!  But 

the  most  blessed  thing  about  good  old  •     •     • 

Pennsylvania   is   that   the   people   who 

have  the  will  to  go  forward  and  pro-  ugQj,j.y^  y^^^  you'll  have  to  go  round  to 
duce  a  good  crop  of  spuds  can  do  so  any-  ^^^  ^^^^  g^^^  » 

where  in  the  State. 

So  we  say  again— what  a  fortunate  "Oh!  but  we're  the  Berrys. 

lot  of  people  we  Pennsylvania  potato  ^^^  ^^^,^  ^^^^  .^  ^^^,^^  ^^^  ^^^,^  ^^^^^ 

growers  are.  ^^  ^  Donaldson.  You  can't  go  thru  this  gate." 


August,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


.T 


; 


MARKETING  PROGRAM  HOLDS 
BIG  PROMISE  FOR  SEASON 

(Continued  jrom  page  3) 

The  Association  bag  prices,  too,  are 
graduated  in  order  to  bring  the  cost  of 
bags  in  which  the  lower  grades  of  po- 
tatoes are  packed  in  line  with  such  po- 
tatoes. The  Association  is  taking  a 
reduction  in  its  commission  on  these 
bags  for  the  lower  grades,  absorbing 
the  loss  in  order  that  the  growers'  net 
return  might  be  more  nearly  equahzed. 

The  marketing  program  is  set  to  go! 
Pennsylvania  Potato  Growers'  Associa- 
tion trade-marked  potatoes  are  no  long- 
er the  exception  in  prominent  potato 
markets.  The  Association  pack  is 
known  to  buyers,  to  store-men,  to  hotel 
chefs  and  to  the  housewife.  The  popu- 
larity the  pack  is  enjoying  was  brought 
about  by  sheer  hard  work— and  it  is  up 
to  us  to  increase  this. 

A  fine  list  of  cooperating  growers  have 
given  us  the  sort  of  pack  that  has  made 
the  reputation  and  we  are  looking  to- 
ward them  and  you  to  continue  this 
practice. 


Pennsylvania  Blue  Labels  are  fast  be- 
coming a  by-word  in  grocery  stores  and 
large  hotels. 

Many  of  you  are  still  not  familiar 
with  the  program,  and  many  would  like 
to  be  If  you  want  to  market  your  po- 
totoes  through  the  Association  let  us 
hear  from  you,  and  we  will  see  that  you 
are  supplied  with  all  the  information 
and  help  you  will  need  to  do  so.  Let  s 
this  year  really  pack  potatoes  in  Associ- 
ation trade-marked  bags. 


p  Daniel  Frantz,  too,  puts  up  the  sort  of 
Tpack  that  makes  for  distributor-con- 
sumer  demand. 


Forms  change,  but  nothing  dies. 
Everything  is  in  circulation.  Men  as 
well  as  planets,  have  their  orbits.  Some 
have  a  wider  seeing  than  others,  but 
just  wait  and  they  will  come  back. 

•    •     • 

The  average  woman  sees  only  the 
weak  points  in  a  strong  man,  and  the 
good  points  in  a  weak  one. 


6 


THE  GXJIDE_POST_____ 


August,  1940 


August,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 


by  Inspector  Throwout 


At  a  party  in  Hollywood,  onf  o^*^ 
stunts  was  to  ask  each  guest  to  write 
his  or  her  own  epitaph  and  when  called 
upon,  to  get  up  and  read  what  they  had 
written.  A  much-married  movie  actress 

sitting    besides   Will   Rogf'-^  ^f  f ,  J^ 
didn't  know  what  to  write    WiU  sai^^i 
"If  you  will  read  it  just  as  I  write  ix,  i 
wm  do  it  lor  you."    This  is  what  she 
read:    "At  last  she  sleeps  alone. 

*  •    * 

The  actions  of  men  are  the  best  in- 
terpreters of  their  thoughts. 

•  •    * 
A  oroud  young  father  telegraphed  the 

news"^  of  his^  happiness  to  his  brother  in 
ihZp  words-  "A  handsome  boy  has 
comi  t"my  house  and  claims  to  be  your 
nephew.  We  are  doing  our  best  to 
give  him  a  proper  welcome. 

The  brother,  however,  failed  to  see 
the  point  and  wired  back:  "l  have  no 
nephew.  The  young  man  is  an  im- 
poster.*' 

•  *     * 

A  critic  is  a  stowaway  on  the  flight 
of  someone  else's  imagination. 

•  •     • 

Coffin  linings  cost  more  now  As  a 
matter  of  economy,  one  should  pay  more 
attention  to  the  brake  Immgs. 

•  •     • 

A  tourist  traveling  through  the  Texas 
panhandle  got  into  conversation  with 
an  old  settler  and  his  son  at  a  filling 
station. 

"Looks  as  though  we  might  have 
rain,"  said  the  tourist. 

"Well  I  hope  so,"  replied  the  native, 
"not  so  much  for  myself  as  for  my  boy 
here.   I've  seen  it  rain." 

•  *     • 
"You  have  been  conspicuous  in  the 

halls    of    legislation,    have    you    not?" 
asked  the  beautiful  young  woman. 

"Yes  Miss,"  answered  Senator  Haines 
blandly.  "I  think  I  have  participated  m 
some  of  the  richest  hauls  that  legisla- 
tion ever  made." 


Samuel  Johnson  described  a  common 
thought  vividly-'l  am  very  fond  of  the 
company  of  ladies.  I  like  their  beauty, 
S  their  delicacy,  I  like  their  vivacity, 
and  I  like  their  silence. 

•    •    • 

A  doctor  in  a  deaf  and  dumb  institute 
invited  his  friend  who  lived  nearby  to 
attend  a  dance  for  the  inmates,  explain- 
ing that  no  talking  would  be  necessary 
a  Request  for  a  dance  being  extended  by 
a  smile  and  a  bow. 

On  arriving  he  saw  a  very  Pretty  girl, 
did  the  smile  and  bow  and  they  danced. 
The  trouble  was  that  he  could  think 
of  no  way  of  excusing  himself,  so  they 
danced  and  danced. 

After  five  dances,  a  young  man  ap- 
proached the  pair  and  asked  the  younf 
lady,  "How  about  giving  me  another 
dance?" 

"Just  as  soon  as  I  get  rid  of  this  dum- 
my without  hurting  his  feelings. 

•     •     • 

Goldberg  went  around  the  o.^ce  all 
morning  with  a  frowning  warned  look 
and  every  few  minutes  he  would  plunge 
his  hand  into  one  of  his  pockets.  His  as- 
sistant noticed  that  he  looked  in  all  but 
one  pocket. 

Questioned,  he  admitted  that  he  had 
lost  his  billfold. 

"Why  not  take  a  look  in  that  inside 
pocket?" 

"My  boy,  I'm  that  afraid!  If  I  look 
and  it  ain't  there,  I'll  drop  dead. 

•  •     • 

"When  I  look  at  this  congregation," 
said  the  preacher,  'T  ask  myself,  'Where 
are  the  poor?'  And  then,  when  I  look  at 
the  collection,  I  say  to  myself,  Where 
are  the  rich?'  " 

•  •     • 

Wilt  thou  take  her  for  thy  pard, 

For  better  or  for  worse: 
To  have  to  hold  to  fondly  guard 

Till  hauled  off  in  a  hearse? 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


7 


/ 


Membership  Drive  Brings  More 

New  Recruits 


Lack  of  space  in  the  July  issue  of  the 
Guide  Post  prevented  publication  ot 
membership  contributions  during  the 
several  weeks  previous  to  publication. 
The  July  new  members  are,  therefore, 
listed  here,  with  the  more  recent  ones. 

Ray  J.  Salmon,  Vocational  Agricul- 
tural Adviser  from  Waterford,  Erie 
County,  contributed  three  new  mem- 
bers, through  the  aid  of  his  boys,  the 
Future  Farmers  of  Waterford. 

Paul  Yahner,  outstanding  Cambria 
County  grower  and  packer  of  Blue 
Labels,  enrolled  two  fellow  Cambria 
Countians. 

Vice-President  Roy  Hess— who  sel- 
dom fails  to  locate  at  least  several  Co- 
lumbia County  growers  a  ni^nth  for 
membership,  found  two  more  to  add  to 
his  lengthy  list. 

Director  Chares  H.  Frey  of  North 
Girard,  Erie  County,  enlisted  one  new 
member  during  the  month. 

W.  E.  Eshelman,  Vocational  Agricul- 
ture Supervisor  at  Knoxville,  Tioga 
County,  enrolled  one  new  meniber  at 
?he  sime  time  he  renewed  ^^l^^^^lf^^^ 
for  his  fine  lot  of  students  the  Chatan 
esque  Future  Farmers  of  America. 

Joseph  D.  Young,  enthusiastic  boost- 
er of  the  Association  program,  from  La 
lose  Clearfield  County,  who  is  regu- 
S  in  our  debt  for  his  membership 
Sibutions,  has  added  one  more  this 
month. 

T  niiiv;  Bailev  a  Centre  County  boost- 
er who  Sa^'Grade  Supervisor  on  the 
E  '  L  Nixon  farm,  personally  enlisted 
his  new  member  to  the  Association. 

Ivan  Miller,  of  Corry,  Erie  County, 
who  has  contributed  fifty  times  his  due 
Thare  of  new  Association  members  add- 
Id  one  more  to  his  list  this  month. 


Lynn  Fromm,  well  known  lime  sales- 
man  and  Association  booster  from 
Benefonte,  picked  up  his  contribution 
to  the  drive  during  his  recent  travels  m 
Columbia  County. 

Clinton  Geiger,  of  Neffs  Lehigh 
County,  found  his  new  member  in  his 
own  community,  and  enlisted  him. 


President  J.  A.  Donaldson,  of  Emlen- 
ton,  who  is  continuously  on  the  watch 
for  prospective  members,  enrolled  one 
Clarion  County  friend  this  month. 

These  men  have  each  given  their  As- 
sociation the  right  kind  of  a  push—  and 
the  Association  management  appreci- 
ates their  loyal  support  and  help. 

Other  new  members  have  come  into 
the  Association  family,  too,  during  re- 
cent weeks,  these  either  by  their  own 
initiative  and  interest,  or  through  the 
direct  or  indirect  solicitation  of  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Association  staff. 

Whatever  way  they  have  come  to  us, 
all  new  members  are  most  welcomed, 
and  we  are  at  their  service. 

Complete  lists  of  recent  new  members 
includes: 

Carl  Eliason,  Waterford,  Erie  County 
Archie  Proctor,  Waterford,  Erie  County 
Dr.  C.  K.  Barton,  Erie,  Erie  County 
Clair    Cunningham,    Patton,    Cambria 

County 
Otto     Cunningham,     Patton,     Cambria 

County 
Harold    Hartman,    Benton,     Columbia 

County 
David  Floyd,  Benton,  Columbia  County 
Dixon    Ward,    East    Springfield,    Erie 

County 
Forrest  B.  Schoonover,  Knoxville,  Tioga 

County 
Clair    Westover,    La    Jose,    Clearfield 

County 
Glenn  Alexander,  State  College,  Centre 

County 
Boyd  Spencer,  Corry,  Erie  County 
C.  F.  Abbott,  Espy,  Columbia  County 
Steve    Dubetsky,    Weatherly,     Carbon 

County 
Harry    I.    Clymer,    Elverson,    Chester 

County 
Albert  E.  Lutz,  Kutztown,  Berks  County 
Elmer  W.   Miller,   Somerset,   Somerset 

County 
Wendell    Irons,    Linesville,    Crawford 

County 
William    N.    Duck,    Millheim,    Centre 
County 

(Continued  on  page  20) 


^fijsaff' 


8 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


August,  1940 


August,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


THE  SPIDER  AND  THE  FLY 


<«  > 


i( 


''Will  you  walk  into  my  parlor?"  said 
thespider  to  the  fly; 
Tis    the    prettiest    little    parlor    that 
ever  you  did  spy.  . 

The  way  into  my  parlor  is  up  a  windmg 

stair* 
And  I  have  many  pretty  things  to  show 

when  you  are  there." 
O  no,  no,"  said  the  little  fly,  "to  ask  me 

is  in  vain,  . 

For  who  goes  up  your  winding  stair 

can  ne'er  come  down  again." 

"I'm  sure  you  must  be  weary  with  soar- 
ing up  so  high; 
Will  you  rest  upon  my  little  bed?    saia 
the  spider  to  the  fly; 

"There     are     pretty     curtains     drawn 
around,    the    sheets    are    fine    and 

And   if'  you  like   to   rest   awhile,   I'll 

snugly  tuck  you  in." 
"O  no,  no,"  said  the  little  fly,  "for  I've 
often  heard  it  said,  , 

They  never,  never  wake  again,  who 
sleep  upon  your  bed." 

Said   the   cunning   spider   to   the   fly, 
"Dear  friend,  what  shall  I  do, 

To  prove  the  warm  affection  I've  al- 
ways felt  for  you? 

I  have  within  my  pantry,  good  store  ot 
all  that's  nice; 

I'm  sure  you're  very  welcome;  will  you 

please  to  take  a  slice?"         ,  .    ,    . 
"O  no,  no!"  said  the  little  fly,  "kind  sir, 

that  can  not  be." 
"I  have  a  little  looking-glass  upon  my 
parlor  shelf, 

If  you'll  step  in  one  moment,  dear,  you 
shall  behold  yourself." 
"I  thank  you,  gentle  sir,"  she  said,    for 
what  you're  pleased  to  say, 

And  bidding  you  good  morning,  now, 
I'll  call  another  day." 

The  spider  turned  him  round  about, 

and  went  into  his  den, 
For  well  he  knew  the  silly  fly  would 
soon  be  back  again: 
So  he  wove  a  subtle  web,  in  a  little 

corner,  sly. 
And  set  his  table  ready  to  dine  upon 

the  fly. 
Then  he  went  out  to  his  door  again, 

and  merrily  did  sing, 
"Come  hither,  hither,  pretty  fly,  with 
the  pearl  and  silver  wing: 


Your    robes    are    green    and    purple; 

there's  a  crest  upon  your  head; 
Your  eyes  are  like  the  diamond  bright, 

but  mine  are  dull  as  lead." 

Alas,  alas!  how  very  soon  this  silly 
little  fly. 

Hearing  his  wily  flattering  words, 
came  slowly  flitting  by. 

With  buzzing  wings  she  hung  aloft, 
then  nearer  and  nearer  drew. 

Thinking  only  of  her  brilliant  eyes, 
and  green  and  purple  hue; 

Thinking  only  of  her  crested  head- 
poor  joolish  thing!  At  last. 

Up  jumped  the  cunning  spider,  and 
fiercely  held  her  fast. 

He  dragged  her  up  his  winding  stair, 

unto  his  dismal  den. 
Within  his  little  parlor,  but  she  ne  er 

came  out  again!  ^  .      ,        . 

And  now,  my  dear  young  friends,  who 

may  this  story  read. 
To  idle,  silly,  flattering  words,  I  pray 

you,  ne'er  give  heed; 
Unto  an  evil  counselor,  close  heart,  and 

ear  and  eye, 
And  take  a  lesson  from  the  tale  ot  the 

Spider  and  the  Fly. 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 

(Continued  from  page  5) 

Wilt  thou  let  her  have  her  way. 

Consult  her  many  wishes; 
Make  the  fire  every  day 

And  help  her  wash  the  dishes? 

Wilt  thou  comfort  and  support 
Her  father  and  her  mother. 

Aunt  Jemima  and  Uncle  John, 
Three  sisters  and  a  brother? 

And  his  face  grew  pale  and  blank. 

It  was  too  late  to  jilt; 
As  through  the  chapel  floor  he  sank, 
He  said,  "I  wilt." 

•  •    • 

A  woman's  heart,  like  the  moon,  is 
always  changing,  but  there  is  always  a 
man  in  it. 

•  •     • 

Any  woman  can  keep  a  secret  'till  she 
meets  another  woman. 

(Continued  on  page  20) 


\ 


Summer  Activities  Program  Well  Under  Way 


The  first  series  of  Association  District 
meetings  were  held,  on  schedule,  from 
July  30th  through  August  2nd,  success- 
fully, with  good  crowds  in  attendance 
in  most  instances 

The  South-eastern  Field  Day,  a  trian- 
gular affair  which  had  groups  assemb- 
ling   at    Director    Hugh    McPherson  s 
farm,  at  Bridgeton,  and  Director  Jacob 
Mast's  farm,  at  Elverson,  began  the  pro- 
gram.    Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon  assembled  the 
York  County  group,  with  the  heU)  of 
Mr.  McPherson,  consisting  of  approxi- 
mately 80  persons,  and  went  over  the 
McPherson  fields  with  the  group.  Here 
on  the  McPherson  farm,  in  a  section 
where  many  early  fields  have  succumb- 
ed from  the  dry,  hot  weather,  the  fields 
were  in  green,  thrifty  condition,  partly 
due  to  late  planting,  but  more  especially 
to  the  fact  that  they  were  more  ideally 
cared  for  under  adverse  conditions  than 
any  other  field  viewed  during  the  en- 
tire week's  travel  to  the  various  other 
meetings. 

While  Dr.  Nixon  and  his  group  gath- 
ered in  York  County,  General  Manager 
Bower,  met  with  the  Chester  and  Lan- 
caster County  groups  at  the  Mast  farm. 
Here  were  seen  the  experimental  plots 
entrusted  to  Mr.  Masts'  care  which 
showed  definite  promise.  Also  Mr. 
Mast's  fields,  approximating  150  acres, 
were  viewed,  and  appeared  in  wonder- 
ful condition. 

The  farm  of  Amos  S.  Eberly,  at  New 
Holland,  was  also  visited,  and  here,  too, 
was  great  promise  for  a  fine  crop. 

The  York  and  Lancaster  groups,  then, 
met  at  Hershey  Park,  at  noon,  and  en- 
ioved  a  pleasant  outing  there,  in  addi- 
Uon  to  viewing  the  Hershey  Estates 
potato  fields  and  the  thriving  breedmg 
project  in  process  there. 

The  Eastern  Field  Day  was  held  on 
Tulv  31st  with  the  first  group  gathering 
ir\le  Robert  Getz  farm  at  K-sgevil^ 
■Wor^  was  seen  another  of  the  experi 
Sa7plotrand  the  Getz  fields     Then 
pnroute      other     outstanding     Pocono 
Mountain  fields  were  visited,  .including 
those  of  Roger  Meckes,  at  A  brightsville, 
and  A  T.  Blakeslee,  at  Blakes  ee  Also 
here  in  the  Poconos  ^yere  pointed  out 
hundreds  of  acres  of  land,  unusual  in 
potato   potentialities,   as  suitable   sites 
for  further  expansion. 


This  group  then  traveled  down  into 
Northampton  County,  to  the  Harry  K. 
Roth  farm,  at  Nazareth,  and  saw  there 
still   another   of   the   seedling   plots   in 
wonderful  shape,  as  well  as  the  Roth 
fields,  in  the  best  of  condition.    With  a 
large  number  of  Lehigh  growers  here, 
the  group  traveled  into  neighboring  Le- 
high County,  to  there  see  some  outstand- 
ing fields,  including  those  of  Earl  Hun- 
sicker,    at    Bath,    Director    P.    Daniel 
Frantz,  at  Coplay,  and  Roy  Wotring,  at 
Schecksville.      Mr.    Wotring's    niodern 
potato  storage  was  also  examined  with 
considerable  interest. 

The  North  Branch  Field  Day  conven- 
ed at  the  farm  of  A.  D.  Knorr,  in  Colum- 
bia County,  near  Numidia,  on  August 
1st  with  a  sizable  group  of  growers  on 
hand  to  view  the  experimental  plots  on 
test  there,  as  well  as  Mr.  Knorr  s  fine 
acreage,  and  his  well  constructed  mod- 
ern storage.  The  Ellis  Artley  fields  were 
then  seen,  and  an  interesting  mieeting 
held  on  the  site  of  the  Columbia  County 
Agricultural   Extension   varietal   plots. 
The  M.  P.  Whitenight  farm  was  also 
seen,  and  the  group  then  toured  to  the 
farm   of  Director  Roy   Hess,   at   btUi- 
water,  where  beautiful  fields  were  seen 
and  Mr.  Hess'  fine  barn  potato  storage 
inspected. 

Lunch  for  this  group  was  served  in  a 
Numidia  grove  by  the  Ladies  Aid  bo- 
ciety  of  Numidia,  and  was  reported  by 
all  as  the  best  ever. 

Throughout  Columbia  County  condi- 
tions were  on  the  dry  order.  There  was 
evident  need  of  rain  and  cooler  weather, 
and  some  fields  seen  had  already  suf- 
fered from  lack  of  them. 

Lynn  Fromm,  Bellefonte  lime  sales- 
man and  Association  booster,  assisted 
the  handling  of  the  Columbia  County 
meeting    by    bringing    the    Whiterock 
Quarries  broadcasting  car  to  the  tour. 
The  Central  Field  Day  began,  August 
2nd  at  Director  John  B.  Schrack's  farm, 
at    Loganton,    Clinton    County,    where 
were  both  good  fields  of  commercial  po- 
tatoes and  an  interesting  and  promising 
experimental    plot.      Then    the    group 
moved     to     Jersey     Shore,     Lycoming 
County,  to  view  the  progress  of  the  ex- 
perimental   project    being     conducted 
there  by  the  Lycoming  County  Future 
Farmers  of  America.     While  at  Jersey 
(Continued  on  page  18) 


10 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


August,  1940 


Dr.  Nixon  Writes  on 

Field 

There  are  four  things  that  ought  to 
come  out  of  any  such  occasion.  The  first 
is,  ''Vision  to  see."  Do  not  go  to  a  field 
meet  with  a  spirit  of  criticism.  Vision, 
you  know,  has  been  defined  as  the 
mystic  window  through  which  genius 
beholds  the  future.  If  you  will  let 
them,  someone  may  open  the  shutter  of 
your  window  so  that  you  may  see. 

The  second  is,  "Faith  to  believe."  It 
takes  a  lot  of  faith  when  prices  are  low 
and  weather  hazards  are  great.  But  you 
know  that  the  admonition  to  lean  on  the 
Lord  was  intended  for  the  weary,  not 
the  lazy.    Faith  without  work  is  dead. 

The  third  is  ''Courage  to  do."  You 
know  courage  has  been  defined  as  that 
quality  of  mind  which  enables  one  to 
encounter  difficulties  with  firmness  or 
without  fear. 


■Why  A  Pennsylvania 
Day? 

The  fourth  is  ''Enthusiasm."  You  know 
enthusiasm  has  been  defined  as  eleva- 
tion of  fancy  or  order  of  mind.  Nothmg 
was  ever  attained  without  it. 

You  will  observe  that  all  four  of  these 
concepts  come  from  within.  They  can- 
not be  put  on  like  a  hat  or  a  pair  of 
overalls.  They  are  contageous— passed 
from  one  to  another. 

So  why  a  Pennsylvania  All-State 
meeting?  We  all  need  to  catch  some- 
thing! 

When  the  grower  withdraws  from  the 
group  it  is  the  first  sign  of  internal  de- 
cay. Like  a  banana,  when  you  are 
separated  from  the  'bunch'  you  are 
skinned.  There  are  many  examples  of 
this. 

'As  a  man  thinketh,  so  is  he.  As  he 
continueth  to  think,  so  he  becomes'. 


Grower  to  Grower  Exchange 

The  rate  for  advertising  in  this  column  is  a  penny  a  word,  minimum  cost  25  cente, 
payable  with  order.    (10%  reduction  when  four  or  ^.^re  msertions  are  ord^ 
one  time.)  Count  name  and  address.  Send  ads  to  reach  the  GUIDE  POST,  Masonic 
Temple  Building,  Bellefonte,  Penna.,  by  the  20th  of  the  month  previous  to  publi- 
cation. 


POTATO  EQUIPMENT  FOR  SALE: 

One  two-row  Cletrac  Avery  Cultivator 
complete,  one  two-row  Cletrac  Avery 
Weeder,  one  Killifer  Disc  Harrow  with 
24"  blades,  all  slightly  used.  Good  condi- 
tion. Reasonable.  If  interested,  write  W. 
J.  Braddock,  c/o  Wheeling  Bronze  Cast- 
ing Company,  Wheeling,  W.  Va. 

PLANTER  WANTED:  2  row  Iron-Age 
Picker  Type.  Can  also  use  good  used 
grader  and  Digger.  Write  Ray  Salmon, 
Waterford,  Erie  County,  Penna. 

AVAILABLE:  Copies  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Nix- 
on's book,  "The  Principles  of  Potato 
Production,"  $1.25  per  copy.  Write  for 
your  copy  today,  to  Association  office, 
Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania. 


SOLD 

DIGGER  FOR  SALE:  One  single  row 
take  off  digger.  Good  repair.  Will  sell 
reasonably.  Write  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon, 
State  College,  Penna. 
SPRAY  BOOM  FOR  SALE:  John  Bean 
Spray  boom.  Complete  without  nozzles. 
10  row.  Good  condition.  Will  sell  cheap. 
Ed.  Fisher,  Coudersport,  Pa. 


It  may  make  a  difference  to  all  eter- 
nity whether  we  do  right  or  wrong  to- 
day. — James  Freeman  Clarke 

The  man  ready  to  meet  opportunity 
half-way  is  most  likely  to  become  ac- 
quainted. 


I 


It  Pays  to  Learn 

-PLANT  LANGUAGE- 

Plants,  of  course,  cannot  talk.  However,  "^^"y  ^J  ^h^JJ 
by  definite  signs  will  indicate  what  they  are  looking  f  or  m 
the  way  of  plant  food.  Potatoes,  for  instance,  will  show 
their  need  for  potash  with  leaves  that  have  an  unnatural 
dark  green  color  and  become  crinkled  and  somewhat 
thickened.  Later  on,  the  tip  will  become  yellowed  and 
scorched  This  tip-burn  then  will  extend  along  the  leaf 
r^argins  and  inward  toward  the  midrib,  usually  curlmg 
the  leaf  downward  and  resulting  in  premature  dying. 

It  pays  to  watch  for  these  signs,  but  it  is  a  far  better 
nractS  never  to  give  them  a  chance  to  appear.  They  are 
s'gn  o1  extreme  potash  starvation  and  long  before  they 
appear,  the  potash  content  of  your  soil  may  be  so  low  as 
?o  preatly  reduce  the  yield  and  quality  of  your  crop.  If 
you  do  not  know  just  how  fertile  your  soil  is,  see  your 
coLy  agent  or  experiment  station  about  having  samp  es 

of  it  tested.  Then  plan  a  fertilizer  ^'^^\^\^l'''^.'^'^'Z 
store  and  maintain  a  plant-food  content  which  will  bring 
vou  the  greatest  profits.  For  a  good  crop  of  No.  1  potatoes, 
son  and  fertilizer  must  supply  at  least  200  lbs.  of  available 
potash  (K.0)  per  acre.  Your  fertiUzer  dealer  will  tell  you 
how  little  it  costs  to  apply  enough  potash. 


If  we  can  be  of  any  help  to  you, 
please  write  us  for  free  information 
and  literature  on  how  to  fertihze 
your  crops. 


means 

lUorePtofit 


flmerican  Potash  Institute,  Inc, 


Investment  Building 


Washington,  D.  C. 


T 


12 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


August,  1940 


August,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


13 


"CAMP  POTATO"  OPEN  HOUSE,  "CAMP  POTATO" 

AUGUST  21,   1940 


The  entire  forenoon  will  be  devoted  to  personally  conducted  tours  of 
inspection  about  "Camp  Potato." 

Those  who  have  not  been  there  since  a  year  ago  will  be  impressed 
with  the  improvements  that  have  taken  place  during  the  year  on  the 
grounds  and  buildings. 

There  are  ample  facilities  in  the  picnic  grounds  for  basket  lunches 
and  parties. 

Any  who  are  interested  in  wood-craft  will  have  an  opportunity  to 
take  the  long  trail  through  the  impenetrable  forest  where  it  is  almost  dark 
at  noon-time,  led  by  expert  foresters. 

There  is  a  collection  of  finer  seedling  potatoes  this  year  at  the  Camp 
than  ever  assembled  before. 

The  new  12,000  bushel  potato  storage,  costing  barely  $300.00,  is  open 
for  inspection. 

At  the  noon  hour,  sandwiches,  potato  salad,  coffee  and  ice-cream  will 
be  served  from  the  Camp  kitchen  at  reasonable  cost.  No  one  will  need  to 
go  hungry  for  want  of  food  or  price. 

The  big  spring  is  flowing  an  abundance  of  cool,  refreshing  mountain 
water. 

The  Junior  Potato  Growers,  who  will  complete  their  three-day  camp 
outing  there  on  the  21st,  will  provide  entertainment. 

It  is  the  best  judgement  of  all  concerned  that  it  is  not  advisable  to 
run  an  all  county  tour  for  all  those  in  attendance,  because  such  tours  are 
unwieldy.  Those  who  head  the  tours  are  ready  to  leave,  actually,  before 
the  last  ones  can  unload.  However,  complete  facilities  will  be  made  to 
conduct  smaller  groups  to  points  of  interest,  including  any  of  Potter  Coun- 
ties' fine  seed  fields,  as  requested  or  desired. 

No  set  speeches  will  be  tolerated  on  this  occasion.  However,  such 
orators  as  the  Directors  and  the  Manager  will  be  present  to  take  care  of 
any  emergencies  along  this  line.  If  anyone  in  the  audience  is  observed, 
bursting  to  orate,  he  will  be  given  the  opportunity  for  brief  remarks.  (We 
suspect  that  Dr.  Nixon  will  get  his  chance  this  way!) 


> 


I 


i 


Things  to  see  at  "Camp  Potato":  — 

Ten-odd  thousand  seedling  varieties. 

Historic  soils  from  Maine  to  Michigan  by  way  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio,  with  potatoes  growing  in  them. 

Two  hundred  seventy  acres  of  wild  land  belonging  to  the  Camp, 
thirty  acres  in  potatoes. 

Fifty-five  deer  have  been  seen  in  one  single  drove  this  summer;  one 
bear  has  been  seen— but  no  rattlesnakes.  You  may  see  some  of  these. 

Four  hundred  acres  of  rogued  seed  potatoes. 

Forest  trails  through  the  largest  continuous  forest  area  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, which  completely  surrounds  "Camp  Potato". 

Those  who  are  cooperating  in  the  development  of  "Camp  Potato": 

Pennsylvania  Cooperative  Potato  Growers'  Association,  Inc. 
Potter  County  Foundation  Seed  Potato  Growers'  Association 
Pennsylvania  Farm  Bureau  Cooperative  Association 
Pennsylvania  Chain  Store  Council 

G.  L.  F. 

Hershey  Estates 

American  Potash  Institute,  Inc. 

Future  Farmers  of  America 

Machinery  and  Implement  Manufacturers  and  Supply  Concerns: 

Cleveland  Tractor  Company 

John  Bean  Manufacturing  Company 

A.  B.  Farquhar  Company,  Ltd.  (Iron  Age  Division) 

Champion  Corporation 

Warner  Company 

Chemical  Lime  Company,  Inc. 

Whiterock  Quarries,  Inc. 

The  Davison  Chemical  Corporation 

Many  individuals 


! 


14 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


August,  1940 


POTATO  CHIPS 


With  the  machinery  all  geared  up  for 
the  new  marketing  season,  enthusiasm 
for  the  program  is  running  a  new  high. 
Growers  who  never  participated  in  it 
before  are  eager  to  learn  the  plan,  and 
buyers  from  all  points  are  intimating 
their  interest  in  handling  the  Associa- 
tion pack  at  the  earliest  date  it  is  avail- 
able. 

O 


Director  Ed.  Fisher — the  Association's 
long  distance  ice  cream  consumer — 
showed  Eastern  potato  growers  just 
how  ice  cream  should  be  eaten  when  he 
attended  the  first  series  of  District  po- 
tato meetings.  Ed's  first  serving,  you 
know,  is  a  mere  full  quart  of  any  flavor 
you  want  to  name,  and  he  is  not  known 
to  shy  away  from  refills! 

O 


Samuel  D.  Gray,  Northeast  Manager 
for  the  American  Potash  Institute,  Inc., 
of  Washington,  D.  C,  who  is  conducting 
some  interesting  experiments  on  fer- 
tilizer applications  in  conjunction  with 
the  various  seedling  plots  over  the  State, 
was  in  attendance  at  most  of  the  District 
meetings  in  the  East  to  check  the  de- 
velopments of  his  tests.  Though  it  is 
too  early  now  to  predict  results,  we 
should  find,  on  these  Pennsylvania 
proving  plots,  some  interesting  facts. 
Mr.  Gray  is  a  truly  enthusiastic  friend 
to  the  Pennsylvania  potato  industry, 
and  his  work  in  the  breeding  program 
is  breeding  good  for  all  time. 

O 


''Farmers  live  today  by  Faith,  hope 
and  parity,"  said  a  practical  man  writ- 
ing in  the  Cooperative  Cotton  News  of 
California. 


-O- 


General  Manager  Eb  Bower  has  a 
tendency  to  get  lost  regularly  when  he 
visits  Columbia  County.  Back  in  1936, 
in  company  with  former  President  Wal- 
ter S.  Bishop,  he  failed  to  follow  direc- 
tions to  a  meeting  place,  and  arrived 
finally,  at  the  proper  destination,  hours 
late  for  the  meeting.  Then  several 
weeks  ago,  following  a  Columbia 
County  meeting  (which  he  managed  to 
find  through  more  luck  than  good  man- 
agement) he  suggested  that  Columbia 


native,  Director  Roy  Hess,  ride  with  him 
to  a  nearby  grove  where  lunch  was  be- 
ing served — undoubtedly  to  be  sure  he 
would  get  there.  Director  Hess  readily 
agreed,  forthwith  relaxed,  and  failed  to 
give  any  directions.  As  a  result,  they 
missed  their  turn,  and  nearly — their 
lunch! 

O 

Ralph  Snyder,  President  of  the  Wi- 
chita Bank  for  Cooperatives,  writes  the 
following  on  cooperation  in  the  Cooper- 
alive  Digest: 

"Jealousy  of  the  success  of  our  fel- 
low workers  who  have,  through  closer 
application  to  their  work,  or  perhaps 
have  been  endowed  by  Nature  with 
more  ability,  or  possibly  on  whom  "Lady 
Luck"  may  have  smiled  more  favorably, 
is  a  factor  in  all  human  effort  and  affect 
cooperative  work  possibly  more  than 
other  endeavors. 

"Personal  ambition  on  the  part  of  offi- 
cials, employees  or  members  has  blight- 
ed many  a  bright  prospect  for  successful 
cooperative  enterprise.  It  has  a  qual- 
ity that  is  to  be  commended — and  yet 
when  it  dominates  ones  thoughts  and 
actions,  becomes  a  dangerous  thing.  If 
one  can  only  remember  that  the  greatest 
success  for  the  enterprise  means  the 
most  success  for  the  participant,,  and 
that  no  one  who  really  renders  a  good 
service  need  be  solicitous  of  due  credit 
and  compensation  being  given  him,  per- 
sonal ambition  ceases  to  become  a  men- 
ace to  success." 

These  are  words  of  wisdom,  and  ap- 
plicable to  us  all. 

O 

The  first  car  of  Blue  Label  potatoes 
for  the  1940-41  crop  season  moved  to 
market  early  this  month  and  was  pack- 
ed by  Vogel  &  Nissley,  of  Lancaster, 
Penna.,  in  their  elaborately  equipped 
packing  house — which  is  something  of 
a  show-place  in  the  potato  industry.  The 
purchaser  of  this  first  car  was  the  Pitts- 
burgh Division  of  the  Atlantic  Commis- 
sion Company,  Inc.,  which  buyer  seldom 
hesitates  when  given  the  opportunity 
to  purchase  Pennsylvania  Blue  Labels. 

(Continued  on  page  18) 


7 


! 


1 


The  Champion  Twins  No.  444  2 -row  power  diggers— easily 

dig  15  to  25  acres  per  day. 

Less  LABOR  COSTS  Cleaner  POTATOES 
with  OK  Champion  POTATO  DIGGERS 


•  Here's  the  result  of  40 
years  of  experience  —  OK 
Champion  No.  444— a  2-row 
potato  digger  built  for  use 
with  any  tractor,  even  me- 
dium sized  **20'\  Holds  its 
place  on  side  hills  — turns  in 
extremely  short  radius. 
Streamlined—  electrically 
welded  one-piece  frames. 
Spring  balanced  levers. 

Adjustable  from  30"  to  42" 
—rigidly  attached  to  tractor. 
Weighs  less  than  2,000  lbs. 


1 


O  K  Champion  digs  cleaner — faster — 
with  light  draft. 


"' 1 


V/rhe  for  Circular 


No.  888  O  K  Champion  one-row  power 
diggers  with  same  features  as  No.  444, 

OK  Champion  MOVABLE  IRRIGATION 

Takes  Dry  Years  Out  of  Farming 

Defeat  drought— raise  more  and  better  yields  per 
acre.  O  K  Champion  movable  irrigation  has  in- 
creased potato  yields  up  to  250%  more  per  acre. 
Soon  pays  for  itself  in  more  No.  I's— less  culls.  Costs 
as  low  as  $10  per  acre.  Ask  for  irrigation  circular. 

4733  Shefiield  Ave. 


CHAMPION  CORPORATION  hammond.  iNPiANk 


16 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


August,  1940 


Official  Regulations  and  Instructions  for  Administering 

Pennsylvania's  400-Bushel  Club 


As  many  new  grower-members  are 
not  familiar  with  the  regulations  for 
the  400-Bushel  Club,  we  are  repeating 
these  instructions  and  the  necessary  in- 
formation. 

The  following  regulations  and  instruc- 
tions for  administering  Pennsylvania's 
400-Bushel  Club  have  been  promul- 
gated: 

1.  Any  Pennsylvania  potato  grower 
is  eligible  to  make  application  to  qualify 
for  membership  in  Pennsylvania's  400- 
Bushel  Club  and  to  have  an  acre  of  po- 
tatoes officially  checked. 

2.  No  summary  documents  or  reports 
shall  be  required  from  any  grower. 

3.  Requests  for  applications  must  be 
made  to  the  State  office  of  the  Associa- 
tion, or 

a.  From  persons  designated  by  the 
Association  residing  in  the  same 
county  as  the  applicant,  as  desig- 
nated in  five  (5). 

4.  All  applications  must  be  signed  by 
the  applicant  in  his  or  her  own  hand 
writing,  in  space  provided  for  that  pur- 
pose on  the  application. 

5.  The  following  persons  may  make 
the  official  check: 

a.  County  Agent 

b.  County  Vocational  Supervisor 

c.  Vocational  Agricultural  Instruc- 
tor 

d.  A  competent  person  designated 
by  the  Association 

6.  Applications  for  400-Bushel  Club 
membership  must  be  forwarded  to  the 
office  of  the  Pennsylvania  Cooperative 
Potato  Growers'  Association,  Inc.,  Belle- 
fonte,  Pennsylvania. 

In  order  to  be  admitted  to  Club  mem- 
bership or  be  awarded  the  400-Bushel 
Club  Medal,  all  applications  must  reach 
the  Association  office  on  or  before  De- 
cember 1st  of  each  year. 

7.  No  grower  will  be  awarded  the  of- 
ficial 400-Bushel  Club  Medal,  unless  the 
applicant  is: 

a.  A  member  of  the  Association  in 
good  standing,  for  the  current 
year  in  which  the  application  is 
filed,  or 


b.  Becomes  a  member  of  the  As- 
sociation prior  to  or  at  the  time  of 
filing  his  or  her  application:  that 
is,  not  later  than  December  1st,  of 
each  year. 

8.  The  Association  will  award  to 
every  grower  who  has  been  properly 
qualified  and  who  has  met  all  the  above 
requirements,  a  suitable  medal,  for  the 
following  achievements: 

a.  A  grower  who  produces  400  or 
more  bushels  of  potatoes  on  a 
measured  acre,  without  or  with 
irrigation,  the  regular  400-Bushel 
Club  Medal. 

b.  A  grower  who  produces  500  or 
more  bushels  of  potatoes  on  a 
measured  acre.  Medal  to  be  suit- 
ably engraved  to  designate  this 
accomplishment. 

c.  A  grower  who  produces  600  or 
more  bushels  of  potatoes  on  a 
measured  acre.  Medal  to  be  suit- 
ably engraved  to  commemorate 
such  a  feat. 

d.  A  grower  who  produces  400  or 
more  bushels  of  potatoes  on  a 
measured  acre  for  five  (5)  con- 
secutive years.  A  special  gold 
medal  will  be  suitably  engraved 
to  designate  this  accomplishment. 

e.  A  grower  who  produces  700  or 
more  bushels  of  potatoes  on  a 
measured  acre  (without  irriga- 
tion) ,  a  special  gold  medal  will  be 
suitably  engraved  to  commemo- 
rate the  achievement. 

9.  All  awards  will  be  made  by  the  As- 
sociation during  its  sessions  held  at  the 
Pennsylvania  Farm  Products  Show, 
Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania  during  the 
month  of  January  of  each  year. 


Regulations  for  Checking  Acre: 

1.  The  acre  to  be  checked  shall  be 
made  up  of  any  number  of  continuous 
equal  length  rows. 

2.  To  qualify  for  a  400  or  500  bushel 
yield  at  least  one  tenth  of  the  acre  must 
be  dug  and  this  area  shall  include  the 
two  outside  rows  of  the  acre.  Equally 


August,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


17 


I 


spaced  intermediate  rows  shall  be  in- 
cluded in  the  check  so  that  not  more 
than  ten  consecutive  undug  rows  will 
be  left  in  any  portion  of  the  acre. 

3.  To  qualify  for  a  600  or  700  bushel 
yield  the  entire  acre  shall  be  dug  and 
weighed. 

4.  Selection  of  rows  to  be  dug  may  in- 
clude rows  adjacent  to,  and  rows  not 
adjacent  to   sprayer  wheel  tracks.    A 

proportionate  number  of  each  shall  be 
dug.    The  number  of  rows  adjacent  to, 
and  not  adjacent  to  sprayer  wheel  tracks 
will  vary  with  the  size  of  the  spray  boom 
used. 

5.  Accuracy  in  measuring  and  mark- 
ing the  acre  to  be  dug,  in  weighing  and 
computing  the  yield  shall  be  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  checking  Supervisor. 
The  Supervisor  will  consult  with  and 
check  with  the  grower,  who  in  turn  will 
be  responsible  for  providing  sufficient 
help  and  asssitance  in  digging  and 
weighing  the  potatoes. 

6.  All  applications,  either  for  Club 
membership  or  to  have  the  400-BUSHEL 
MEDAL  awarded,  (including  official 
yields)  must  be  forwarded  to  the  office 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Cooperative  Potato 
Growers'  Association,  Inc.,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania  NOT  LATER  THAN  DE- 
CEMBER FIRST  OF  EACH  YEAR.  Ap- 
plications may  be  forwarded  either  by 
the  grower  or  the  Official  Supervisor. 


"It  is  not  the  seed  sown,  but  the  men- 
tal soil,  that  determines  what  growth 
will  be.  The  American  mind  simply  does 
not  provide  the  receptive  soil  in  which 
ideas   detrimental   to   it   can   flourish." 

W.  J.  Cameron 


"Your  honor,"  said  the  foreman  of  the 
jury,  "this  lady  is  suing  this  gent  for 
ten  thousand  dollars  for  a  stolen  kiss." 

"Correct,"  responded  the  judge.  "You 
are  to  decide  if  it  was  worth  it." 

"That's  the  point,  your  honor.  Could 
the  Jury  have  a  sample?" 

•    •    • 

A  peanut  sat  on  a  railroad  track 

It's  heart  was  all  a'fiutter 
The  3:45  came  rumbling  fast 

Toot!    Toot!    Peanut  Butter. 


For 


#  Economical 

#  Practical 

#  Successful 

FALL  LIMING 
-  USE  - 
WHITEROCK 

PULVERIZED 

LIMESTONE 


Write  for  prices  and 
particulars 

Whiterock  Quarries 

Bellefonte,  Pa. 


On  Display  At 

"Camp  Potato" 
August  21st 

Don't  Fail  To  Inspect 

The  NEW  Scale  for 

Weighing  Pecks 

Sure,  It's  h 

DETECTO-GRAM 

Jack  Grimison  Will  Be  There 
In  Person  To  Explain  It  To 
You— and  To  Take  Your  Order 


18 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


August,  1940 


August,  1940 


THE   GUIDE   POST 


19 


Mm 


mw^ 


Pennsylvania  Potatoes  in  the  Pantry 


r-*- 


The  housewife  is  now  familiar  with  the  Association  brand  and  is  buying  it  from 
choice. 


SUMMER   ACTIVITIES   PROGRAM 
WELL  UNDER  WAY 

(Continued  from  page  9) 

Shore,  the  group  visited  the  William  W. 
Hayes  farm,  and  witnessed  one  of  the 
finest  crops  in  Pennsylvania  in  the  mak- 
ing. 

In  view  of  the  extreme  pressure  of 
work  on  all  potato  farms  at  this  time  of 
the  year,  and  the  terrific  temperatures 
of  the  week  of  July  28th,  the  first  four 
District  Meetings  were  well  attended 
and  most  worthwhile. 

There  were  evidences  of  real  cooper- 
ation, too,  which  were  unsolicited,  but 
very  welcome.  For  instance.  President 
J.  A.  Donaldson  traveled  from  his  busy 
farm  in  Venango  County  into  the  South- 
eastern sections,  and  spent  the  entire 
week  assisting  with  the  whole  series  of 
meetings.  Director  Ed.  Fisher,  too, 
spent    the    week    away    from    Potter 


County,  and  had  three  of  his  men  with 
him.  Likewise,  Director  Jacob  Mast, 
and  two  of  his  men,  following  his  own 
meeting,  traveled  along  to  the  balance 
of  the  meetings  to  lend  his  support,  as 
did  Directors  Hugh  McPherson,  P.  Dan- 
iel Frantz  and  Roy  Hess.  When  it  is 
appreciated  what  a  sacrifice  it  is  for 
these  Association  builders  to  leave  their 
work,  to  assist  Association  activities 
without  remuneration,  it  is  indeed  im- 
portant to  appreciate  what  service 
they  are  rendering  their  fellow  men. 

The  Association  management  is  deep- 
ly indebted  to  the  various  growers  who 
acted  as  hosts  to  their  neighboring  grow- 
ers on  the  occasions  of  these  various 
meetings,  and  for  the  splendid  cooper- 
ation they  gave  in  all  instances  pertain- 
inEf  to  the  conduct  of  the  meetings. 

The  second  series  of  District  Meetings 
will  have  been  held  by  the  time  you 
read  this,  but  as  yet.  the  report  of  them 
is  only  that  they  hold  great  promise. 


! 


POTATO  CHIPS 

(Continued  from  page  14) 
Distributors  who  are  backing  the 
Association  marketing  program  are 
looking  interestedly  for  the  appearance 
of  the  new  Association  "Economy  Pack." 
In  it,  they  see  the  opportunity  to  handle 
larger  quantities  of  Pennsylvania  pota- 
toes than  heretofore  and  a  chance  to  ad- 
vertise the  "Economy"  potato  to  a  posi- 
tion of  popularity  in  all  markets.  Their 
confidence  in  this  plan  to  further  utilize 


Pennsylvania's  crop  to  merchandising 
will  prove  a  decided  boon  to  the  hun- 
dreds of  growers  who  will  not  have 
quantities  of  Blue  Label  stock,  giving 
them  a  right  price  for  a  fair  consumer 
pack,  and  at  the  same  time,  enhance  the 
value  of  the  good  Blue  Label  packs. 

O 

There  is  no  question  today  that  the 
Pennsylvania    Potato    Marketing    Pro- 
gram is  right,  with  a  capital  R.    When 
(Continued  on  page  20) 


THE  MAN  WHO  GETS  AHEAD  USES  HIS  HEAD  .  .  . 

•  Not  to  Explain  Why  it  Can't  Be  Done 

•  But  to  Figure  Out  a  Way  to  do  it 

ALBERT    C.    ROEMHILD 
Potato  Commission  Merchant 


Lombard  1000 


122  Dock  Street 


Philadelphia,  Pa. 


AN    INVITATION 

THE  POTTER  COUNTY 
FOUNDATION  SEED  POTATO  GROWERS'  ASSOCIATION 

Cooperating  with  the 
PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE  POTATO  GROWERS'  ASS'N 

Cordially  Invites 
ALL  PENNSYLVANIA  POTATO  GROWERS  WHO  ARE  ATTENDING 

THE  STATE-WIDE  "CAMP  POTATO"  OPEN  HOUSE  ON 

AUGUST  21st 

To  See  the  Potter  County  Seed  Fields  -  All  Visitors  are 
Welcomed  and  Cars  Will  Be  Available  for  Inspection  Tours 

SEE  PENNSYLVANIA'S  OUTSTANDING  SEED 

IN  THE  MAKING 

THE  POTTER  COUNTY  FOUNDATION  SEED 
POTATO  GROWERS'  ASSOCIATION 


F.  E.  WAGNER,  Secretary 


DON  STEARNS.  President 


20 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


August,  1940 


MEMBERSHIP  DRIVE  BRINGS 
MORE  NEW  RECRUITS 

(Continued  from  page  7) 

Uriah  Sweitzer,  Knox,  Clarion  County 
Kermit  Roth,  Neffs,  Lehigh  County 

Easton  Potato  Chip  Company,  North- 
ampton, Northampton  County 

Snyder's  Bakery,  Hanover,  York  County 

Judson  Kerr  &  Brothers,  Inc.,  Philadel- 
phia, Philadelphia  County 

John  E.  Cain  Company,  Cambridge, 
Mass. 

Winslow  Chip  Company,  Marblehead, 
Mass. 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 

(Continued  jrom,  page  8) 

The  customer  was  wrathy. 

It  was  in  the  market  place. 
He  waved  his  hands  excitedly 

And  angry  was  his  face; 
He  shook  his  fist  beneath  the  nose, 

Of  the  poor  market  man. 
And  I  could  hear  his  irate  words 

Deny  this  if  you  can, 
I  came  to  buy  potatoes  here, 

I  bought  a  sackful,  too. 
Why  are  all  the  big  ones  on  top 

That's  what  I'm  asking  you? 
On  top  they  were  so  nice  and  big. 

Beneath  they  are  so  small. 
So  tell  me  what  the  reason  is 

Or  I'll  kick  down  your  stall. 
The  vegeteer  was  much  contrite 

And  humbly  made  reply, 
"You  see  those  came  from  Iowa 

Where  things  grow  mighty  spry. 
So  fast  things  grow  in  that  rich  soil, 

One  scarcely  can  believe 
The  tales  we  hear  about  that  state 

'Tis  so  hard  to  conceive. 
They  start  to  dig  potatoes  there 

At  least,  they  tell  me  so 
But  ere  they  get  a  sackful  picked 

The  last  ones  larger  grow. 
And  so,  you  see,  the  ones  you  bought 

Were  larger  much  on  top 
Because  they  were  the  last  ones  dug 

And   growing   didn't   stop." 
The  customer  just  shook  his  head 

And  nothing  had  to  say — 
I  wonder  if  that  merchant  lied, 

Or  do  things  grow  that  way. 

•     •     • 

Some  people  think  the  only  reason  it 
does'nt  rain  is  because  they  have  for- 
gotten to  thunder. 


Jimmy  was  looking  at  the  picture  of 
the  prophet  Elijah,  ascending  to  Heaven 
in  a  chariot  of  fire.  When  he  saw  the 
halo  above  Elijah's  head,  he  cried,  "OH, 
mother,  look!  He's  carrying  an  extra 
tire." 


POTATO  CHIPS 

(Continued  from  page  19) 

it  was  begun,  in  '36,  some  of  us  knew  it 
was  right — and  lots  of  us  were  skeptics. 
But  as  this  program  begins  its  fifth  year, 
and  agricultural  groups  in  various  and 
sundry  agricultural  fields  other  than 
potatoes,  and  dozens  of  foreign  states 
with  potato  problems,  seek  the  essence 
of  our  plan  to  do  a  similar  project  as 
ours,  something  has  been  proved.  As 
an  example  of  the  widespread  interest 
in  this  Association's  plan,  we  all  might 
look  to  Ohio  this  winter,  and  observe 
the  Ohio  Potato  Growers  operating  a 
program  set  up  with  ours  as  a  pattern. 
O 

if  you  have  felt, — as  you  have  read 
these  items— something  lacking— you 
have  been  right.  It  is  "Bill  Shakespud'* 
himself.  He  is  enjoying  a  well  deserved 
vacation,  and  you  have  a  poor  substitute 
standing  in  for  him.  But  perhaps  the 
psychology  of  this  let-down  is  good,  for 
all  the  better  will  you  appreciate,  come 
September,  when  "Bill"  is  back  on  the 
job,  what  a  good  job  he  does  for  you  the 
year  'round. 

O 

"Bill  Shakespud"  would  have  includ- 
ed here  some  appropriate  observances 
on  market  conditions.  But  your  humble 
substitute  is  hardly  qualified  to  do  this 
— and  to  hazard  a  guess  might  prove 
unwise;  even  disastrous.  However,  it 
is  a  fair  bet  that  "Bill"  would  caution 
conservatism  at  this  time  in  the  disposal 
of  early  crops,  for  it  is  obvious,  even  to 
the  writer,  who  wouldn't  be  knowing 
much  about  the  whole  thing,  that  the 
final  outcome  of  the  later  crop  is  indefi- 
nite enough  that  there  is  no  reason  to 
expect  that  prices  will  not  advance  any 
above  their  present  low. 

O 

Truth  of  the  matter  is,  we  are  now 
to  the  point  where  we  are  just  trying 
to  fill  up  space — and  there  is  a  limit  to 
everything! 

"Small  Potato" 

(Pinch-hitting  for  "Bill  Shakespud." 


YOUR  EXTRA  PROFIT 

FROM  THE  USE  OF  A  BEAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 

WILL  PAY   FOR  IT 


3  CAPACITY  SIZES  OF  BEAN  GRADERS 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  BRUISING 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  CUTTING 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  INACCURACY 
IN  YOUR  POTATO  GRADING 

..YOU  DON'T  GET  IT.. 

WITH  A   BEAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 
OUR  CATALOG  SHOWS  YOUR  WAY  TO  PROFIT 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co. 


LANSING 


MICHIGAN 


22 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


August,  1940 


Bag  Prices  for  1940-41  Season 


1000  ] 

Delivered 

wall) 

$18.00 

wall) 

$17.50 

wall) 

$17.00 

wall) 

$45.50 

wall) 

$48.75 

wall) 

$38.50 

In  order  that  all  growers  have  com- 
plete information  on  bags  and  bag 
prices,  repetition  of  the  bag  set-up  is 
made  from  the  July  Guide  Post. 

Effective  August  1st,  1940,  the  follow- 
ing prices,  on  the  Association  trade- 
marked  paper  potato  bags,  will  prevail: 

Specifications: 

15-pound  bags,  two  wall  60/50-110 
Weight,  Natural  Kraft. 

60-pound  bags,  two  wall  70/70-140 
Weight,  Natural  Kraft. 

60-pound  bags,  three  wall  50/50/50- 
150  Weight,  Natural  Kraft. 


Prices  Quoted  are  Per 

Blue  Label,  15's  (2- 

Red  Label,  15's  (2- 
Economy  Pack,    15's  (2- 

Blue  Label,  60's  (2- 

Blue  Label,  60's  (3- 

Unclassified,  60's  (2- 


The  above  prices  are  for  delivery  to 
any  point  in  Pennsylvania  and  include 
the  wire  loop  ties  and  the  commission  to 
the  Association. 

Unclassified,  60's  (Black  Letters)  60- 
pounds  Net-*'UNCLASSIFIED  POTA- 
TOES." 

Legality: 

The  size  of  printing,  lettering  and  no- 
menclature on  the  Association  trade- 
marked  bags  meets  all  the  requirements 
of  Act  275,  approved  May  28th,  1937, 
and  the  rules  and  regulations  promul- 
gated by  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture 
for  administering  the  Act.  ADDITION- 
AL TAGGING  OR  PRINTING  IS  UN- 
NECESSARY. 

Bag  Orders 

All  orders  for  Association  trade- 
marked  paper  potato  bags  must  clear 
through  the  office  of  the  Association, 
Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania.  NO  EXCEP- 
TIONS WILL  BE  MADE  TO  THIS 
REGULATION. 


Packing 

All  bags  are  bundled,  wrapped  and 
tied.  The  60-pound  bags  are  packed  100 
to  the  bundle;  the  15-pound,  250  to  the 
bundle.  BUNDLES  CANNOT  BE  BRO- 
KEN. 

Delivery 

All  bags  will  be  shipped  either  by 
rail  or  truck  whichever  is  most  efficient 
and  economical  to  all  concerned. 

Terms 

All  Association  bags  are  shipped  on  a 
C.O.D.  basis,  (No  exceptions).  When 
bags  are  forwarded  by  rail,  shipments 
will  be  made  sight  draft  attached  to  bill 
of  lading;  when  shipments  go  forward 
by  truck  arrangements  must  be  made  by 
the  consignee  to  settle  for  same  at  desti- 
nation, either  by  check  or  in  cash. 

Payment 

When  bags  are  shipped  sight  draft 
attached  to  bill  of  lading,  pay  only  the 
amount  of  the  draft  when  same  corres- 
ponds with  the  number  of  bags  ordered 
and  if  in  accordance  with  the  above 
price  schedule. 

When  bags  are  delivered  by  truck, 
pay  either  by  check  or  in  cash.  Indi- 
vidual or  company  checks  will  be  ac- 
cepted by  the  tucking  company  handling 
the  shipment.  IN  NO  INSTANCE  PAY 
ANY  ADDITIONAL  COLLECTION, 
FREIGHT  OR  TRUCKING  CHARGES. 
Prices  quoted  are  delivered. 

Should  any  irregularities  occur,  con- 
tact the  Association  office  at  once. 

•     •    • 

The  act  of  contemplation  creates  the 
thing  contemplated. 

n 


DO  GOOD  TO  THY  FRIEND  TO 
KEEP  HIM,  TO  THY  ENEMY  TO  GAIN 
HIM. 

— Benjamin  Franklin. 


-n- 


Quarrels  would  not  last  long  if  the 
fault  was  only  on  one  side. 

— ^La  Rochefoucauld 


SPRAY  and  DUST 

with 

MILLARD  MODERN  LIMES 

Rotary  Kiln  Products 


Crop  Protection 


Service 


Reasonable  Cost 


H.  E.  MILLARD 


Phone  7-3231 


Annville,  Pa. 


Ql4e/S^  Potato  Diggers 


They  Get  the  Potatoes  with  Least  Cost  and  in 
Best    Marketable  Condition. 

Require  Fewest  Repairs 

Many  years  high  record  for  long  service  and  low  cost.  Growers  report  digging  150 
and  more  acres  without  repairs.  Supplied  in  several  lengths  and  widths;  with 
continuous  elevator  and  various  attachments,  as  desired. 

Adapated  for  use  with  tractor,  power  take-off,  and 
with  or  without  engine  attachments. 
Write  for  catalog. 

EUREKA  MOWER  COMPANY 

UTICA.  N.  Y. 


Potato  Growers  Profit  from 

KID  GLOVE  Performance 


"Were  it  not  for  the  splen- 
did work  performed  by 
my  IRON  AGE  Kid  Glove 
two-row  digger,  equipped 
with  rubber  tires,  I  would 
have  lost  25,000  bushels  of 
potatoes.  No  other  digger 
could  dig  my  potatoes  in 
the  wet  condition  of 
my  muck  soil. 

— R.H. 


Because  IRON  AGE  Kid  Glove 
Potato  Diggers  are  designed  for 
the  work  to  be  done  —  and  will 
perform  well  under  unfavorable 
conditions  —  some  of  our  users 
lell  us  where  other  makes  fail 
entirely.  Kid  Glove  users  are  en- 
thusiastic about  their  perform- 
ance.   Especially  constructed  to 


Double  Row, 
Single  60-inch  Apron 

Has  no  more  parts  than 

single  row  with  27  inch 

apron. 


prevent  mechanical  injury  to  the 
tubers.  Kid  Glove  Diggers  quick- 
ly pay  for  themselves  by  turning 
out  more  U.  S.  No.  1  potatoes  per 
acre.  If  you  are  a  profit-minded 
grower,  investigate  Kid  Glove's 
money-making  features. 


Write  for  Complete  Information 


A.  B.  FARQUHAR  CO.,  LTD. 


333  DUKE  STREET 


YORK.  PENNA. 


m  EXPERIMENT  STATiOM 
PENNSYLVANIA  STATE  COllfW 

STATE  COLLSOF.   P" 


PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE 
POTATO  GROWERS  ASSOCIATION 


INCORPORATED 


4 

"More  *V  Per  Acre 

-That's  Where  Agrico  Counts!" 

Sa)f  Leading  Potato  Growers, 
from  Maine  to  Minnesota 

MORE  No.  One's  — that's  where  potatoes  pay  off!  It's  those 
extra  bushels  of  clean,  smooth,  uniform  potatoes  that  mean 
extra  cash  income  to  the  grower.  And  that's  the  basis  on  which 
we  ask  you  to  consider  Agrico,  the  Nation's  Leading  Fertilizer. 
Wherever  good  potatoes  are  grown,  from  Maine  to  Minnesota, 
leading  farmers  have  proved,  clearly  and  convincingly,  that  Agrico's 
extra  crop- producing  efficiency  means  EXTRA  yields  .  .  .  EXTRA 
quality  .  .  .  EXTRA  cash  profit.  There's  a  reason  —  several  reasons, 
in  fact  —  why  crop  results  on  farm  after  farm  show  such  outstand- 
ing records  with  Agrico:  (1)  There's  an 
Agrico  specially  formulated  to  grow  po- 
tatoes—made to  do  this  one  job  and 
do  it  better;   (2)   Agrico  is  **made  to 
measure"  for  local  soils  and  growing 
conditions;  (3)  Agrico  contains  all  the 
needed  plant  foods,  in  just  the  right 
balance. 

Use  Agrico  on  your  own  farm  and 
profit  by  the  difference  it  makes  in  yield 
and  above  all  in  the  quality  of  the  crop. 

Agrico  is  Manufactured  ONLY  by 

The  AMERICAN  AGRICULTURAL  CHEMICAL  Co. 

Baltimore,  Md.    Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Carteret,  N.  J. 

THERE'S  A  BRAND  OF  AGRICO  FOR  EACH  CROP 


Timely  Observations  and  Suggestions 

L.  T.  Denniston 
Association  Field  Representative 


\ 


AGRICO 


THE   NATION'S  LEADING 
FERTILIZER 


Crop  Conditions 

Another  harvest  season  has  rolled 
around.  By  the  time  this  issue  of  the 
Guide  Post  reaches  your  mail  box  the 
greater  portion  of  the  Pennsylvania 
early  crop  will  be  out  of  the  ground  and 
into  storage  or  into  market.  Digging  of 
the  late  crop  will  be  under  way,  with 
harvest  in  full  swing  by  October  first. 
Taking  the  State  as  a  whole,  there  were 
a  number  of  good  crops  of  early  pota- 
toes, but  many  more  poor  ones. 

It  is  convenient  to  blame  weather  for 
the  failures,  however,  it  would  be  well 
for  many  growers  who  feel  they  had 
failures  to  check  up  on  themselves,  and 
make  a  real  effort  to  grow  a  crop  of 
potatoes  m  spite  of  the  weather.  As  you 
look  back  now,  how  about  the  seed  you 
planted?   Was  it  free  of  disease?  From 
a  proven  source?  Well  stored  to  pre- 
serve  it's   vitality?    And   last,   but   not 
least,  was  it  planted  3  to  4  inches  below 
the  level  in  a  deep,  loose  seed  bed  filled 
with  an  abundance  of  humus?   Did  you 
run  the  weeder  early  and  often  on  every 
opportunity,  or  did  you  complain  that  it 
rained  all  the  time  and  that  you  were 
unable  to  cultivate  and  hence  let  the 
weeds  get  the  better  of  you?  Did  you 
begin  spraying  as  soon  as  you  could  see 
the  rows,  spraying  weekly  or  oftener 
thereafter,   or   did  you   wait  until   the 
tops  were  a  foot  to  knee  high,  and  only 
thereafter  when  you   weren't  busy  at 
something  else?  T.  B.  Terry,  for  fifty 
years  a  leading  potato  grower  in  this 
country,  repeated  over  and  over  in  his 
institute  lectures  and  wrote  in  his  book 
on  potato  culture  that  the  only  real  crop 
failure  he  had  was  in  a  wet  season. 

The  late  crop,  as  of  this  writing  (Sep- 
tember third),  promises  many  fine 
crops  throughout  the  State.  Moisture 
conditions  are  ideal  in  most  sections, 
and  counting  on  the  average  moisture 
for  September,  I  predict  many  400  and 
500  bushel  yields  spread  pretty  well 
over  the  State.  Unless  growers  are  on 
the  job,  blight  could  easily  overtake 
many  of  these  fine  late  crops  and  spell 
disaster.  Do  your  part,  however,  and 
the  crop  is  as  good  as  in  the  bag — Blue 
Labels,  we  hope. 


Markets  and  Marketing 

Markets  have  been  reported  as 
draggy,  dull  and  what  not  over  a  period 
of  better  than  two  weeks,  yet  Miss 
Sloop,  here  at  the  office,  is  at  this  mo- 
ment confirming  shipments  by  rail  and 
truck  to  Philadelphia,  and  Baltimore 
at  19^c  per  peck,  and  to  Pittsburgh  at 
23c  per  peck.  Such  a  market  cannot 
be  counted  a  failure  at  this  season  of 
the  year.  Like  growing  the  crop,  too 
many  growers  are  looking  for  some- 
thing better  than  they  are  getting  with- 
out doing  anything  about  it.  Don't  fail 
to  note  that  19^c  is  almost  80c  per 
bushel,  and  23c  is  92c  per  bushel.  This 
is  not  price  cutting,  this  is  upholding 
the  market.  This  is  the  aim  always  of 
the  Association  and  deserves  the  ever 
increasing  support  of  the  growers.  Do 
not  expect  the  Association  to  do  the  im- 
possible, unless  you  add  your  weight  to 
the  cause. 

Hundreds  of  new  growers  will  be  set- 
ting themselves  up  during  the  coming 
weeks  to  market  all  of  their  crop  the 
Association  way.  Hundreds  more  wil] 
be  trying  the  Association  way  for  the 
first  time  by  planning  to  market  a  por- 
tion of  their  crop.  We  do  not  hesitate  to 
predict  that  all  of  these  growers  will 
be  boosters  for  the  program  before  the 
1940-41  marketing  season  is  over. 

Why  not  be  one  of  these  new  packers? 
Is  it  lack  of  equipment?  New,  expensive 
equipment  is  not  necessary.  Let  us  show 
you  how  to  use  your  present  equipment 
to  do  the  job. 

Is  it  lack  of  a  local  grade  supervisor 
in  your  community?  Let  us  know  if 
this  is  the  case,  and  we  will  see  that  one 
is  properly  trained  and  licensed  for 
you  or  your  community. 

Is  it  lack  of  confidence  that  you  can- 
not put  up  a  Blue  Label  of  No.  1  grade? 
Let  us  check  your  crop,  and  show  you 
how  it  would  grade.  If  it  is  not  practical 
to  put  up  Blue  Labels,  then  it  can  be 
packed  in  the  new  Economy  pack. 

Is  it  because  you  think  it  is  a  tedious 
job  to  pack  potatoes  in  peck  paper  bags? 
Ask  those  who  have  been  packing,  be 


*HE  GUIDE  POST 


September,  1^40 


they  large  or  small  growers,  and  the 
answer  will  be  the  same! 

Give  us  a  chance  to  answer  your  many 
questions.  Give  us  a  chance  to  show  you 
and  your  neighbor  how  very  simple  this 
program  is  in  its  working.  We  never 
own  or  speculate  with  your  potatoes. 
We  do  not  receive  or  handle  your 
money.  We  do  try  to  get  you  the  best 
possible  price  for  them  and  to  have  a 
market  open  for  them  when  you  desire 
to  sell.  As  a  Pennsylvania  potato  grow- 
er, this  is  your  program.  Our  job  is 
simply  one  of  supervision  and  manage- 
ment. 
Selecting  Seed  Potatoes 

Hundreds  of  Pennsylvania  potato 
growers,  vitally  interested  in  seeing 
for  themselves  the  fields  from  which 
they  will  secure  next  j'^ears'  seed  for 
planting,  are  journeying  into  Potter 
County,  and  a  few  other  scattered  points 
in  the  State,  into  Michigan,  and  Maine. 
"Camp  Potato"  has  done  more  to  stimu- 
late this  interest  on  the  part  of  the 
growers  than  any  other  half  dozen  rea- 
sons. The  potato  growers  of  this  State 
will  be  forever  indebted  to  the  State  of 
Michigan  and  the  State  of  Maine  for 
supplying  good  seed  over  a  period  of 
years  and  making  this  seed  available  in 
quantity.  It  was  not  so  much  a  sales  pro- 
gram on  the  part  of  these  states,  or  on 
the  part  of  growers  or  agencies,  but 
rather  that  they  supplied  the  demand 
for  good  seed  which  was  required  in 
the  sound  potato  program  of  Dr.  E.  L. 
Nixon  and  his  co-workers  in  Pennsyl- 
vania over  a  period  of  twenty  years. 

With  the  favorable  climate  and  soil 
of  the  upper  Allegheny  Plateau  Penn- 
sylvania could  have  supplied  much  of 
this  seed  over  this  period  had  its  grow- 
ers caught  the  vision  and  set  out  to 
create  a  seed  industry  20  years  ago. 
These  favorable  climatic  and  soil  con- 
ditions still  prevail,  and  it  has  been 
amply  proven  that  good  seed  can  be 
consistently  produced  in  these  upper 
reaches  of  the  Allegheny  Plateau.  We 
believe  it  is  good  economy,  practical, 
and  to  the  best  interest  of  our  growers 
and  industry  that  every  encouragement 
be  given  to  a  sound  seed  industry  within 
our  own  State.  If  Michigan  and  Maine, 
as  the  two  principal  states  supplying 
Pennsylvania  from  without,  continue  to 
meet  the  demand  of  the  growers  by 
supplying  seed  that  gives  a  good  ac- 
count of  itself,  and  at  a  price  the  grow- 


ers can  afford  to  pay,  this  trade  built 
up  over  the  past  20  years  need  not  suf- 
fer. 

It  requires  approximately  3,000,000 
bushels  of  potatoes,  good  seed  or  other- 
wise, to  plant  Pennsylvania's  annual 
crop.  It  is  estimated  that  around  500,- 
000  bushels  of  disease  free  seed  is  im- 
ported by  our  growers  annually.  Al- 
though the  figure  fluctuates,  it  is  safe 
to  say  1,000,000  bushels  of  good  seed, 
one  year  or  more  removed  from  disease 
free  stock,  is  planted  annually.  This 
accounts  for  1,500,000  bushels.  What  of 
the  other  1,500,000  bushels  planted  an- 
nually? The  greatest  need  in  the  seed 
industry  today  is  a  practical,  economic- 
al system  of  distribution  for  seed. 

Don't  Let  Your  Sprayer  Freeze 

It  will  be  many  weeks  after  you  re- 
ceive this  issue  of  the  Guide  Post  un- 
til killing  frosts  and  light  freezes  are 
upon  us.  The  sprayer  must  still  be  in 
use  on  green  growing  crops  throughout 
September  to  play  safe  against  the 
danger  of  a  late  attack  of  blight.  If  the 
sprayer  is  standing  out  on  one  of  these 
late  September  or  early  October  frosty 
mornings,  you  are  apt  to  find  you  have 
a  welding  job  on  your  hands,  or  even 
have  the  expense  of  a  new  pump  staring 
you  in  the  face.  Water  in  the  cylinder 
chambers  will  freeze  more  quickly  than 
otherwise.  Either  store  the  sprayer  dur- 
ing the  latter  weeks  of  the  season,  cover 
the  pump  well,  or  drain  it. 

You  may  be  neglecting  some  other 
potato  equipment  that  should  be  under 
cover.  Most  potato  equipment  rusts  out 
faster  than  it  wears  out,  especially  in 
the  case  of  the  smaller  grower. 

Arrange  the  Storage  for 
Safety  and  Efficiency 

I  have  seen  more  storages  under  con- 
struction and  others  being  arranged 
and  rearranged  for  safety  and  efficiency 
for  handling  potatoes  this  year  than  in 
any  other  year  in  the  history  of  the 
potato  program. 

Among  the  new  storages  the  straw 
loft  construction  is  most  common,  and 
from  the  experience  of  those  already 
using  such  storages,  this  cannot  be  far 
wrong.  Potatoes  of  a  much  more  con- 
sistent condition,  as  to  keeping,  rot, 
moisture,  etc.,  were  packed  from  these 
storages  during  the  past  two  seasons 
than  from  any  other  construction. 

(Continued  on  page  18) 


September,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


,. 


Open  House  at  ^Camp  Potato"  Draws  Big 
Crowd  of  Growers  and  Friends 


*'Open  House''— not  only  for  a  day, 
but  for  a  week— at  "Camp  Potato"  wel- 
comed her  founders,  builders  and  own- 
ers, Pennsylvania's  potato  growers,  to  a 
varied  program  of  activities,  stretching 
from  Saturday,  August  17th,  through  to 
Saturday,  August  24th. 

Things  started  in  a  quiet  enough  way 
Saturday  afternoon,  on  the  17th,  but 
the  tempo  kept  increasing  by  evening, 
and  through  Sunday,  until  Monday 
morning,  when  roll  was  called,  it  re- 
vealed that  40  rollicking,  energetic  sons 
and  daughters,  aged  9  to  14,  of  potato 
growers  were  in  camp  for  a  three-day 
stay.  To  this  number  were  added  15 
adults,  some  performing  one  or  another 
of  many  assigned  tasks  and  making 
themselves  responsible  for  keepmg  the 
pent  up  energy  of  these  youngsters  in 
tow  and  others  visitors  at  the  Camp.  A 
full  report  of  the  activities  of  this  group 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  issue,  so  let  s 
get  on  with  the  story. 

The    Big    Day — Wednesday,    August 
21st:    Before  the  frost  had  all  melted 
away  (We  did  have  frost  that  morning 
and  more  the  following  Saturday  morn- 
ing) the  first  arrivals  were  on  the  scene. 
It  wasn't  a  case  of  the  early  bird  getting 
the   worm,    for   worms    are   scarce   on 
frosty  mornings.    It  seems   as   though 
those  who  come  early  stay  longest,  for 
a  number  of  these  early  comers  stayed 
over,  not  only  for  the  day,  but  over 
night     Like   the   swallows,   they   kept 
coming;  some  left  as  the  day  wore  on, 
but   always   more    came.    And   so   the 
records  show  that  1200  to  1500  growers 
sons  and  daughters,  and  friends  visited 
the  Camp  for  the  big  day.  Some  of  these 
were  in  the  group  which  stayed  over 
for  the  following  three  days  —  which 
proved  most  active,  for  this  stay-over 
group  accomplished  much  at  the  Camp. 
The  program  for  the  big  day  began 
with   an   inspection  of  the  Camp   and 
Camp  property,  with  emphasis  placed 
on  the  many  imrovements  there  since 
the  last  Field  Day  at  the  Camp  a  year 
ago.   More  significant  among  these  im- 
provements were  weatherboarding  the 
outside  of  the  Camp  with  beautiful  as- 
bestos shingles,  addition  of  a  comfort- 
able residence— the  quarters  now  oc- 


cupied by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wayne  A.  Hind- 
man  and  daughter,  Connie,  resident 
managers  of  the  Camp,  completion  of  a 
10,000  bushel  storage  which  has  proven 
the  most  practical  and  economical  addi- 
tion to  the  Camp  property,  clearing  and 
breaking  of  25  acres  of  land  —  now 
planted  to  seedling  potatoes.  There  were 


"Camp  Polato"  never  had  a  sign  worthy 
of  its  dignity  and  importance  until  last 
month.  Director  Jacob  K.  Mast,  felt  the 
need  of  a  sign  so  intently  that  he  had  the 
sign  pictured  above  erected  and  attrac- 
tively painted,  and  donated  it  to  the 
Camp.   This,   indeed,   is   a  worthy  gift. 

many  minor  improvements  which  have 
added  to  the  Camp  and  propery  as  a 
whole,  but  too  numerous  to  mention 
here.  It  is  hoped  that  by  August,  1941 
we  can  point  to  a  number  of  additional 
improvements  now  planned,  that  will 
be  equally  or  even  more  impressive  to 
the  Camp's  visitors.  Have  yourself 
ready— as  an  Association  member  and 
Camp  owner  you  may  be  called  upon 
to  help. 

Dr.  Nixon  spent  the  greater  part  of 
the  forenoon  showing  and  explaining 
seedling  plots.    Those  who  were  in  on 

(Continued  on  page  16) 


6 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


September,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 

Published  monthly  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Cooperative  Potato  Growers,  Inc. 

OFFICERS 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  Emlenton  . .  President 

Roy  R.  Hess,  Stillwater   Vice-Pres. 

E.  B.  Bower,  Bellefonte, 

Sec*y-Treas.  and  Gen.  Mgr. 


DIRECTORS 

Jacob  K.  Mast Elverson,  Chester 

P.  Daniel  Frantz Coplay,  Lehigh 

Hugh  McPherson Bridgeton,  York 

John  B.  Schrack Loganton,  Clinton 

Roy  R.  Hess Stillwater,  Columbia 

Ed.  Fisher Coudersport,  Potter 

Charles  Frey  North  Girard,  Erie 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.l,  Emlenton,  Venango 
R.  W.  Lohr  Boswell,  Somerset 

Annual  membership  fee  $1.00.  This  in- 
cludes the  Guide  Post. 

All  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary-Treas- 
urer and  General  Manager,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania. 


Special  Information  for 

Grade  Supervisors 

Beginning  with  this  issue  of  the 
Guide  Post,  a  page,  or  two,  when  neces- 
sary, to  be  headed  PUTTING  PENN- 
SYLVANIA POTATOES  IN  THE  BAG, 
will  be  devoted  to  information  of  timely 
and  vital  interest  to  all  Grade  Super- 
visors. This  is  to  be  permanent,  with  a 
space  in  each  issue  given  over  to  in- 
struction, notices,  pointers  and  new 
ideas,  and  items  of  interest  to  these  men. 

The  ever  increasing  number  of  grow- 
ers packing  and  marketing  through  the 
Association  program  recognize  the  im- 
portant task  being  performed  by  these 
men  to  them,  as  packers,  to  the  commu- 
nities which  they  serve,  and  to  the  in- 
dustry of  the  State. 

We  have  contended,  from  the  begin- 
ning of  this  program,  that  this  task  can 
be  most  practically  and  economically 
done  by  men  properly  trained  within 
the  local  community  where  their  serv- 
ices could  be  quickly  had  by  the  grower 


or  packer,  and  at  a  wage  conforming 
with  the  farm  wages  in  their  communi- 
ties. 

We  have  contended  that  men  capable 
of  being  qualified  to  do  the  job  are  to  be 
found  in  these  local  communities,  that 
their  training  and  employment  in  the 
work  is  good,  not  only  for  the  men  so 
trained  and  employed,  but  for  the  com- 
munity as  well,  in  dollars  and  cents,  in 
pride  and  increased  potato  knowledge. 

That  we  have  not  been  far  wrong  in 
this  conception  is  attested  to  by  the  fact 
that  not  a  single  grower  has  asked  for 
the  discontinuance  of  a  Grade  Super- 
visor employed  by  him,  nor  has  a  single 
Grade  Supervisor  employed  by  a 
grower,  asked  to  be  dropped  from  the 
list.  We  have,  much  to  our  regret,  found 
it  necessary  to  revoke  the  license  of 
several  men.  Two  of  these  have  come 
back  for  retraining  and  asked  to  be  re- 
licensed. 

We  recognize  the  need  of  uniform 
supervision  of  the  Grade  Supervisors 
and  their  work,  and  will  do  all  in  our 
power  to  see  that  this  supervision  is 
given. 

Meetings  are  now  being  planned 
whereby  all  of  the  200  or  more  Super- 
visors throughout  the  State  will  be 
contacted  and  additional  ones  trained 
for  growers  and  communities  where 
their  services  are  desired. 

All  Grade  Supervisors  should  look 
forward  to  each  issue  of  the  Guide  Post 
and  the  new  page  as  announced  here, 
with  a  thought  of  keeping  up  to  date 
and  improving  the  services  they  are 
rendering. 


The  Weather 

We  have  made  several  very  fine  trips 
around  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  as 
well  as  into  Ohio  and  New  York  this 
summer.  We  have  seen  many  potato 
fields,  potato  storages  and  many  other 
things  of  interest.  And  it  has  been  in- 
spiring to  make  new  contacts  and  re- 
new old  ones. 

One  of  the  biggest  thrills  we  got  was 
when  we  saw  the  Pocono  Mountains.  It 
was  then  that  I  wanted  to  'phone  back 
to  Potter  County  and  tell  the  boys  there 
to  load  up  the  big  breaker  plow  and  a 
Cletrac  and  start  at  once  to  meet  us 

(Continued  on  page  22) 


September,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


. 


Tour  of  Potter  County  Seed  Fields 

Well  Attended 


\ 


Starting  from  "Camp  Potato"  follow- 
ing the  noon-day  program  for  the  Open 
House  on  August  21st,  between  three 
and  four  hundred  potato  growers  par- 
ticipated in  the  tour  of  Potter  County 
seed  fields,  which  was  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Potter  County  Seed  Growers' 
Association,  with  County  Agent  Bert 
Straw  as  leader,  accompanied  by  J.  B. 
R.  Dickey,  O.  D.  Burke  and  R.  B.  Don- 
aldson, of  State  College. 

The  first  stop  of  the  tour  was  at  the 
fields  of  Everett  Blass,  where  60  acres 
of  Early  "Nittanys"  and  Russet  Rur- 
als  were  inspected.  The  season  being 
unfavorable  for  early  potatoes  in  the 
Potter  County  area  (too  cold  and  wet 
during  the  early  part  of  the  season, 
and  from  this  into  hot  weather),  the 
"Nittanys"  showed  a  light  yield.  The 
quality,  however,  is  good,  free  of  dis- 
ease, clean,  bright  tubers,  and  a  high 
Dercentage  of  seed  of  a  size  desired  by 
many  growers.  The  Russet  Rurals 
showed  good  type,  with  P^o^^^e  of  good 
yields  typical  of  the  many  fields  in  the 
county. 

Though  a  stop  was  not  made,  enroute 
to  the  Blass  farm  from  ''Camp  Potato 
the  fine  fields  of  Foster  Blough  includ- 
ing Bliss  Triumphs,  Nittanys  and  Rus- 
set Rurals  were  observed. 

From  the  point  of  the  stop  at  the 
Blass  fields  could  be  seen  the  beginning 
of  three  great  river  drainage  systems-- 
the  Allegheny,  which  winds  its  way 
North  and  Westward  into  the  Ohio  at 
Pittsburgh,  and  thence  into  the  Missis- 
sippi and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico;  the  Gen- 
esee, which  flows  North  and  East  into 
the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  uult  oi  &i. 
Lawrence;  and  the  Susquehanna,  which 
flows  South  and  East  mto  the  Chese- 
peake  Bay. 

The  second  stop  of  the  tour  was  made 
at  the  farm  of  Tom  Neef e,  where  a  fine 
field  of  Chippewas  was  examined  The 
yield  was  not  heavy,  but  indicated  ex- 
cellent quality.  A  demonstration  test 
plot  was  examined  at  this  stop  which 
compared  different  practices  for  the 
benefit  of  Potter  County  growers.. 

The' tour  then  proceeded  to  the  largest 
seed  field  in  the  County,  on  one  of  the 


A   C.  Ramseyer  farms,  under  the  man- 
agement   of    Ed.    Fisher,    Association 
Director  for  the  North  Central  Coun- 
ties.  The  tour  drove  the  full  length  of 
the  field— 100  acres,  planted  to  Penni- 
gan,    Russet    Rurals,    Chippewas    and 
Bliss  Triumph.    No  stop  was  necessary 
at  this  point,  as  the  sight  of  this  large 
field,  well  cared  for  from  planting,  cul- 
tivating  and   spraying  sufficiently   ad- 
vertised   not    only    itself    but    Potter 
County  seed  growing  and  Potter  County 
seed  as  a  whole  on  a  commercial  scale. 
The  final  stop  of  the  tour  was  at  the 
farm  of  Barnett  &  Sons,  who  have  done 
much  to  foster  a  commercial  seed  de- 
velopment   in    Potter    County.     Their 
field    comprises    200    acres    of    Russet 
Rurals,  Pennigans,  Nittanys  and  Katah- 
dins.  With  the  exception  of  the  Nittanys, 
which  due  to  the  season,  as  previously 
stated,  all  of  this  acreage  gave  promise 
of  excellent  yields  and  all  varieties  in- 
cluding    Nittanys     showed     excellent 
quality  of  clean,  smooth  tubers. 

The   fields  visited   gave  the  visiting 
growers  a  good  cross  section  picture  of 
the  1250  acres  of  seed  being  grown  by 
members  of  the  Potter  County  Founda- 
tion Seed  Potato  Growers'  Association. 
A  list  of  these  growers,  their  addresses, 
and  varieties  grown  follows:    Barnett 
&  Sons,  Coudersport— Pennigan,  Russet 
Rural,  Nittany,  Katahdin;  L.  L.  Leete, 
Genesee  —  Pennigan,     Russet     Rural; 
James     Furman,     Genesee  —  Nittany, 
White  Rural,  Russet  Rural;  A.  C.  Shoop, 
Coudersport— Nittany,  Chippewa,  Rus- 
set Rural;  Art  Mattison,  Coudersport— 
Pennigan,  Russet  Rural;  Don  Stearns, 
Coudersport— Pennigan,   White   Rural; 
Walter    Metzger,    Coudersport — Russet 
Rurals;  Walter  Leete,  Genesee— Russet 
Rurals;  Ed.  Fisher,  Coudersport— Nit- 
any,  Pennigan,  Bliss  Triumph,  Russet 
Rural,  Chippewa,  White  Rural;  Foster 
Blough,  Coudersport  —  Nittany,  Bliss 
Triumph,  Russet  Rural;  Everett  Blass, 
Coudersport— Nittany,  Chippewa,  Kat- 
ahdin, Russet  Rural;  Lyle  Tarbox,  Ulys- 
ses—White Rural,  Russet  Rural;  Leigh 
Neffe,    Coudersport  — Chippewa;    Tom 
Neffe,    Coudersport— Chippewa;    Merle 
Jacobs,    Coudersport  —  Russet   Rurals; 

(Continued  on  page  18) 


8 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


September,  1940 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 


by  Inspector  Throwout 


People  who  know  little  are  usually- 
great  talkers,  while  men  who  know 
much  say  little. 

— Jean  Jacques  Rousseau 

•  •    • 

What  you  keep  by  you  may  change 
and  mend,  but  words  once  spoken  can 
never  be  recalled. 

•  •    • 

He:  "You  only  kiss  me  now  when  you 

want  money." 

She:    "Good  gracious  John,  isn't  that 

often  enough?" 

jf    Jf    ^ 

Men  who  get  rich  quick  must  do  it 
on  other  people's  money.  There  is  no 
other  way. 

•  •    • 

Baby — An  alimentary  canal  with  a 
loud  voice  at  one  end  and  no  responsi- 
bility at  the  other. 

•  •    • 

"So,  she's  dumb,  is  she?  Say,  she's  so 
dumb  she  thinks  the  organ  grinder 
works  for  the  monkey  because  the  mon- 
key collects  the  money." 

•  •    • 

"I  think  I'll  go  to  Virginia  for  my 
health,"  said  the  ailing  actor. 

"Well,  Virginia  has  cured  a  lot  of 
hams,  you  know." 

•  •    • 

Possibly  you  won't  win,  even  if  you 
try — but  you  will  positively  fail  if  you 
do  not  try. 

•  •    • 

One  invariable  result  of  war  is  the 
rich  get  the  shekels  and  the  poor  get 
the  shackels.  It  also  knocks  the  L  out 
of  glory. 

•  •    • 

Remember  the  week-day  to  keep  it 
holy. 

•  •    • 

Armistices  are  agreed  upon  only  for 
the  sake  of  getting  into  the  other's  camp 
to  find  out  what  is  going  on. 


We  shall  never  get  the  right  idea  of 
work  until  we  see  at  the  bottom  of  it  is 
public  service. 

•    •    • 

A  militarist  is  a  man  who  is  always 
willing  to  lay  down  your  life  for  his 
country. 


DOBBINS   BROTHERS   TO 
HANDLE  LOWER  GRADES 

IN    PITTSBURGH    AREA 

A  contract  has  been  executed  with 
DOBBINS  BROTHERS.  2014  PIKE 
STREET,  PITTSBURGH,  PA.,  for  the 
movement  of  the  lower  grades  of  pota- 
toes in  the  Pittsburgh  marketing  area 
as  during  the  1939-40  season. 

The  commission  of  a  commission  mer- 
chant is  10 7c.  Of  this  10%  deducted  by 
the  sales  agent,  3%  will  be  refunded  by 
him  to  the  association  upon  completion 
of  the  sale.  This  37  refund  in  turn  has 
been  deducted  from  the  price  of  all  As- 
sociation bags  used  for  the  lower  grades, 
in  order  to  bring  the  price  of  the  con- 
tainer more  nearly  in  line  with  the  grade 
of  potatoes  being  packed  and  sold.  In 
other  words,  the  3%  refund  is  turned 
back  to  the  growers. 

By  the  elimination  of  competition  on 
the  Association  pack  of  Red  Labels  (U.  S. 
No.  1,  Size  B);  Green  Label  (U.  S.  Com- 
mercial) ;  also  Unclassified  in  60 -pound 
paper,  which  is  accomplished  by  giving 
but  one  concern  in  each  market  the  ex- 
clusive sale  of  these  packs,  the  highest 
net  returns  are  assured  to  the  grower, 
while  at  the  same  time,  identified  pota- 
toes are  better  established  in  the  mar- 
kets. 

The  above  mentioned  concern  has  al- 
ready established  a  real  demand  for  the 
Association  pack  in  Pittsburgh. 

Confine  the  movement  of  the  above 
mentioned  trade-marked  packs  to  the 
concern  mentioned  and  thereby  help 
yourself  and  the  Association  in  its  at- 
tempts to  again  popularize  Pennsylvania 
potatoes  in  her  own  markets. 

Also  confine  delivery  of  potatoes  to 
the  above  house  in  the  lower  grades 
only. 


September,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


1 


Growers  Show  Active  Interest  In 
Western  Field  Days 


i 


Starting  at  the  farm  of  Claud  Bauer- 
master,  near  Berlin,  Somerset  County, 
on  Tuesday,  August  13th,  a  series  of 
tours  and  meetings  were  conducted  over 
Western  Pennsylvania  during  the  suc- 
ceeding four  days.  Attendance  on  the 
various  tours  and  stops  ranged  from  50 
to  150,  with  good  interest  shown  at  all 
points  by  those  participating. 

The  outstanding  point  of  interest  in 
the  Somerset  tour  was  the  plot  of  200 
new  seedling  varieties  now  under  trial 
on  the  Bauermaster  farm,  being  grown 
under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Bauer- 
master  and  the  Somerset  County  Future 
Farmers.  These  seedlings,  as  well  as  all 
other  seedlings  seen  at  the  various  stops 
during  the  next  four  days,  were  de- 
veloped at  "Camp  Potato."  Growers 
showed  an  intense  interest  in  the  prom- 
ise shown  by  a  large  number  of  these 
new  seedlings. 

The  tour  proceeded  from  the  Bauer- 
master  farm  to  the  farm  of  Joe  Fisher, 
who  was  one  of  the  original  packers  of 
Blue  Labels,  near  Windber.  Over  100 
acres  of  promising  Russet  Rurals  and 
Katahdins  were  seen  at  this  stop,  with 
this  entire  acreage  having  been  plantea 
with  seed  grown  by  members  of  the  Fet- 
ter County  Foundation  Seed  Potato  As- 
sociation. 

From  the  Fisher  farm  the  group  pro- 
ceeded to  a  beautiful  picnic  grove  near 
Boswell  for  lunch,  for  a  demonstration 
in  grading  and  packing  of  Blue  Labels, 
and  a  speaking  program.  Lester  Lohr, 
President  of  the  Somerset  County  i^o- 
tato  Growers  Association,  presided  over 
the  meeting.  Mr.  Lohr  is  the  son  of  Rob- 
ert Lohr,  present  Association  Board 
Member,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
President  of  the  State  Association. 

The  program  included  a  well  stated 
explanation  of  Association  activities 
and  marketing  plans  for  the  fall  season 
by  General  Manager,  E.  B.  Bower,  a 
timely  discussion  of  what  the  marKei- 
ing  program  had  meant  to  the  Columbia 
County  growers,  by  Vice-President,  Roy 
R.  Hess,  and  a  timely  and  well  received 
address  by  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon  on  his  re- 
lationship to  the  potato  growers  and 
the  industry  in  his  new  position  as  Agri 


cultural  Counselor  for  the  Pennsylvania 
Store  Council. 

Following  the  meeting,  the  group 
proceeded  to  the  fine  fields  of  Mr.  Lohr, 
where  additional  seedlings  were  in- 
spected. 

Growers  and  friends  were  present 
from  Somerset,  Cambria,  Centre,  Co- 
lumbia, Dauphin,  Bedford,  Indiana  and 
Mercer  Counties,  and  two  other  import- 
ant potato  growing  states,  Florida  and 
North  Dakota. 

Cambria  County  Meeting 
jor  the  Central  Area 

Wednesday,  August  14th,  started  with 
a  meeting  at  the  farm  of  Yahner  Broth- 
ers, near  Patton,  who  have  been  steady 
packers  of  fine  Blue  Labels  for  the  past 
two  seasons.  Although  the  season  had 
been  dry  here,  thorough  spraying, 
which  was  in  process  when  the  first  ar- 
rivals appeared,  was  holding  a  good 
foliage  development  on  the  200  acres 
seen  at  this  stop. 

With    Vice-President    Roy    Hess    of- 
ficiating, Mr.  Bower  was  again  called 
upon  to  discuss  the  Association  program 
and  the  plans  for  the  present  marketing 
season.   J.  K.  Mast,  Director  from  Lan- 
caster County,  and  Ed.  Fisher,  Director 
from  Potter  County,  both  explained  the 
favorable  functioning  of  the  marketing 
program   in  their   sections  during   the 
past  seasons.    Dr.  Nixon  held  forth  for 
a  full  hour  on  his  interest  in  the  growers 
and   the   further   advancement   of   the 
Pennsylvania  potato  industry,  and  the 
urgency  of  Pennsylvania's  holding  her 
place  with  competing  producing  areas 
and  other  states. 

A  tour  formed  at  this  point  to  go  to 
the  seedling  test  plot  on  the  farm  of  P. 
L.  Leiden,  at  St.  Lawrence.  Here  19 
seedlings,  all  of  which  showed  promise 
of  a  good  yield  except  one,  were  seen. 
Many  of  the  growers  marveled  at  the 
excellent  appearance  of  quality  shown 
by  a  number  of  those  dug.  This  was  the 
scene  of  further  timely  discussions  by 
growers,  with  Dr.  Nixon  in  the  center 
of  the  ring. 

Fom  the  Leiden  farm,  the  tour  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Yahner  Homestead,  where 
a  most  delightful  lunch  was  served  un- 


-K#^ 


10 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


September,  1940 


September,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


11 


der  the  shade  trees  by  Mrs.  Yahner  and 
the  Yahner  girls. 

A  digging  demonstration  and  a  dis- 
cussion of  grades  and  packing  Blue 
Labels,  and  the  New  Economy  pack  fol- 
lowed in  order  after  lunch. 

Growers  and  friends  were  present 
from  the  following  counties:  Lehigh, 
Centre,  Lancaster,  Clearfield,  Potter, 
Mercer,  Cambria,  Somerset  and  Co- 
lumbia. 

Venango-Butler  Meeting  for 
the  West  Central  Area 

Thursday  morning,  August  15th,  be- 
gan with  early  arrivals  pulling  in  at  the 
farm  of  President  J.  A.  Donaldson,  near 
Emlenton,  Venango  County.  The  meet- 
ing got  under  way  with  the  inspection 
of  a  planting  of  seedlings,  the  seed  being 
one  year  removed  from  "Camp  Potato". 
A  number  of  these  varieties  produced 
over  400  bushels  per  acre  on  the  Don- 
aldson farm  a  year  ago.  Another  item 
of  interest  to  growers  at  this  stop  was 
a  good  stand  of  sweet  clover  seeded 
with  soy  beans. 

The  tour  proceeded  to  the  adjoining 
farm  of  Austin  J.  Donaldson,  brother  of 
President  J.  A.  Donaldson,  where  a 
new  straw-loft  storage  was  inspected. 
Mr.  Donaldson  reported  unusual  suc- 
cess in  holding  potatoes  in  ideal  condi- 
tion for  packing  throughout  the  winter, 
as  well  as  holding  potatoes  already 
packed  for  market  without  loss  of 
weight  or  breakage  of  the  bags. 

Additional  stops  before  noon  included 
a  new  farm  put  into  operation  by  Presi- 
dent Donaldson  and  operated  largely  by 
one  of  the  future  potato  growers,  his 
son;  the  farm  of  Mr.  Hendershot,  who 
grows  and  packs  Blue  Labels,  near  by 
at  a  view  of  the  big  bend  on  the  Alle- 
gheny River;  and  a  short  stop  at  the 
farm  of  Mr.  E.  F.  Redfoot,  near  Harris- 
ville.  Mr.  Redfoot  has  been  growmg 
and  packing  Blue  Label  quality  pota- 
toes for  several  years. 

The  afternoon  was  spent  at  the  Tom 
Denniston  farm,  south  of  Slippery  Rock, 
across  in  Butler  County.  Here  an  in- 
spection of  a  plot  of  10  seedlings  showed 
an  unusual  set,  and  promise  of  a  good 
yield  and  excellent  quality.  A  digging 
demonstration  in  Nittanys,  grown  from 
seed  secured  from  the  Potter  County 
Seed  Growers  Association,  and  yield- 
ing 250  bushels  per  acre,  was  followed 
by   the  grading   and   packing  of  Blue 


Label  bushels  in  the  cool,  roomy  storage 
on  the  Denniston  farm. 

Preceding  the  speaking  program, 
held  under  the  shade  of  two  large  ap- 
ple trees,  Mr.  Denniston  treated  the 
entire  crowd  to  a  watermelon  feast  by 
rolling  out  six  immense  watermelons. 

President  Donaldson  presided  over 
the  meeting,  and  General  Manager 
Bower  presented  the  Association  pro- 
gram and  marketing  plans  for  the  sea- 
son in  creditable  manner.  Directors  Hess 
and  Mast  each  spoke  briefly  on  the  op- 
eration of  the  program  in  their  areas, 
and  the  success  it  had  been  in  marketing 
potatoes  for  the  growers. 

Growers  and  friends  were  present  at 
one  or  more  stops  from  the  following 
counties:  Centre,  Butler,  Lawrence, 
Mercer,  Potter,  Erie,  Lehigh,  Lancaster, 
Columbia,  Allegheny,  Venango,  and 
Clarion. 

Erie  County  Meeting  jor 
the  North-East  Area 

An  extensive  planting  of  around  200 
seedlings  on  the  C.  W.  Billings  farm,  on 
the  shore  of  Edinboro  Lake,  southern 
Erie  County,  was  the  gathering  point 
Friday  morning,  August  16th.  The  plot 
here  was  planted  by  the  Edinboro  Fu- 
ture Farmers,  under  the  direction  of 
Norman  P.  Manners,  Vocational  Agri- 
cultural instructor.  The  plot  showed  a 
most  careful  job  had  been  done  by  these 
future  farmers  —  some  to  be  potato 
growers,  of  course — under  the  direction 
of  their  instructor. 

Following  a  check  over  of  the  plots, 
which  revealed  a  number  of  very  prom- 
ising varieties,  a  short  period  was  taken 
for  discussion,  with  Field  Representa- 
tive, L.  T.  Denniston,  explaining  how 
this  community  had  been  known  to  pro- 
duce high  quality  potatoes  and  could 
and  should  market  the  Association  way 
to  hold  this  reputation  and  create  a 
permanent  potato  business  for  the 
growers. 

A  tour  formed  from  the  Billings  farm, 
proceeding  to  Girard  for  lunch,  and 
then  to  the  fields  of  Frank  Barney,  near 
by.  Practices  in  this  area  along  the 
shore  of  Lake  Erie  were  new  to  grow- 
ers from  down  state,  and  they  came 
forth  with  many  questions.  Mr.  Barney 
grows  over  300  acres  in  the  Girard  area 
with  approximately  an  equal  acreage 

(Continued  on  page  18) 


1 


NOTICE  TO 

HUNTERS 

Arrangements  have  been 
made  to  make  "Camp  Potato" 
available  to  all  Association 
members  and  their  guests  dur- 
ing the  deer  hunting  season. 

Sleeping  cots,  mattresses, 
and  pillows  are  available. 
Blankets,  bed  linens,  and  other 
accessories  must  be  furnished 
by  applicants. 

The  use  of  all  alcoholic  bev- 
erages is  strictly  probibited, 
and  Association  members  shall 
be  responsible  for  the  proper 
conduct  of  their  guests. 

The  cost  will  be  $1.50  per 
day,  per  person,  all  meals  in- 
cluded, and  reservations 
should  be  made  early  by  con- 
tacting 


Mrs.  Wayne  Hindman 
''Camp  Potato'' 

Coudersport,  Penna. 
First  come  —  First  served 


PACK 

POTATOES 

IN  PAPER! 

IT'S  THE  WAY  OF 
MODERN 

MERCHANDISING 

Attractively  Printed  Paper 
Bags  Bring  Greater  Returns 
to  the  Grower. 

HAMMOND 
BETTERBAGS 

Combine  High  Grade  Printing, 
Strength  and  Quality 

HAMMOND 
BETTERBAGS 

Will  Bring  You  Repeat  Orders 


Hammond  Bag  & 
Paper  Co. 

WELLSBURG,  W.  VA. 

Bags  for 

Lime,  Limestone,  Fertilizer,  Flour, 

Feed  and  Potatoes 


12 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


September,  1940 


September,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


13 


Putting  PennsylvaniaPotatoes  in  the  Bag 

ATTENTION— GRAJE  SUPERVISORS 


PROGRESSI VENESS : 

1.  He  who  progresses  is  familiar  with  current  events  and  topics  of  general 

interest.    (Potato  topics  and  events) 

2.  He  takes  a  critical  attitude  toward  his  work,  methods,  and  results  achieved. 

(Grading  and  packing  potatoes) 

3.  He  seeks  carefully  for  plans  to  strengthen  his  work.  (So  as  to  better  serve 
the  growers,  the  community,  and  the  Association) 

These  oints  embody  the  thought  back  of  devoting  a  page  or  two  of  each  issue  of 
the  Guide  Post  to  problems  of  the  Grade  Supervisor.  We  are  mterested  m  pro- 
gress—so are  you.  We  are  interested  in  improving  the  work,  methods  and  results 
achieved— so  are  you.  We  are  interested  in  strengthening  the  work  you  are  doing, 
hence  we  are  interensted  in  your  welfare,  the  growers  and  the  community  whicn 
you  serve — so  are  you. 

THE  POTATO  SIZER: 

Association  packs  have  been  put  up  on  all  kinds  of  sizers,  even  by  hand.  Factors 
entering  into  the  type  of  equipment  needed  to  do  the  job  are;  the  amount  of  potatoes 
to  be  packed,  labor,  time,  and  the  amount  of  potatoes  desired  to  be  moved  by  the 
grower.  The  program  is  so  geared  as  to  serve  the  grower  with  ten  bushels  ot  potatoes 
as  well  as  the  grower  with  ten  thousand  bushels  or  more.  It  is  not  practical  or 
necessary  for  the  small  grower  to  equip  himself  with  expensive  sizing  equipment. 
It  is  however,  practical  and  economical  for  the  larger  grower  to  modernize  His 
sizing,  grading,  packing,  and  storage  equipment.  Efficiency  is  needed,  is  essential. 

The  sizer  is  in  no  sense  a  grader.  Grading  is  still  a  human  factor. 

The  sizer  however,  in  order  to  do  its  task  properly  demands  some  attention  and 
in  this  the  Grade  Supervisor  can  give  or  council  with  the  packer  or  grower  in  seeing 
that  it  is  done. 

1.  Oil  or  grease  is  the  life  of  any  machine. 

2.  See  that  the  machine  is  level. 

3.  Check  from  time  to  time  to  see  that  it  is  sizing  properly.  If  2"  is  the  minimum 
size  desired  see  that  it  is  not  cheating  the  grower  or  the  buyer. 

4.  If  potatoes  are  being  bruised,  cut,  or  crushed  see  if  this  cannot  be  prevented 
by  adjustment  or  repair. 

5.  Study  the  position  of  the  sizer  in  relation  to  the  pile  of  potatoes  to  be  graded 
and  relocate  if  necessary  so  as  to  save  steps,  and  efficiency  in  grading  and  packing. 

6.  Clean  up  around  the  sizer  and  the  grading  room.  This  is  a  sign  of  a  careful 
packer. 

LET  THERE  BE  LIGHT: 

Good  light  is  essential  to  doing  a  good  pob  of  grading.  If  electric  current  is  not 
to  be  had,  a  hot  shot  battery  or  a  gas  jet  lamp  or  lantern  may  be  used  but  be  sure 
that  each  of  the  latter  are  kept  up  to  par. 

The  light  should  be  so  placed  as  to  give  uniform  light  over  the  sizer  or  picking 
table.  Shadows  may  come  from  the  sizer  itself  or  from  the  graders  as  they  stand 
at  the  side  of  the  machine.  These  must  be  avoided  or  overcome  if  you  are  to  be 
efficient.  Cheap  shades  can  serve  a  real  purpose  in  cutting  down  sharp  glaring  light 
where  electricity  is  used.  A  couple  of  extension  cords  are  a  real  asset  in  giving 
proper  light  for  weighing,  and  in  the  bin  in  addition  to  the  light  over  the  sizer. 
"Let  there  be  light." 


1 


KEEP  THE  PACK  CLEAN: 

The  Grade  Supervisor  can  do  much  in  seeing  that  the  pack  is  kept  clean.  This 
begins  with  storing  of  the  bags  before  they  are  packed  through  until  they  are  de- 
livered to  the  Warehouse  or  Stores.  Excessive  moisture  is  certain  to  collect  dust  and 
result  in  smeared  bags.  Dirty  hands  in  filling  or  crimping  the  bags  does  not  result 
in  a  clean  pack.  Proper  racking  or  piling  of  the  pack  is  another  point  where  clean- 
liness can  be  assured.  If  the  pile  is  not  properly  stacked  it  may  fall  over  and  result 
in  not  only  soiled  bags  but  broken  ones  as  well.  If  you  are  piling  or  racking  against 
a  wall,  start  the  first  bottom  row  out  a  foot  from  the  wall.  Each  succeeding  layer 
should  be  a  little  closer  to  the  wall  which  will  result  in  the  pile  leaning  to  the  wall 
with  no  danger  of  falling  over.  The  bottom  of  the  bag  should  be  to  the  wall  with 
all  tied  ends  facing  toward  the  one  doing  the  piling.  They  will  pile  better  this  way 
and  are  easier  to  load.  Paper  or  an  old  tarpolin  spread  over  the  pile  when  througn 
packing  will  catch  dust  and  shed  any  water  that  may  drip  onto  the  bags  from  above. 

CHECK  YOUR  SCALES: 

Weight  is  as  important  as  grade.  Scales  should  be  checked  from  time  to  time. 
Check  them  against  scales  that  you  know  to  be  accurate.  Your  County  or  adjoin- 
ing City  sealer  of  weights  and  measure  will  call  at  your  farm  when  in  your  section 
and  check  your  scales  free  of  charge.  Do  not  expect  him  to  make  a  special  trip  to 
do  this  but  I  am  sure  he  will  cooperate  if  you  give  him  an  apportunity.  Do  not 
expect  the  seal  or  check  he  makes  to  last  for  ever. 

A  potato  under  the  scales  will  often  throw  them  off,  dirty  or  unlevel  scales  will 
often  result  in  inaccuracy. 

A  block  of  metal  of  which  you  know  the  accurate  weight  ^^^^es  a  good  item 
with  which  to  check  the  scales  from  time  to  time.  A  bag  of  potatoes  (fry  when 
packed  will  do  the  job  if  used  for  only  a  day  or  two  and  then  rechecked  by  ac- 
curatTscales,  but  you  must  remember  that  potatoes  will  in  time  lose  weight. 

NOTES  OF  INTEREST: 

Grade  Supervisor  Joseph  Young,  LaJose,  Clearfield  Co.  has  recently  purchased 
a  siz?/l^?hTeTxpec{s  to^^^^  farm  to  ^-m  in  se^  growers^^ 

community.   He  reports  a  good  crop  in  prospect  in  his  area.  We  are  glad  to  hear 
this  as  this  community  was  hard  hit  by  drought  a  year  ago. 

Grade  Supervisors  who  have  not  returned  their  old  stamp,  should  do  so  at  once 
The  new  S  which  >^^^^^^    in  use  this  season  will  be  forwarded  without  cost  by 
return  mail  with  instructions  on  how  it  is  to  be  used. 

Five  new  Grade  Supervisors  were  trained  and  licensed  in  Warren  County 
during  iugu^t  and  are  now  at  work  grading  and  packing  potatoes  in  this  area. 

credited  with  such  items  or  notes  in  a  following  issue  on  tnis  page. 


14 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


September,  1940 


Membership  Drive  Makes  Enormous  Gains 


During  the  past  month,  more  mem- 
berships were  taken  in  the  Association 
than  in  any  previous  month  during  the 
year,  excepting  of  course,  January, 
when  most  growers  renew  their  mem- 
berships at  the  Farm  Show. 

Of  the  large  number  of  memberships 
paid,  many  were  new  ones,  never  be- 
fore in  the  Association,  and  many  ot 
these  came  unsolicited. 

However,  there  were  some  very  fine 
and  substantial  membership  contribu- 
tions, too,  which  we  acknowledge: 

Vice-President  Roy  R.  Hess,  of  Still- 
water, always  on  the  job  seeking  new 
members,  and  a  very  large  contributor 
to  our  drive,  added  six  new  menibers  to 
the  fold,  four  from  his  county,  Colum- 
bia, and  one  each  from  Luzerne  and 
Lackawanna  Counties.  These  are  most 
appreciated. 

Ray  J.  Salmon,  enthusiastic  booster 
vocational  instructor,  from  Waterford, 
Erie  County,  who  also  has  contributed 
to  the  drive  before,  enlisted  four  more 
new  members  during  the  month,  all 
from  Erie  County.  This,  too,  is  real 
boosting. 

John  G.  Reiniger,  of  Stoney  Creek 
Mills,  Berks  County,  too,  located  four 
fine  new  members  and  enlisted  these. 
Cooperation?    Well,  we  should  say! 

Former  Vice-President  M.  P.  White- 
night,  of  Bloomsburg,  secured  his  new 
member  to  the  Association  from  his  own 
county.  Mr.  Whitenight's  long  list  of 
generosities  to  the  Association,  in  all 
its  endeavors,  is  something  well  known 
and  appreciated  by  all  of  us. 

Frank  Bausch,  of  Fairview,  Erie 
County,  enthusiastic  Association  packer 
and  booster,  found  another  new  member 
in  his  local  community,  and  enrolled 
him.  This  is  not  Mr.  Bausch's  first  new 
member  contribution,  either. 

Joseph  D.  Young,  of  La  Jose,  Clear- 
field County,  who  has  so  frequently  con- 
tributed to  the  drive  that  we  are  kept 
busy  keeping  track  of  him,  brought  his 
most  recent  new  member  right  up  to  the 
"Camp  Potato"  Open  House,  and  had 
him  signed  up  officially. 

C.  K.  Phillips,  Association  packer 
from  New  Bethlehem,  Clarion  County, 
enrolled  a  potato  growing  friend  from 


Luzerne  County  during  the  Couders- 
port  get-together.  This  is  not  his  first 
boost  to  the  drive. 

T.  S.  Ingram,  of  Corry,  another  Erie 
County  booster,  sent  in  a  new  member- 
ship for  a  nearby  Crawford  County 
grower,  much  to  the  gratification  of  the 
Association. 

Carl  Spelling,  of  Beal  Lake,  an  en- 
thusiastic packer  from  Warren  County, 
enrolled  his  new  member  from  his  own 
community.  This  help  is  appreciated, 
no  end. 

Ora  Gibbons,  of  Corry,  Erie  County, 
secured  his  new  member  too  this 
month,  from  his  county.  This  contribu- 
tion, as  the  others,  shows  the  real  co- 
operative spirit. 

In  addition  to  the  personalized  con- 
tributions, 28  new  members  came  into 
the  Association  on  their  own. 

All  in  all,  it  was  a  very  good  month 
in  the  drive,  and  we  are  honored  and 
pleased  to  have  with  us  the  following 
new  men: 

O.  D.  Coon,  Clarks  Summit,  Lacka- 
wanna County 

M.  N.  Koch,  Huntington  Mills,  Lu- 
zerne County  _ 

Daniel    G.    Lindermuth,    Catawissa, 

Columbia  County 

Delbert  Hoagland,  Catawissa,  Colum- 
bia County 

Mervin  L.  Mensch,  Catawissa,  Co- 
lumbia County 

A.  M.  Gregowrvig,  Numidia,  Colum- 
bia County 

Carl  Hunt,  Waterford,  Erie  County 

Leroy  G.  Lewis,  Waterford,  Erie 
County 

M.  L.  Port,  Waterford,  Erie  County 

John  Boleratz,  Jr.,  Union  City,  Erie 

County  ,     ^ 

Arthur  Shultz,  Reading,  Berks  Coun- 
ty ,     ^       X 
Walter  Ritter,  Oley,  Berks  County 

Adam  Gaul,  Lorane,  Berks  County 

Clarence  Ritter,  Stoney  Creek  Mills, 
Berks  County 

Hoffman  Brothers,  Bloomsburg,  Co- 
lumbia County 

Ralph  Hammer,  Fairview,  Erie  Coun- 
ty 

Joseph  Dolges,   Mahaffey,   Clearfield 

County 

(Continued  on  page  16) 


« 

Preparing  for  the 
September  Round-up 

September  is  "Round-up"  time  for  the  potato  grower. 
As  the  grov^ing  season  nears  an  end,  potatoes  fill  out  into 
the  sizes  and  shapes  v^hich  mean  price  differences  on  grad- 
ing tables.  Did  you  prepare  for  this  "round-up"  by  making 
plenty  of  potash  available  to  your  crop  throughout  the 
season,  with  enough  left  over  to  put  the  finishing  touches 
on  the  tubers? 

Potash  is  the  quahty  element  in  potato  fertilizer.  In  addi- 
tion to  increasing  yields,  it  rounds  out  the  tubers  and  in- 
sures a  greater  percentage  of  No.  I's.  It  also  improves  cook- 
ing quality  of  the  potatoes.  In  sections  where  there  is 
danger  of  injury  from  early  frost,  plenty  of  potash  has 
proved  a  protection. 

When  planning  your  fertilizer  program  for  next  season's 
crop,  make  sure  that  your  soil  and  fertihzer  will  make  at 
least  200  lbs.  of  potash  (KoO)  per  acre  available  to  your 
potatoes.  If  you  do  not  know  just  how  much  plant  food 
your  soil  will  provide,  your  county  agent  or  experiment 
station  will  make  soil  tests  for  you.  Your  fertilizer  dealer 
will  tell  you  how  httle  extra  it  costs  to  apply  enough  potash 
to  insure  high  yields  and  good  quaUty. 


If  we  can  be  of  any  help  to  you,  please 
write  us  for  free  information  and 
literature  on  how  to  fertilize  your 
crops. 


American  Potash  Institute,  Inc 


Investment  Building 


Washington,  D.  C. 


i 


16 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


September,  1940 


September,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


17 


OPEN  HOUSE  AT  "CAMP 

POTATO"  DRAWS  BIG 
CROWD  OF  GROWERS 
AND  FRIENDS 

(Continued  from  page  5) 

this  examination  were  enthusiastic 
about  what  they  saw  and  are  100%  for 
the  continuation  of  the  work,  at  the 
Camp  under  Dr.  Nixon's  leadership  for 
the  betterment  of  the  individual  grower 
and  the  industry  of  the  state. 

The  big  plow  was  put  to  work  be- 
hind the  Camp's  Model  E  Cletrac  to 
show  how  new  land  is  brought  under 
cultivation  for  the  first  time  in  20  some 
years.  Some  25  acres  of  land  on  the 
Camp  property  will  be  so  plowed  yet 
this  fall. 

An  irrigation  demonstration,  made 
possible  by  the  courtesy  of  Robert  J. 
Hamilton,  of  Ephrata,  Penna.,  with 
the  O.K.  Champion  demonstration  truck 
of  the  Champion  Corporation,  of  Ham- 
mond, Ind.  held  the  attention  of  hun- 
dreds of  growers  during  the  noon  hour. 

Whiterock  Quarries,  of  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania,  was  represented  at  the 
meeting  with  members  of  their  organi- 
zation and  with  their  display  and  ex- 
hibit car.  We  are  grateful  to  them  for 
providing  music  from  this  car  during 
the  entire  day,  and  for  the  use  of  their 
speaking  amplifier  during  the  noon-day 
program. 

The  day  for  the  Open  House  was  ideal 
— neither  too  hot  nor  too  cold;  not  too 
wet,  nor  too  dry.  This  was  reflected  by 
the  fine  paternal  spirit  of  the  crowd  and 
the  groups  gathered  together  here  and 
there  throughout  the  day.  Following 
the  program,  several  hundred  growers 
joined  the  tour  of  Potter  Counties'  fine 
seed  fields,  which  hundreds  more  ling- 
ered and  visited  at  the  Camp  well  into 
the  evening. 

Potatoes  growing  in  steel  drums  filled 
with  three  bushels  of  soil  each,  brought 
in  from  thirty  two  different  growers' 
farms,  representing  25  counties  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  4  states,  drew  the  at- 
tention of  the  hundreds  of  visitors 
throughout  the  day.  We  will  dwell  upon 
this  unique  set-up  and  project  in  a 
story  in  a  later  issue  of  the  Guide  Post. 
A  well  planned  and  worked  out  ex- 
hibit by  the  Potter  County  Foundation 
Seed  Potato  Growers'  Association  was 
not  only  attractive  but  interesting  to  the 


many  growers  who  are  interested  in 
Potter  County  seed  potatoes.  The  ex- 
hibit consisted  of  a  half  bushel  of  each 
of  the  seven  varieties  grown  commer- 
cially for  seed  in  the  county,  including 
Russet  Rurals,  White  Rurals,  Pennigan, 
Nittany,  Bliss  Triumph,  Chippewa  and 
Katahdin.  The  name  of  each  grower 
was  listed  above  each  exhibit  and  a  map 
of  the  growers'  farm  was  displayed. 

A  delicious  and  abundant  lunch  was 
served  at  the  Camp  under  the  joint 
management  of  the  Camp,  with  Mrs. 
Hindman  in  charge,  and  the  women 
of  the  Potter  County  Seed  Potato  or- 
ganization, with  Mrs.  Ed.  Fisher  in 
charge.  Mrs.  Fishers'  energetic  com- 
mittee included:  Mrs.  M.  L.  VanWegen, 
Mrs.  Everett  Blass,  Mrs.  Tom  Neefe, 
Mrs.  Milo  Freeman,  Miss  Marie  Free- 
man, Mrs.  E.  L.  Nixon,  Mrs.  William 
Roberts,  Mrs.  Joseph  Click,  Miss  Ernes- 
tine Nixon,  and  Mrs.  Hindman  and  Mrs. 
Fisher. 

A  short  program  followed  the  lunch 
hour,  with  President  J.  A.  Donaldson!, 
in  charge.    The  Junior   Campers  per- 
formed  several   stunts   for   the   group, 
and    President    Donaldson    introduced 
Association  officials.  Directors  and  visit- 
ors.  Short  addresses  were  made  by  Dr. 
S.  W.  Fletcher,  Dean  of  the  School  of 
Agriculture,    The    Pennsylvafnia    State 
College,  W.   S.   Hagar,   Deputy   Secre- 
tary of  Agriculture,  Pennsylvania  De- 
partment  of   Agriculture,    Harrisburg; 
J.  W.  Gannaway,  United  State  Depart- 
ment  of   Agriculture,    Washington,    D. 
C;   Donald   Stearns,   President   of  the 
Potter  County  Foundation  Seed  Potato 
Association;  and  Dr.  E.  L.  Nixon,  Agri- 
cultural Counselor,  Pennsylvania  Chain 
Store  Council. 


MEMBERSHIP  DRIVE  MAKES 

ENORMOUS  GAINS 

(Continued  from  page  14) 

Waldron  Frederick,  Conyngham,  Lu- 
zerne County 

Arthur  Davis,   Spartansburg,   Craw- 
ford County 

Ludwig  Michael,  Bear  Lake,  Warren 
County 

Ralph     Schuler,     Cranesville,     Erie 
County 

C.   T.   Dewalt,   Easton,   Northampton 
County 

(Continued  on  page  18) 


AN  IRRIGATION  DEMONSTRATION 


% 


Hundreds  of  visitors  to  "Camp  Potato"  on  August  21st,  witnessed  the  interesting 
irrigations  demonstration  put  on  through  the  courtesy  of  R.  J.  Hamilton,  of 
Ephrata,  Penna.,  with  the  O.  K.  Champion   irrigation   demonstration   truck. 


HARVEST 

of  the 

1940  PENNSYLVANIA 
POTATO  CROP 

Will  Reveal 
Some  Outstanding  Yields 

If  you  have  a  yield,  don't  fail 
to  have  it  checked  for  the 

400-BUSHEL  CLUB 

If  you  are  not  fully  acquainted 
with  the  requirements,  write 
the  Association  Office. 

Masonic  Temple  Building 

Bellefonte,  Penna. 

immediately 


O.K.  Champion 

Movable 

Irrigation  Systems 

At  any  time  during  the  next 
few  months,  we  will  be  glad  to 
plan  a  complete  irrigation  sys- 
tem for  your  use  in  1941. 

Please  Write  Us  Now  for 
Information 

HAMILTON  &  CO. 

Specialists  In  Irrigation 
EPHRATA,  PENNA. 

Distributors  for  Eastern  Penna. 
Delaware  &  Maryland 


M 


f 


18 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


September,  1940 


TIMELY  OBSERVATIONS 

AND  SUGGESTIONS 

(Continued  from  page  4) 
Where  growers  had  any  trouble  from 
frost  or  heating  during  the  past  winter, 
now  is  the  time  to  correct  the  trouble 
before  the  present  crop  goes  into  stor- 
age. 

A  storage  should  be  more  than  a  hole 
in  the  ground.  If  that  is  all  that  is  de- 
sired, it  would  probably  be  cheaper  to 
pit  them.  The  storage  should  provide 
ample  grading  and  packing  room.  I 
have  seen  a  number  of  growers  during 
recent  weeks  constructing,  on  the  face 
of  their  present  storage,  an  insulated 
shed  with  provision  for  heat  during  cold 
weather.  This  is  practical  and  eco- 
nomical for  efficient  handling  of  the 
crop.  Growers  are  finding  additional 
bin  divisions  a  good  move  in  order  to 
separate  off-grade  or  injured  stock 
which  many  are  separating  in  the  field 
at  digging  time. 

What  of  Wire  Worm, 
Grub,  Scab  and  Mud? 

All  of  these  show  up  and  make  the 
packing  of  Blue  Labels  difficult.  In 
most  fields  these  various  injuries  or 
problems  are  confined  to  certain  spots 
or  areas.  It  is  economical,  practical  and 
smart  to  locate  these  spots  when  dig- 
ging, and  pick  them  separately  and 
dump  them  into  a  separate  bin.  A  small 
sheet  of  paper,  with  a  stone  or  a  little 
dirt  to  hold  it  from  blowing  away  is 
the  most  practical  way  of  marking  the 
confines  of  such  areas  when  digging.  The 
same  paper  can  be  torn  into  smaller 
pieces  to  mark  the  top  of  the  bags  or 
crates  after  picking,  so  that  they  can  be 
loaded  together  when  drawing  the  po- 
taotes  from  the  field. 


TOUR  OF  POTTER  COUNTY 
SEED  FIELDS 

WELL  ATTENDED 

(Continued  from  page  7) 

Ed.  Grose,  Coudersport — Russet  Rural; 
Paul  Hamilton,  Genesee — Russet  Rural; 
George  Hamilton,  Genesee,  Russet  Rur- 
al; M.  L.  VanWegen,  Coudersport — 
Pennigan,  Bliss  Triumph,  Kathadin, 
Russet  Rural;  Lafe  Littlefield,  Couders- 
port— Russet  Rural;  William  Scott, 
Coudersport  —  White  Rural;  Milford 
Clark,    Coudersport   —   Russet   Rural; 


Pete  &  Allen,  Coudersport— Pennigan; 
Roy  Thompson,  Coudersport— Penni- 
gan; Milo  Freeman,  Coudersport— Rus- 
set Rural;  Lew  Blough,  Coudersport— 
Russet  Rural,  Katahdin,  Nittany;  Fran- 
cis Way,  Coudersport  —  Russet  Rural; 
Roselle  Leete,  Coudersport— Pennigan; 
W.  N.  Currier,  Genesee— Russet  Rural; 
Straley  Brothers,  Germania  —  Russet 
Rurals;  L.  C.  Traub,  Germania— Nittany, 
Russet  Rural;  and  L.  Watkins,  Ulysses- 
Russet  Rurals. 


GROWERS  SHOW 

ACTIVE  INTEREST  IN 

WESTERN  FIELD  DAY 

(Continued  from  page  10) 

across  in  New  York  State,  near  Findley 
Lake. 

Good  things  are  often  held  until  the 
last,  and  so  said  Directors  Hess  and 
Mast  of  the  weeks'  trip  when  the  tour 
proceeded  to  the  fine  fields  (over  500 
acres)  of  Ivan  Miller  and  Lynn  Sill, 
near  Union  City  and  Corry.  Most 
pleased  at  seeing  these  fields  were  per- 
haps Messrs.  Blass,  VanWegean  and 
Stearns  from  Potter  County  as  much  of 
this  acreage  was  planted  with  Potter 
County  seed.  Top  growth  was  luxuri- 
ant and  a  promise  of  a  real  crop  at  har- 
vest time  was  evident.  These,  too,  will 
be  Blue  Labels  when  the  time  rolls 
around. 

Growers  at  one  or  more  stops  during 
this  days'  travel  represented  Potter, 
Lehigh,  Centre,  Crawford,  Erie,  War- 
ren, Columbia  and  Lancaster  Counties. 


MEMBERSHIP  DRIVE  MAKES 

ENORMOUS  GAINS 

(Continued  from  page  16) 

Charles  W.  Klopp,  Bernville,  Berks 
County 

George    V.    Kutz,    Kutztown,    Berks 
County 

Perry  Davis  &  Son,  Prospect,  Butler 
County 
J.  L.  Welsh,  Lamartine,  Clarion  County 

H.    C.    Kreitz,    Cambridge    Springs, 
Crawford  County 

W.    S.    Hagar,    Harrisburg,    Dauphin 
County 

Fairview  Boro  Twp.  Joint  H.  S.,  Fair- 
view,  Erie  County 

W.    C.    Westcott,    Union    City,    Erie 
County 


September,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


19 


Albion  H.  S.,  Albion,  Erie  County 

Manville  Ward,  East  Springfield,  Erie 
County 

C.  F.  Salen  &  Sons,  Edinboro,  Erie 
County 

Bob  Hamilton,  Jr.,  Ephrata,  Lancaster 

County 

R.  J.  Masbit,  Evon  Valley,  Lawrence 

County 


Lee    McComb,    Hillsville,    Lawrence 

County 

Geo.  W.  Rockwell,  Sunbury,  North- 
umberland County 

R.    C.    Crocby,    Coudersport,    Potter 

County 

John  W.  Bittinger,  Hummels  Wharf, 

Snyder  County 

(Continued  on  page  22) 


A  Monument  Is  Never  Raised  To  The  Fellow 

Who  Never  Had  To  Overcome  Difficulties 

ALBERT  C.  ROEMHILD 

Commission  Merchant 

122  DOCK  ST.       PHILADELPHIA      Lombard  1000 


^^i^e£a.  Potato  Digg 


ers 


EUREKA  NO.  5480  POTATO  DIGGER 

Operates   from   Tractor   Power   Take    Off 
Heavy  duty  construction.  Low  up  keep. 


Get  the  potatoes 
with  least  cost.  Re- 
quire few  repairs 
and  have  unusually 
long  life  because  of 
construction  and 
material  used.  Re- 
sult of  more  than  40 
years'  experience 
making  Diggers. 


The  Eureka  is  also  available  with  engine  mounted  on  Digger,  and  in  Traction. 

horse  drawn  styles. 

Write  for  catalog. 

EUREKA  MOWER  COMPANY 

UTICA.  N.  Y. 


20 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


September,  1940 


Junior  Potato  Growers  Enjoy  ^^Camp  Potato" 


Junior  Potato  Growers,  boys  and  girls, 
aged  9  to  14,  inclusive,  40  strong,  were 
"Camp  Potato"  campers  from  August 
18-21st. 

These  youngsters  enjoyed  a  real  out- 
ing with  a  varied  program  of  construc- 
tive, helpful  work  and  energetic  play. 
They  weeded  seedling  plots,  assisted 
with  the  new  road,  worked  toward  the 
completion  of  the  camp  basement — and, 
of  course,  served  on  K.  P.  duty.  They 
enjoyed  group  play  in  various  sports, 
including  baseball,  table  tennis,  and  long 
walks  in  the  woods  away  from  the  Camp. 
They  spent  exciting  evenings  at  the 
Camp  around  the  large  fire-place  sing- 
ing and  enacting  plays  and  skits.  And 
did  they  eat! 

Never  before  had  the  camp  been  host 
to  a  finer  group  in  cooperation  and  spirit. 
These  sons  and  daughters  of  potato 
growers  will  be  welcomed  back  enthus- 
iastically come  another  camp  period  for 
Juniors. 

The  youngsters  included  in  the  camp 
group  were:  Pat  Leiden,  Joseph  Leiden, 
Francis  Westrick,  and  Dennis  Johnston, 
of  Cambria  County;  Harold  VanWegen, 
Connie  Hindman,  David  Stearns  and 
Robert  Brock,  of  Potter  County;  Donald 


Patterson,  Jr.,  Thomas  Ferguson,  Mary 
Rhoades,  Milford  Mast,  Albert  Mast, 
Oliver  Mast,  of  Lancaster  County;  Bar- 
bara and  Carol  Denniston,  and  Nicky 
Nixon,  of  Centre  County;  and  Charles 
Phillips,  Ellsworth  Phillips,  and  Jane 
Hindman,  of  Clarion  County. 

Also,  Kenneth  Donaldson,  Venango 
County;  Emma  Lou  Spory,  Lester  Lohr, 
Robert  Lohr,  of  Somerset  County;  Carl 
Spelling,  Jr.,  of  Warren  County;  Harriet, 
Sara  Ann,  Frank,  Jack  and  Billy 
Thompson,  of  York  County;  Jim  Frey, 
John  Robertson,  Bob  Frey  and  Howard 
Godfrey,  of  Erie  County;  Earl  and  Ralph 
Miller,  of  Lehigh  County;  and  Arden 
Ramseyer  and  Dean  Schrock,  from 
Ohio. 

Adults  on  hand  during  this  outing  in- 
cluded Dr.  and  Mrs.  E.  L.  Nixon,  and 
daughter  Ernestine,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  T. 
Denniston,  Erma  Sloop,  Harry  Keil,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wayne  Hindman,  and  Mrs. 
William  Roberts.  In  addition  to  this 
"staff",  there  were  a  number  of  visiting 
adults,  including  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joe  Glick, 
Mrs.  Ellen  Jane  Grafton,  Jacob  K.  Mast, 
Ralph  Miller,  and  P.  J.  Yahner,  who 
spent  time  with  the  children  at  the 
Camp. 


Grower  to  Grower  Exchange 

The  rate  for  advertising  in  this  column  is  a  penny  a  word,  minimum  cost  25  cents, 
payable  with  order.  (10%  reduction  when  four  or  more  insertions  are  ordered  at 
one  time.)  Count  name  and  address.  Send  ads  to  reach  the  GUIDE  POST,  Masonic 
Temple  Building,  Belief onte,  Penna.,  by  the  20th  of  the  month  previous  to  publi- 
cation. 


POTATO  EQUIPMENT  FOR  SALE: 

One  two-row  Cletrac  Avery  Cultivator 
complete,  one  two-row  Cletrac  Avery 
Weeder,  one  Killifer  Disc  Harrow  with 
24"  blades,  all  slightly  used.  Good  condi- 
tion. Reasonable.  If  interested,  write  W. 
J.  Braddock,  c/o  Wheeling  Bronze  Cast- 
ing Company,  Wheeling,  W.  Va. 

PLANTER  WANTED:  2  row  Iron-Age 
Picker  Type.  Can  also  use  good  used 
grader  and  Digger.  Write  Ray  Salmon, 
Waterford,  Erie  County,  Penna. 


AVAILABLE:  Copies  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Nix- 
on's book,  "The  Principles  of  Potato 
Production,"  $1.25  per  copy.  Write  for 
your  copy  today,  to  Association  ofHce, 
Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania. 

FOR  SALE:  Two-row  Oliver  potato  dig- 
ger with  power  take-off  and  power  lift. 
Price,  $125.00.  Come  and  see  it  work. 
William  W.  Hayes,  Jersey  Shore,  (Ly- 
coming County),  Penna. 


f 


^^mm^^m^^ 


YOUR  EXTRA  PROFIT 

FROM  THE  USE  OF  A  BEAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 

WILL  PAY   FOR  IT 


\\ 


3  CAPACITY  SIZES  OF  BEAN  GRADERS 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  BRUISIHG 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  CUTTING 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  INACCURACY 
IN  YOUR  POTATO  GRADING 

..YOU  DON'T  GET  IT.. 

WITH  A  BEAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 
OUR  CATAWG  SHOWS  YOUR  WAY  TO  PROFIT 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co 


LANSING 


MICHIGAN 


11 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


September,  1940 


SONS    OF    POTATO    GROWERS 
AT  "CAMP  POTATO" 

Sons  of  potato  growers — aged  18  to  80 
— stayed  over  at  "Camp  Potato"  follow- 
ing the  Open  House  for  a  3-day  outing 
and  busy  work  program. 

It  would  take  a  man,  present  through- 
out the  three  days,  to  fully  describe  the 
experiences.  However,  reports  have  it 
that  a  good  time  was  had  by  all,  and 
much  good  work  was  accomplished. 

Those  present  included  Harold  Hen- 
inger,  Robert  Henninger,  Ralph  Miller, 
Ralph  Miller,  Jr.,  and  Earl  Miller,  of 
Lehigh  County;  J.  K.  Mast,  Oliver  Mast, 
Milford  Mast,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joe  Click, 
and  Mary  Rhoades,  of  Lancaster  Coun- 
ty; William  Bailey,  Ben  Bailey,  L.  T. 
Denniston,  Harry  Keihl,  and  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  E.  L.  Nixon,  of  Centre  County; 
Frank  and  Harold  McNeese,  of  Law- 
rence County;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas 
Denniston,  of  Butler  County;  Joseph  D. 
Young,  of  Clearfield  County;  and  Ed. 
Fisher,  and  Joe  O'Neil,  and  the  Hind- 
mans,  of  Potter  County. 

In  addition,  on  the  22nd,  the  Camp  was 
visited  by  two  F.  F.  A.  groups  from  Ly- 
coming County,  which  groups  enjoyed 
a  day  and  a  night  at  the  camp.  Among 
these  were: 

Hughesville  Future  Farmers,  of  Pic- 
ture Rocks,  with  their  instructor,  J.  D. 
Ryburn,  were:  Leon  Eichenlaub,  George 
Murray,  Herbert  Hoffman,  Gordon  Kep- 
ner,  Nile  Kepner,  Charles  Long,  George 
Long,  Clive  McCarty,  Dale  Shaner, 
Harry  McClain,  Wilford  Frantz,  Walter 
Bartlow,  Robert  Fry,  Charles  Bower, 
Kenneth  Glidewell,  Lester  Gordner,  Guy 
Green,  Elwood  Guisewhite,  Carl  Hard- 
ing, Harley  Houseknecht,  Mitchell  Mil- 
ler, Daniel  Reese,  Archie  Shaner,  Leroy 
Shaner,  Alvin  Smith,  Lee  Smith,  and 
Donald  Temple. 

The  Montoursville  Chapter  Future 
Farmers,  accompanied  by  Chas.  D. 
Carey,  Vocational  Supervisor,  and  L.  J. 
Burgert,  an  exchange  teacher  in  agri- 
culture from  Honolulu,  Hawaii,  includ- 
ed: Max  Robbins,  Clayton  Gower,  Her- 
bert Hoover,  Mark  Harrison,  and  Rich- 
ard Warfield,  also  a  teacher. 


Everlasting  life  will  be  yours  if  you 
deserve  it — your  present  belief  or  dis- 
belief does  not  effect  the  issue.  But  make 
sure  of  this:  if  you  are  to  be  great  in 
Heaven,  you  have  got  to  begin  to  be  a 
great  soul  here. 


MEMBERSHIP    DRIVE    MAKES 
ENORMOUS   GAINS 

(Continued  from  page  19) 

C.  W.  Hendershot,  Emlenton,  Ven- 
ango County 

Burt  J.  Peffer,  Bliss,  New  York 

Robert  Dunn,  West  Henrietta,  New 
York 

Fred  Litchard,  Wellsville,  New  York 

Asa  S.  Whipple,  Northville,  Michigan 

I.  A.  Gashaw,  Somerset,  Somerset 
County 

Morris  M.  Miller,  Somerset,  Somer- 
set County 

E.  H.  Shaulis,  Holsopple,  Somerset 
County 

Somerset  Farm  Bureau  Coop.  Assn., 
Somerset,  Somerset  County 

G.  H.  Walker,  Berlin,  Somerset  Coun- 
ty 


THE  WEATHER 

(Continued  from  page  6) 

there  and  break  up  land  for  a  new  po- 
tato ranch. 

The  thing  that  starts  everything  and 
is  most  talked  about  is  the  weather.  It 
is  too  hot,  too  dry,  too  cold,  too  wet,  too 
cloudy,  too  windy,  too  calm.  If  people 
would  spend  as  much  time  and  energy 
talking  the  marketing  program  for  all 
farm  produce  as  they  do  about  the 
weather,  we  sure  would  go  and  do 
things  in  a  big  way.  The  sad  part  about 
it  is  that  we  can  do  nothing  about  the 
weather,  but  the  bright  part  is  that  we 
can  do  something  about  the  marketing 
program. 

Let's  all  get  together  and  wear  a 
sunny  smile — in  spite  of  any  weather, 
and  pack  and  market  potatoes  the  As- 
sociation way. — Ed.  Fisher 


Association  Bag  Prices 

Prices  Quoted  are  Per  1000  Delivered 


Blue  Label, 
Red  Label, 
Economy  Pack, 
Blue  Label, 
Blue  Label, 
Unclassified, 


15's  (2-wall) 
15's  (2-wall) 
15's  (2-wall) 
60's  (2-wall) 
60's  (3-wall) 
60's  (2-wall) 


$18.00 
$17.50 
$17.00 
$45.50 
$48.75 
$38.50 


The  above  prices  are  for  delivery  to 
any  point  in  Pennsylvania  and  include 
the  wire  loop  ties  and  the  commission  to 
the  Association. 


T 


\ 


I 


I 


_N  THE  FALL  of  the  year —  after  producing  a  cash 
crop— your  soil  does  not  contain  enough  available 
nitrogen  to  produce  a  first-class  cover  crop. 

It  will  pay  you  to  broadcast  GRANULAR  'AERO' 
CYAN  AMID  — 21%  nitrogen  and  70%  lime  — at 
the  rate  of  150  pounds  per  acre  before  sowing  rye. 

GRANULAR    'AERO'    CYANAMID    supplies 
available  nitrogen  and  grows  bigger  cover  crops. 
Bigger  cover  crops  make  more  humus. 


r   #^  AMERICAN  CYANAMID  COMPANY 

^^m!^        30   ROCKEFELLER   PLAZA  NEW  YORK,  N.  Y. 


T 


Potato  Growers  Profit  from 

KID  GLOVE  Performance 


'Were  it  not  for  the  splen- 
did work  performed  by 
my  IRON  AGE  Kid  Glove 
two-row  digger,  equipped 
with  rubber  tires,  I  would 
have  lost  25,000  bushels  of 
potatoes.  No  other  digger 
could  dig  my  potatoes  in 
the  wet  condition  of 
my  muck  soil.' 


Because  IRON  AGE  Kid  Glove 
Potato  Diggers  are  designed  for 
the  work  to  be  done  —  and  will 
perform  well  under  unfavorable 
conditions  —  some  of  our  users 
tell  us  where  other  makes  fail 
entirely.  Kid  Glove  users  are  en- 
thusiastic about  their  perform- 
ance.   Especially  constructed  to 


Double  Row, 
Single  60  inch  APRON 

Has  no  more  parts  than 

single  row  with  27  inch 

apron. 


prevent  mechanical  injury  to  the 
tubers.  Kid  Glove  Diggers  quick- 
ly pay  for  themselves  by  turning 
out  more  U.  S.  No.  1  potatoes  per 
acre.  If  you  are  a  profit-minded 
grower,  investigate  Kid  Glove's 
money-making  features. 


Write  jor  Complete  Information 


A.  B.  FARQUHAR  CO.,  LTD. 


333  DUKE  STREET 


YORK.  PENNA. 


j/  f)  m  f»  v»  s 


PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE 
POTATO  GROWERS  ASSOCIATION 


INCORPORATED 


A 


<^ 


Digging  the  100,000th  seedling  at 
"Camp  Potato."  The  actual  digging 
was  done  by  S.  D.  Gray,  American  Po- 
tato Institute  Inc.,  of  Washington  D.  C, 
in  the  presence  of  Association  and 
"Camp  Potato"  officers'  representa- 
tives of  the  Penna.  Farm  Bureau,  and 
potato  growers  visiting  and  participa- 
ting in  the  harvest  of  seedlings  at  the 
camp. 


r 

i 


4. 


Timely  Observations  QC  Suggestions 

L.  T.  Denniston,  Association  Field  Representative 


4. 


Recent   Meetings — This     is     October 
14th.  We  have  just  completed  a  series 
of  eight  meetings — four  in  the  East  and 
four  to  the  West  with  Association  Grade 
Supervisors,  and  growers.  Activities  at 
these  meetings  included  training  of  ad- 
ditional Grade  Supervisors,  grading  and 
packing  potatoes  for  market,  discussion 
of  timely  topics  on  marketing  of  interest 
to  all  growers,  digging  of  new  seedling 
varieties  developed  at  Camp  Potato,  and 
inspection  of  fine  crops  of  potatoes  to  be 
packed  as  Association  Blue  Labels  for 
Pennsylvania  distributors  and  consum- 
ers. Over  600  Grade  Supervisors,  grow- 
ers and  Future  Farmers  participated  in 
these  meetings.  The  interest  was  more 
intense  than  at  any  meeting  staged  since 
the  initiation  of  the  Association  Program 
four  years  ago.  A  full  report  of  the  meet- 
ings staged  in  the  East  appears  else- 
where in  this  issue.  Speaking  in  behalf 
of  the  Association  Management  we  wish 
to  thank  the  following  growers  for  their 
splendid   co-operation   in   making   the 
meetings  in  the  West  a  real  success — P. 
L.  Leiden,  St.  Lawrence,  Cambria  Coun- 
ty, Claud  Bowermaster,  Berlin,  Somer- 
set County,  Claud  Sherry,  Strattonville, 
Clarion  County,  and    C.    W.    Billings, 
Edinboro,  Erie  County.     We  also  wish 
to  thank  growers  and  other  individuals 
for  their  efforts  in  publicising  the  meet- 
ings. This  is  wholesome  helpful  co-op- 
eration. 

Activities  at  Camp  Potato — ^Harvest 
season  is  on  at  Camp  Potato  the  same  as 
on  any  other  potato  farm.  It  has  been  a 
grand  race  however,  to  see  whether  we 
would  dig  the  most  potatoes  or  the  deer. 
It  looks  like  a  fifty-fifty  race.  Thanks  to 
the  co-operation  of  different  groups  of 
Farm  Bureau  Members  and  individual 
growers  from  different  parts  of  the 
State— the  fine  plot  directly  above  the 
storage  was  harvested  without  serious 
damage  during  the  first  week  of  Oc- 
tober. 

Weight  checks  made  on  a  number  of 
the  fine  new  varieties  seen  in  this  plot 
during  Field  Day,  August  21,  showed 
yields  well  over  400  bushels  per  acre. 
Digging  will  be  completed  this  week 
and  I  have  no  doubt  Director  Ed.  Fisher 
as  usual  is  coming  to  the  rescue  to  see 


that  we  get  under  the  wire  before  the 
first  severe  freeze. 

Future  Farmers  Assist  in  Harvesting 
Seedling  Plots — To  learn  about  potatoes 
you  must  not  only  get  into  the  harness 
but  into  the  potato  patch.  Such  is  the 
spirit  with  which  a  number  of  Future 
Farmer  Supervisors,  Instructors  and 
their  students  entered  into  the  harvest- 
ing of  seedling  plots  during  recent  weeks. 
Education  in  the  long  run,  is  experi- 
ence. Information  can  be  had  by  dili- 
gent use  of  the  eye  and  the  ear,  but 
experience  comes  from  use  of  the  hands. 
These  men  and  their  boys  do  not  need 
compliments — they  have  already  been 
well  paid  in  educational  information  for 
their  labors,  but  we  want  them  to  know 
we  appreciate  their  fine  co-operation. 

Groups  taking  part  in  these  activities 
during  recent  weeks  are  as  follows:  C.  L. 
Dewey  and  30  boys  "Spud  Growers 
Chapter  Future  Farmers,  Coudersport, 
Potter  Co.,  Oct.  1st  and  4th.  E.  A.  Rice 
and  20  boys,  Jersey  Shore  Chapter  Fu- 
ture Farmers.  Jersey  Shore,  Lycoming 
County,  Oct.  2nd.  G.  F.  Dye,  J.  C.  Bil- 
lick,  Arthur  Myers,  H.  T.  Hartshorn,  R. 
W.  Lohr,  G.  R.  Oellig,  F.  J.  La  Vinge  and 
W.  D.  Igoe  and  60  boys,  Somerset  Coun- 
ty Future  Farmers,  Somerset  County. 
B.  E.  Decker,  Norman  Manners,  Roscoe 
Coblentz,  and  Roy  J.  Salmon,  and  60 
boys,  Erie  County  Future  Farmers,  Erie 
County.  In  addition  to  these  groups 
from  York  County  and  Monroe  County 
will  be  participating  in  similar  work 
during  the  coming  week. 

Favorable  Digging  Season  Insures 
Clean  Potatoes — ^With  only  moist  to  dry 
digging  conditions  over  most  parts  of 
the  state  potatoes  are  going  into  storage 
comparatively  free  of  dirt  and  mud.  This 
makes  grading  and  packing  much  easier 
and  enables  the  grower  to  put  up  a  much 
more  satisfactory  and  attractive  pack. 
Where  conditions  were  dry,  unless 
growers  took  this  into  account  and  ad- 
justed their  diggers  for  said  conditions, 
it  will  have  resulted  in  more  mechan- 
ical injury.  This  should  be  remembered 
when  you  do  the  grading  and  packing 
shatter  bruised  tubers  from  contact 
with  the  digger  or  from  falling  on  stones 
results  in  heavy  waste  in  paring.  I  have 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


October,  1940 


seen  a  good  many  cut  in  some  crops  and 
but  few  of  these  should  find  their  way 
into  the  graded  pack. 

News  Bulletin  No.  4 — Pennsylvania 
Soy  Bean  Association — The  following 
paragraph  from  a  recent  bulletin  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Soy  Bean  Association  is 
worth  reading  several  times.  To  me  this 
is  sound  thought  and  reasoning. 

PLAN: 

"If  you  want  to  convert  crops  into 
cash  you  will  have  to  determine  how 
to  find  a  market  for  your  products,  not 
just  any  old  market  but  one  that  will 
pay  highest  returns.  Too  often  the  farm- 
er is  forced  to  beg  the  dealer  or  his 
housewife  to  buy  and  this  is  the  weak- 
est kind  of  sales  approach.  Proper  sales 
approach  and  good  markets  call  for  an 
organization  which  will  create  a  fair 
price  and  provide  contacts  with  the 
proper  buyers.  Also,  it  is  about  high 
time  that  these  buyers  realize  that  the 
future  of  their  business  depends  upon 
the  welfare  of  the  farmer.  In  other 
words  if  the  buyers  treat  the  farmer 
fairly  and  squarely,  more  goods  will  be 
sold  in  rural  districts. 

There  must  first  be  an  organization 
of  the  farmers  set  up  to  produce  and 
sell  a  particular  crop  and  second  there 
must  be  co-operation  between  this  or- 
ganization and  the  buyer." 

We  may  have  some  interesting  news 
in  the  near  future  on  this  question.  In 
the  meantime,  if  you  have  a  problem  in 
which  we  can  be  of  assistance  commun- 
icate with  us. 

Have  You — ? 

Drained  the  spray  pump? 

Shut  off  the  light  from  the  potato  pile? 

Shut  out  the  rats  and  caught  the  ones 
already  in  the  storage? 

Oiled  the  sizer  in  preparation  for 
grading  and  packing? 

Checked  your  scales  to  make  sure  they 
are  correct? 

Have  you  secured  a  new  member  for 
the  Association? 

Attended  one  of  the  grading,  packing, 
and  marketing  meetings  staged  by  the 
Association? 

Have  you  packed  any  Blue  Labels  to 
prove  to  us,  the  distributors  and  the  con- 


sumer that  you  and  other  Pennsylvania 
growers  have  good  potatoes? 

Do  you  lead  or  drive  your  hired  help? 

Checked  your  truck  bed  for  protrud- 
ing nails  or  bolts? 

Made  yourself  a  simple,  convenient 
speedy  rack  or  table  on  which  to  tie 
peck  bags? 

Do  you  have  a  local  Grade  Supervisor 
in  your  community? 

Did  you  know  that  Maine  has  a  big 
crop  of  fine  quality  potatoes.  To  hold 
'our  markets  against  this  competition 
Pennsylvania  growers  must  put  up  a 
good  grade  and  pack. 

Did  you  know  that  some  of  our  grow- 
ers left  half  of  their  crop  in  the  field 
due  to  Bacterial  Ring  Rot. 

Have  you  paid  a  visit  to  the  Associa- 
tion office  Masonic  Temple  Building, 
Bellefonte.  Wou  will  be  welcomed  with 
a  SMILE. 


Another  Time 

As  two  brokers  passed  the  Ziegfield 
Theatre,  out  stepped  one  of  those  rav- 
ishing, alluring  Follies  beauties. 

"I  feel  like  taking  her  out  again," 
whispered  one. 

"Have  you  had  her  out?"  asked  the 
other. 

"No— but  once  before  I  felt  like  it." 

— Vesta  Vamp 


Firm  Grip 

Barber— "What's    the   matter?    Ain't 
the  razor  takin'  holt?" 

Victim — "Yeah,    its    taking    holt    all 
right,  but  it  ain't  letting  go  again." 

— Bagfology 

•      •      • 


Customer — "Do   you   have    anything 
for  gray  hairs?" 

Conscientious  Druggist  —  "Nothing 
sir,  but  the  greatest  respect." 


•      •      • 


Irate  Parent:  "I'll  teach  you  to  make 
love  to  my  daughter." 

Gob:  "I  wish  you  would,  old  boy.  I'm 
not  making  much  progress." 


October,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


1 


I 


Sources  of  Pennsylvania  Certified  Seed  Potatoes 

K.  W.  Lauer 
Pennsylvania  Department  of  Agriculture 


Interest  in  the  growing  of  certified 
seed  potatoes  is  apparently  on  the  in- 
crease in  Pennsylvania.  There  were 
1875  acres  of  potatoes  entered  for  in- 
spection and  certification  this  year  com- 
pared with  1208.5  acres  in  1939.  Last 
year  about  33.0%  of  the  acreage  entered 
was  refused  certification  compared  with 
approximately  50.0%  of  the  acreage  re- 
jected so  far  this  year. 

All  the  field  inspections  have  been 
completed  and  as  soon  as  the  crop  is 
dug  a  final  bin  inspection  will  be  made. 
Some  potato  growers  like  to  place  their 
orders  for  seed  in  the  fall  so  we  are 
listing  all  those  growers  whose  fields 
passed  the  field  inspection  requirements 
as  a  guide  to  those  buyers  who  wish  to 
contact  any  growers  of  certified  seed.  A 
final  list  of  growers  will  be  issued  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Department  of  Agri- 
culture as  soon  as  the  final  bin  inspec- 
tion has  been  completed. 

When  placing  orders  for  certified  seed 
it  should  be  kept  in  mind  that  we  do 
not  regard  potatoes  as  being  fully  certi- 
fied unless  they  bear  the  certification 
tag  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
at  the  time  they  are  delivered  to  the 
buyer.  The  Blue  Certification  tag  of  the 
Department  is  attached  to  the  bags  when 
they  are  inspected  for  grade  just  prior 
to  shipment. 

Potatoes  are  often  sold  as  having 
passed  all  the  inspection  requirements 
except  for  grade.  While  such  potatoes 
may  give  good  results  when  planted  we 
frequently  find  the  sale  of  such  pota- 
toes leads  to  misunderstanding  between 
the  buyer  and  seed  grower.  The  buyer 
frequently  expects  to  receive  potatoes 
that  were  graded  just  the  same  as  certi- 
fied seed  that  carries  the  blue  certifica- 
tion tag. 

We  expect  to  have  close  to  900.0  acres 
of  certified  seed  in  this  state  by  the 
time  our  final  inspections  are  completed. 
This  will  compare  with  799.25  acres  cer- 
tified in  1939. 

Growers  of  Seed  Potatoes  in  Pennsyl- 
vania for  1940  whose  stocks  have  passed 
all  Field  Inspection  (not  bin  inspection) 
requirements  for  certification: 


Bradford  County— G.  L.  Allen,  Wy- 
sox,  Katahdin,  9.0  acres.  Fox  Chase 
Farms,  Towanda,  Russet,  8.0  acres. 

Butler  County — Thomas  Denniston, 
Slippery  Rock,  Nittany,  2.0  acres;  Thom- 
as Denniston,  Slippery  Rock,  Russet,  4.5 
acres. 

Cambria  County  —  Charles  Holtz, 
Hastings,  Russet,  1.5  acres;  V.  A.  Holtz, 
Hastings,  Mason,  .25  acre;  V.  A.  Holtz, 
Hastings,  Russet,  1.5  acres;  Mrs.  Alex. 
Strittmatter,  Ebensburg,  Russet,  1.0 
acre;  Paul  Yahner,  Patton,  Russet,  50.0 
acres. 

Carbon  County — Robert  Getz,  Al- 
brightsville.  Russet,  15.0  acres. 

Crawford  County— D.  L.  Crum,  Mead- 
ville.  Russet,  3.0  acres. 

Erie  County — Harry  Peterson,  Union 
City,  W.  Rural,  1  acre;  John  Robinson, 
Wattsburg,  Russet,  1.0  acre;  Wm.  Rob- 
inson, Wattsburg,  Russet,  2.0  acres. 

Indiana  County — James  A.  Patterson, 
W.  Lebanon,  Russet,  11.0  acres;  Chas.  C. 
Pollock,  Marion  Center,  Russet,  3.5  acres, 
acres. 

Lackawanna  County — W.  W.  Cool- 
baugh  &  Son,  Clark  Summit,  Russet,  3.0 
acres;  Francis  Nesavich,  Lake  Ariel,  R. 
3,  Russet.  1.0  acres. 

Lehigh  County  —  Clarence  Peters, 
New  Tripoli,  Russet,  5.5  acres;  Robert  E. 
Peters,  Germansville,  Russet,  5.5  acres; 
Trojan  Powder  Company,  Allentown, 
Russet,  11.0  acres. 

Northampton  County — ^Willow  Brook 
Farms,  Catasauqua,  Russet,  20.0  acres. 

Perry  County — Chas.  Beaver  &  Son, 
Millerstown,  W.  Rural,  9.0  acres;  Lewis 
E.  Beaver,  Millerstown,  W.  Rural,  2.0 
acres. 

Potter  County— L.  W.  Angood,  Ul- 
ysses, Russet,  3.0  acres;  Geo.  Barnett  & 
Sons,  Coudersport,  Russet,  60.0  acres; 
Geo.  Barnett  &  Sons,  Coudersport,  Nit- 
tanv,  49.0  acres;  Geo.  Barnett  &  Sons, 
Coudersport,  Katahdin,  11.0  acres;  Geo. 
Barnett  &  Sons,  Coudersport,  Pennigan, 
20.0  acres;  Everett  Blass,  Coudersport, 

(Continued  on  page  18) 


6 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


October,  1940 


jTHE  GUIDE  POST 

Published  monthly  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Cooperative  Potato  Growers,  Inc. 


OFFICERS 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  Emlenton  . .  President 

Roy  R.  Hess,  Stillwater   Vice-Pres. 

E.  B.  Bower,  Bellefonte, 

Sec'y-Treas.  and  Gen.  Mgr. 


DIRECTORS 

Jacob  K.  Mast Elverson,  Chester 

P.  Daniel  Frantz Coplay,  Lehigh 

Hugh  McPherson Bridgeton,  York 

John  B.  Schrack Loganton,  Clinton 

Roy  R.  Hess Stillwater,  Columbia 

Ed.  Fisher Coudersport,  Potter 

Charles  Frey  North  Girard,  Erie 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.l,  Emlenton,  Venango 
R.  W.  Lohr   Boswell,  Somerset 

Annual  membership  fee  $1.00.  This  in- 
cludes the  Guide  Post. 

All  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary-Treas- 
urer and  General  Manager,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania. 


Crop  Reports  as  of 
October  7th 


The  September  crop  estimate  re- 
leased as  of  September  15  indicated  a 
total  crop  for  the  Country  of  383,172,000 
bushels  as  compared  with  an  estimate 
of  374,314,000  bushels  last  month  and 
364,016,000  bushels  harvested  a  year  ago. 
This  increase  was  largely  in  the  North 
Central  States.  Maine  and  New  York 
just  about  held  their  own  while  Penn- 
sylvania showed  a  slight  increase.  Maine 
shows  a  crop  estimate  around  7,000,000 
bushels  above  last  year  with  a  crop  of 
good  quality  in  view.  Harvesting  was 
about  50  9r  complete  as  of  October  1. 

Idaho  anticipates  one  of  its  best  crops 
in  history  but  harvest  has  been  delayed 
by  wet  weather  and  continued  growth 
of  the  vines  without  a  killing  frost. 

September  was  favorable  for  in- 
creased yields  in  Colorado  with  a  crop 
now  in  prospect  comparable  with  that  of 
a  year  ago. 


The  most  distressing  element  in  the 
Eastern  market  is  the  large  crop  of  Cob- 
blers in  New  Jersey  and  Long  Island 
which  are  carrying  over  far  beyond  the 
normal  marketing  period  for  these  acres. 
In  view  of  this  carry  over  in  New  Jersey 
and  Long  Island,  a  good  crop  in  Maine, 
and  a  total  crop  of  around  20,000,000  bu- 
shels in  excess  of  a  year  ago,  the  price 
outlook  for  the  1940-41  marketing  season 
would  not  appear  too  bright. 

The  October  crop  report  which  will 
be  due  around  October  15,  should  give 
us  a  better  and  more  complete  picture 
of  the  situation. 

In  the  mean  time,  Pennsylvania  grow- 
ers who  do  not  have  ample  safe  storage 
should  be  marketing  in  a  steady  orderly 
manner.  If  you  have  not  marketed  the 
Association  way  a  call  or  a  letter  will 
bring  you  an  explanation  of  how  you 
may  secure  the  services  of  the  Associa- 
tion in  moving  a  portion  or  all  of  your 
crop. 


Some  Of  The  Things  The  Potato 
Marketing  Program  Will  Do  For 
Pennsylvania's   Growers   And   The 

Industry 

RETURN  a  greater  net  profit — than  any 
other  honest  legitimate  way  of  mar- 
keting the  crop. 

INCREASE  the  farm  price— to  all  grow- 
ers. 

IDENTIFY  Pennsylvania  Quality  Pota- 
toes— to  the  distributors  and  the  con- 
sumers. 

REGAIN  and  hold  our  markets — by 
meeting  the  competition  from  other 
states  and  producing  areas. 

LEAD  to  more  orderly  distribution  and 
marketing  —  through  provision  for 
more  adequate  storage  and  wider 
market  distribution. 

ASSIST  food  distributors  in  perfecting 
a  method  of  merchandising  potatoes — 
in  line  with  the  sale  of  other  food  pro- 
ducts, in  clean,  attractive,  consumer 
sized  packages. 

PROTECT  the  public  against  deception 
— and  assure  the  consumer  greater 
food  value  for  his  potato  dollar. 

ASSURE  the  grower  full  confirmation 
price-eliminating   the    possibility   of 

(Continued  on  page  14) 


October,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


I 


The  Association  Marketing  Program 

It  Is  Simple  Of  Operation  And  It  Works 


Any  potato  grower  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania  who  has  potatoes  to  mar- 
ket can  market  them  through  the  As- 
sociation Marketing  Program  by  meet- 
ing the  simple,  practical,  and  economical 
requirements  on  which  the  program  is 
founded  and  operates.  These  require- 
ments were  arrived  at  by  Potato  Grow- 
ers who  are  interested  in  their  potato 
business  and  the  industry  as  a  whole  in 
Pennsylvania,  the  Food  Distributors, 
and  Consumers. 

The  Association  Office,  Masonic  Tem- 
ple, Bellefonte,  Pa.  receives  innumer- 
able inquiries  by  letter,  post  card,  tele- 
phone, wire  and  personal  calls  on  how 
the  program  operates,  how  potatoes 
must  be  graded,  packed,  sold,  etc.  We 
offer  here  many  of  the  questions  com- 
ing to  our  desk  along  with  a  brief  sim- 
ple answer. 

Must  I  be  a  member  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Cooperative  Potato  Growers 
Association,  Inc.,  in  order  to  market  my 
potatoes  through  the  Association  Mar- 
keting Program? 

No.  Any  potato  grower  residing  in 
Pennsylvania,  be  he  large  or  small,  can 
market  his  potatoes  through  the  As- 
sociation by  meeting  the  grade,  package, 
and  sales  requirements. 

Can  I  become  a  member  of  the  State 
Potato  Growers  Association? 

Any  potato  grower  or  any  one  in 
Pennsylvania's  Potato  Industry  can  be- 
come a  member  of  the  Association  by 
paying  $1.00  per  year  to  E.  B.  Bower, 
Secretary-Treasurer,  State  Potato 
Growers  Association,  Masonic  Temple 
Building,  Bellefonte,  Pa.  You  will  re- 
ceive the  Guide  Post  monthly  contam- 
ing  timely  information  on  producing 
seed,  spraying,  marketing,  etc. 

If  I  become  a  member  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Potato  Growers  Association 
must  I  then  sell  all  or  a  part  of  my  crop 
through  the  Association? 

No.  Members  of  the  Association  are 
under  no  obligation  to  sell  through  the 
Association  Marketing  Program. 


Does  the  Association  sell  potatoes  by 
the  hundred  in  hundred  pound  burlap? 

No.    The    Association    sells    only    in 
paper  bags  of  peck  and  bushel  size. 

In  what  grades  must  I  pack  if  I  de- 
cide to  sell  through  the  Association? 

The  Association  will  move  potatoes 
during  the  1940-41  marketing  season  in 
the  following  grades  and  packs:  U.  S. 
No.  1.  (two  inch  minimum,  16  ounce 
maximum  size)  packed  in  Blue  Label 
Pecks  and  Blue  Label  Bushels,  U.  S. 
No.  1.  Size  B.  (one  and  one  half  to  two 
or  two  and  a  quarter  inch  maximum 
size)  packed  in  Red  Label  Pecks,  U.  S. 
Commercial  (one  and  seven  eights  to 
16  ounce  maximum  size)  packed  in 
Economy  Pack  Pecks,  Unclassified  (no 
grade  specified,  used  for  pick  outs  and 
off  grade  crops) . 

How  do  I  secure  Association  trade 
marked  bags? 

By  getting  in  touch  with  your  local 
community  or  county  contact  man  or 
by  contacting  the  Association  office, 
Masonic  Temple  Building,  Bellefonte, 
Pa. 

Who  can  I  get  to  assist  in  packing  my 
crop? 

A  local  Grade  Supervisor  who  has 
been  trained  and  licensed  by  the  As- 
sociation to  supervise  packing.  If  there 
is  no  local  Grade  Supervisor  in  your 
community  we  will  be  glad  to  train  one 
for  you  and  your  neighboring  growers. 

How  much  will  I  have  to  pay  for  the 
services  of  a  local  Grade  Supervisor? 

This  is  a  local  matter.  In  most  cases 
the  prevailing  farm  wage  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  the  local  Grade  Super- 
visor is  employed.  In  view  of  the  train- 
ing these  men  have  had,  involving  time 
and  cost  of  travelling  to  and  from  meet- 
ings, and  the  importance  of  the  task 
they  are  performing  we  feel  that  they 
are  entitled  to  the  maximum  farm  wage 
of  the  community  or  a  bonus  over  the 
regular  pay  of  the  grading  crew. 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


I 


8 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


October,  1940 


Putting  Pennsylvania  Potatoes  in  the  Bag 

ATTENTION  —  GRADE  SUPERVISORS 

Initiative  and  Originality: 

1  The  ''Grade  Supervisor"  perceives  or  sees  the  many  new  problems  that 
arise  from  day  to  day  in  packing  potatoes  but  uses  his  initiative  and  originality 
to  Quickly  solve  them.  (Where  to  set  the  grader  for  efficiency  and  convenience, 
how  to  get  the  best  light,  how  to  load  different  trucks  and  cars,  etc.) 

2  He  seeks  the  best  information  on  problems  he  cannot  readily  solve  from 
experienced  operators  or  instructors.  (This  office  stands  ready  at  all  times  to  help 
in  solving  such  problems  for  any  or  all  Grade  Supervisors.) 

3.  He  makes  his  findings  or  solutions  to  problems  known  to  others.  (Potato 
growers  and  other  Grade  Supervisors.) 

4  The  efficient  Grade  Supervisor  has  definite  plans  for  doing  the  job  at  hand 
or  for  successfully  carrying  out  activities  he  must  direct.  (Actual  grading  and 
packing,  supervising  the  packing  operations  for  other  growers,  supervising  the 
loading  of  trucks  or  cars  for  market,  etc.) 

Tuber  Defects: 

It  is  not  essential  but  will  help  if  the  Grade  Supervisor  is  familiar  with  all 
causes  of  tuber  defects.  The  important  and  essential  thing  that  the  Grade  Supervisor 
must  know,  is  whether  the  tuber  is  a  No.  1  or  a  throw-out.  (This  comes  from  proper 
instruction,  study,  and  experience.)  The  grade  and  weight  must  be  right. 

2.    Surface  or  seen  defects: 

a.  Scab — surface  or  pitted. 

b.  Insect  injury — wire  worm,  grub  worm,  other  insect  injuries. 

c.  Rots— blight,  stem  rot,  scald  or  heating,  frost  or  freezing,  bacterial  ring  rot, 
other  soft  rots. 

d.  Growth  defects,  growth  cracks,  second  growth,  odd-shaped  tubers. 

e.  Sun-burn  or  greening. 

f.  Caked,  dirty  or  soiled  tubers. 

g.  Mechanical  injuries — cuts,  bruises,  shatter  or  air  cracks, 
h.  Rough  skin — due  to  S9il  reaction. 

i.  Under  size  and  over  size, 
j.  Sprouted. 

2.     Internal  or  hidden  defects:  ,*^ 

a.  Stem-end  discoloration. 

b.  Hollow  heart. 

c.  Internal  browning. 

d.  Internal  or  surface  rots  that  do  not  break  the  skin. 

e.  Bruises  and  cracks. 

f.  Insect  injuries — wire  worm,  etc. 

g.  Sun-burn  or  greening, 
h.  Shrivelled  or  soft. 

(IJote — The  eye  should  be  capable  of  detecting  surface  defects.  Cutting  by  a 
knife  is  essential  to  detect  or  determine  the  severity  of  internal  defects.) 

We  expect  the  Grade  Supervisor  to  see  that — 

The  grade  is  right. 

The  weight  is  correct. 

The  bags  are  kept  clean. 

That  all  hags  are  properly  stamped. 


October,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


^^ 


"POTATO  CHIPS" 


i 


The  September  first  crop  report  esti- 
mated 23,875,000  bushels  of  potatoes  for 
Pennsylvania,  compared  with  22,440,000 
bushels  in  1939;  the  total  for  the  country 
was  placed  at  383,000,000  bushels  com- 
pared with  374,000,000  last  year.  But  the 
9,000,000  bushels  increase  still  depends 
largely  on  fall  weather  in  the  principal 
producing  states.  Serious  frosts — or 
heavy  rainfall,  causing  decay  during  late 
digging,  could  cut  this  figure  consider- 
ably by  the  first  of  November.  On  the 
other  hand,  favorable  weather  through- 
out digging  might  increase  the  1940  esti- 
mate still  more. 

Many  people  lack  initiative,  enthus- 
iasm, vision  and  foresight.  The  others, 
though  not  as  numerous  as  the  former 
group,  are  those  who  make  this  old 
world  a  better  place  to  live  in. 

The  potato  marketing  law — Act  275 — 
was  "enforced"  last  year  by  the  State 
Department  of  Agriculture  without  the 
conviction  of  a  single  flagrant  violator. 
This  would  indicate  that  Pennsylvania 
growers  are  now  familiar  with  this 
marking  law  and  are  complying  with  its 
requirements.  This  compliance  will  un- 
questionably react  favorably  for  the 
growers  who  have  faithfully  adhered  to 
this  legislation  when  packing  the  Asso- 
ciation properly  marked  branks.  Act  275 
is  a  good  piece  of  legislation  which,  when 
properly  enforced,  can  do  no  end  of  good 
for  the  entire  industry. 

This  season  we  should  see  a  greatly 
increased  steady  supply  of  Pennsylvania 
potatoes  moving  to  market  in  peck  t  igs 
—both  Blue  Labels  and  Green  Labels, 
and  we  miqht  see  a  fairly  favorable 
price  level  throughout  the  season,  held 
firm  by  increasing  consumer  demand  in 
spite  of  an  abundant  supply.  But  without 
supposition,  or  attempts  at  crystal  gaz- 
ing, both  of  which  are  dangerous  any 
way,  we  know  the  sound  way  for  Penn- 
sylvania growers  to  market  their  1940 
crop  is  by  shipping  in  an  orderly  manner, 
a  regular  supply  of  well-graded,  attrac- 
tively packed  spuds,  which  will  be  a 
credit  to  the  industry,  satisfactory  to  the 
consumer,  and  good  business  for  the 
grower. 

Congressman  Luther  Patrick,  of  Ala- 
bama, tells  an  appropriate  yarn,  which 
goes  something  like  this: 


"This  fellow  was  going  down  the  road, 
driving  a  team  of  oxen  and  he  popped 
a  lizard  here  and  he  popped  a  grasshop- 
per there.  Finally  he  came  to  a  hornets 
nest,  suspended  from  a  tree,  and  the 
little  boy  with  him  said,  'Why  don't  you 
get  after  them  babies?'  The  man  said: 
'Them  babies  is  organized.'  " 

The  Green  Label,  or  "Economy"  peck 
will  need  introduction  to  the  Pennsyl- 
vania   consuming    trade,    but    packers 
and  buyers  alike  look  to  it  as  one  of  the 
answers  probed  for  in  the  depths  of  the 
Association  marketing  plan.  The  Econ- 
omy peck  is  the  possible  outlet  for  many 
Pennsylvania  crops  which,  because  of 
minor  defects,  do  not  economically  grade 
up  to  a  Blue  Label,  but  which  do  fall  in- 
to' this  U.  S.  Commercial  grade  with  a 
moderate  amount  of  culling.  This  pack, 
which  will  not  command  the  premium 
price  of  the  "Blues"  should,  neverthe- 
less,   outsell    the    Pennsylvania    partly 
graded  barnyard  packs,  which,  like  pov- 
erty, will  always  be  with  us.  There  is  a 
large  group  of  consumers  who  have  be- 
come bargain  hunters;  and  the  peck  of 
spuds  which  sells  for  a  few  cents  less— 
but  is  acceptable  in  quality,  might  con- 
stitute "the  bargain  I  bought  today"  to 
tell  neighbor  Mrs.  Jones  about. 

"You"  is  a  word  we  use  commonly; — 
and  also  which  we  give  certain  special 
meanings— but,  in  terms  of  cooperative 
thinking,  the  Idah-Best  News,  pubhshed 
by  the  Idaho  Egg  Producers,  this  little 
word  has  new  great  proportions:  "While 
'You'  is  singular,  'You'  is,  also,  plural. 
♦You'  in  the  plural,  really  working  to- 
gether, can  accomplish  things  that  are 
remarkable.  You  know  that! 

Some  men  have  thousands  of  reasons 
why  they  cannot  do  what  they  want  to, 
when  all  they  need  is  one  reason  why 
they  can.— Dr.  Willis  Whitney 

In  a  single  issue  of  the  Packer  (Octo- 
ber 5,  1940)  the  potato  situation  is  most 
adequately  described  in  these  headlines: 
"Maine  Potato  Crop  Larger  Than  m 
1939";  "Idaho  Expects  Best  (Potato) 
Crop  in  its  History";  "Potato  Prospects 
in  Nebraska  Show  Big  Improvement  ; 
"Ideal  Weather  in  Colorado  Raises  Pota- 
to Estimates";  "Potato  Crop  in  Pennsyl- 
(Continued  on  page  16) 


10 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


October,  1940 


Crop  Conditions  in  Maine  and  Michigan 


Editor's  Note:  P.  E.  Dougherty,  of 
Williamsport,  visited  the  potato  fields  of 
Aroostock  County,  Maine  and  Northern 
Michigan  in  early  September  and  has 
forwarded  us  the  following  reports  ot 
conditions  in  these  sections: 

"The  early  growing  season  was  simi- 
lar to  that  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio, 
however,  the  cool,  wet  spring  delayed 
planting  but  shghtly  and  effected  stands 
only  on  very  limited  areas  of  scattered 
low  fields.  Rain-fall  during  June  and  the 
first  half  of  July  was  somewhat  above 
normal,  but  not  sufficient  to  retard  vme 
growth.  Some  sections  needed  addition- 
al moisture  during  last  July  and  August 
for  best  yields.  Reporting  bureaus  ad- 
vise an  increased  planting  this  season 
of  about  7000  acres.  Yield  should  exceed 
that  of  last  year  by  fifteen  barrels  per 
acre,  indicating  another  fifty  million 
bushel  production  for  the  state. 

"Records  furnished  by  the  State  De- 
partment of  Agriculture,  following  first 
inspection,  lists  an  increased  acreage  of 
all  varieties  of  certified  seed  except 
Green  Mountains.  The  heaviest  increase, 
as  has  been  the  case  for  the  past  three 
years,  being  Katahdins  and  Chippewas. 
Sebagoes  and  Houmas,  two  of  the  newer 
varieties,  are  meeting  with  favor,  es- 
pecially with  Maine  table  stock  growers 
and  are  being  certified  now  in  rather 
large  acreages.  A  striking  feature  of  the 
certified  crops  generally  is  the  unusual 
vigor  and  uniform  vine  growth.  Disease 
readings  are  comparatively  low,  but 
vary  as  to  source  of  foundation  stock 
and  roguing. 

"Certified  Cobbler  fields,  depending  on 
date  of  planting,  are  now  gradually 
ripening.  Hand  digging  shows  a  heavy 
set,  but  indicates  seed  will  run  medium, 
however,  larger  than  last  year,  with 
lower  yield  of  Size  B  stock.  Chippewa 
fields,  with  somewhat  greener  vines,  will 
likewise  dig  a  larger  run  of  seed  with 
lower  percentage  of  the  smaller  grade. 
The  vines  of  Certified  Katahdins  are  still 
green.  Hand  digging,  depending  on  lo- 
cation in  the  County,  shows  slightly  less 
than  average  set,  with  size  of  No.  1. 
Grade  varing  from  medium  to  large  and 
fewer  Size  B's. 

"There  is  no  evidence  that  a  high  per- 
centage of  seed  fields  will  be  rejected  on 
further  inspection.  Barring  the  develop- 
ment of  some  unusual  condition,  supply 


of  all  varieties  should  be  sufficient  to 
meet  full  demands." 

And  of  the  conditions  seen  in  Michi- 
gan, Mr.  Dougherty  reports:— "The 
growing  season  to  date  has  been  near 
ideal  for  even  stands,  thrifty  growth  of 
vines,  and  heavier  than  usual  set  of  tu- 
bers. Type  is  unusually  good,  with  no  in- 
dication of  second  growth.  Size  of  tubers 
varies  according  to  time  of  planting  and 
fertility.  The  early  planted  stock  natur- 
ally shows  more  size  and  maturity  than 
the  late  fields  which  need  at  least  twenty 
days  without  frost  to  produce  better  than 
average  yields. 

"Fields  generally  are  practically  free 
of  disease.  Roguing  has  not  been  much 
of  a  problem  as  only  a  limited  amount 
of  disease  has  developed.  The  most  ser- 
ious trouble  during  the  season  was  the 
slightly  more  than  usual  amount  of 
blackleg.  There  is  no  evidence  of  bac- 
terial wilt  or  any  serious  disease  either 
in  certified  or  table  stock  fields.  Our 
growers  realize  the  high  standards  of 
their  seed  can  be  maintained  only  by 
constant  roguing  and  are  doing  a 
thorough  job  of  eliminating  all  abnormal 
plants  with  tubers  from  fields.  The 
roguings  continue  as  long  as  vines  are 
growing. 

"The  general  appearance  of  our  fields 
with  uniformly  vigorous  vine  growth, 
low  disease  content  and  indications  for 
good  yields  of  typey,  clean,  medium- 
size  stock  allows  us  to  anticipate  ship- 
ping a  dependable  volume  of  proven 
quality  Certified  Russets  grown  in  a 
section  which  we  belive  to  be  second  to 
none  for  the  production  of  foundation 
seed  of  this  variety." 


What  is  a  cynic?  A  man  who  knows 
the  price  of  everything  and  the  value 
of  nothing. — Oscar  Wilde. 


Once  a  year  the  neighborhood  boys 
from  the  slums  are  taken  for  an  outing 
up  the  Hudson  River  where  they  can 
bathe  to  their  hearts'  content.  As  one 
little  fellow  was  getting  into  the  water, 
a  friend  observed: 

"I  say,  Tommy,  aren't  you  dirty?" 
"Yes,"  replied  Tommy,  "I  missed  the 
boat  last  year." — Florida  Citrus. 


October,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


11 


7 

1 


Growers  and  Grade  Supervisors  Show 
Keen  Interest  in  Meetings 


Two  hundred  and  fifty  growers  and 
Grade  Supervisors  took  part  in  four 
meetings  conducted  by  the  Association 
in  Eastern  Counties  during  the  week  of 
September  23-27th.  These  meetings  were 
requested  in  the  areas  in  which  they 


were  held  and  met  with  the  enthusiastic 
approval  of  the  growers.  The  attendance 
was  most  gratifying  to  the  Association 
Management  when  we  realize  the  meet- 
ings were  held  at  an  exceedingly  busy 
time  for  the  potato  grower. 


Fred  inaalls,  John  Hall— sophomores.  Dale  Jackson,  Lyall  Niver,  «^c*^aj^/®?l"®/' 
r^^on  GUbert— Fres^^        The  following  members  not  appearing  in  the  picture 

Harry  Tauscner. 


The  meetings  were  for  the  purpose  of 
explaining  the  Marketing  Program  for 
the  1940-1941  season,  checkmg  on  pres- 
ent licensed  Grade  Supervisors,  trammg 
of  additional  Grade  Supervisors  for  com- 
munities where  growers  desire  to  mar- 
ket, and  to  not  only  demonstrate  but 
actually  size,  grade,  package  and  inspect 
potatoes  put  up  for  market.  Four  addi- 
tional such  meetings  are  scheduled  m 
Western  growing  areas  during  the  pres- 
ent week,  October  8-1 1th. 


Additional  meetings  will  be  scheduled 
in  other  sections  during  coming  weeks 
as  requested.  We  already  have  a  number 
of  additional  requests  for  such  meetings. 

The  first  meeting  in  the  East  was  at  the 
farm  of  J.  K.  Mast,  Elverson,  Lancaster 
County,  with  growers  and  Grade  Super- 
visors present  from  the  following  coun- 
ties: Lancaster,  Berks,  Chester,  Bucks, 
Lebanon,  and  Centre.  In  addition  to  the 

(Continued  on  page  20) 


12 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


October,  1940 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 


by  Inspector  Throwout 


The  Dairymen's  League  News  printed 
this  story,  originating  in  Atlanta,  Ga.: 

"An  agitated  ruralist  asked  at  the  in- 
formation desk  in  the  state  capital  build- 
ing: 'Where  kain  I  find  the  veteran  de- 
pa'tment?'  'Veteran  depa'tment?  Which? 
World  War  or  Confederate?'  T  kaint  tell 
you,  suh,  but  I  knows  this,  she's  a  mighty 
sick  cow'." 

•  •    • 

The  Dairymen  also  recently  ran  this — 
a  tall  one! 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  the  new  hand,  "when 
that  bull  chased  me,  I  jumped  for  a  limb 
twice  as  high  as  my  head,  but  I  missed 
it " 

"Tough  luck,  old  man." 

"I  missed  it  going  up,"  the  new  man 
continued,  "but  I  grabbed  hold  coming 
down." 

•  •    • 

An  Irishman  and  a  Scotsman  went  into 
a  hotel  for  refreshment,  and  were  asked 
to  sign  their  names  and  nationality. 

The  Irishman  signed:  "Irish  —  and 
proud  of  it." 

The  Scotsman  signed:  "Scotch  —  and 
fond  of  it." 

•  •    • 

Sympathy  is  what  one  girl  offers  an- 
other in  exchange  for  details. 

•  •    • 

A  fellow  got  on  the  subway  at  the 
Pennsylvania  station  and  observed  a 
man  across  the  aisle,  who  was  reading 
his  newspaper  intently  while  on  his  left 
shoulder  sat  primly  a  fine  pigeon.  On  his 
right  shoulder  sat  stolidly  another  pi- 
geon. A  third  perched  on  top  of  his  head. 
As  station  passed  station  the  man  con- 
tinued to  read  his  newspaper  and  the 
pigeons  sat. 

Our  observer  had  intended  to  get  off 
for  home  at  96th  Street,  but  was  too  curi- 
ous about  the  passenger  across  the  aisle 
to  leave.  When  the  train  was  nearing 
125th,  he  felt  he  couldn't  stay  with  it 
much  longer,  so  went  over  to  the  man, 
touched  his  arm  gently  and  said,  "Say, 
what  are  those  pigeons  doing  on  your 
shoulder" 

"Oh,  them?"  the  man  spoke  over  his 
newspaper.  "I  don't  know.  They  got  on 
at  Blecher  Street." 


"Aunt  Maria,"  ancient  colored  maid 
at  Randolph-Macon  Women's  College 
since  its  founding,  has  the  welfare  of  the 
students  at  heart.  She  was  recently  over- 
heard admonishing  a  taxi  driver  who 
was  waiting  at  the  door  for  his  passen- 
ger: 

"Man,  yo-all  take  good  cayuh  of  ouah 
Chilluns,  cause  dey  way  wahyuds  so 
easy!" 

•  •    • 

The  object  of  teaching  a  child  is  to 
enable  him  to  get  along  without  his 
teacher. 

•    •    • 

Do  not  dump  your  woes  upon  people — 
keep  the  sad  story  of  your  life  to  your- 
self. Troubles  grow  by  recounting  them. 

•  •    • 

How  To  Win  An  Argument 

The  way  to  convince  another  is  to  state 
your  case  moderately  and  accurately. 
Then  scratch  your  head,  or  shake  it  a 
little,  and  say  that  is  the  way  it  seems 
to  you,  but  that  of  course  you  may  be 
mistaken  about  it;  which  causes  your 
listener  to  receive  what  you  have  to  say, 
and  as  like  as  not  turn  about  and  try  to 
convince  you  of  it,  since  you  are  in  doubt. 
But  if  you  go  at  him  in  a  tone  of  posi- 
tiveness  and  arrogance  you  only  make 
an  opponent  of  him. 

— Benjamin  Franklin 


The  world  has  always  acted  on  the 
principle  that  one  good  kick  deserves 
another. 

•    •    • 

Do  unto  others  as  though  you  were  the 
other. 


A   "PILL-BOX,"   MAYBE? 

Jane:  "Whenever  I  get  down  in  the 
dumps  I  buy  myself  a  new  hat." 

Sally:  "So  that  is  where  you  get  them.'* 


AS   YOU  LIKE   IT 

A  gossip  is  one  who  talks  to  you  about 
others;  a  bore  is  one  who  talks  to  you 
about  himself;  and  a  brilliant  conversa- 
tionalist is  one  who  talks  to  you  about 
yourself. — Dairymen's  League  News. 


October,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


13 


Grower  to  Grower  Exchange 

The  rate  for  advertising  in  this  column  is  a  penny  a  word,  minimum  cost  25  cents, 
payable  with  order.  (10%  reduction  when  four  or  more  insertions  are  ordered  at 
one  time.)  Count  name  and  address.  Send  ads  to  reach  the  GUIDE  POST,  Masonic 
Temple  Building,  Bellefonte,  Penna.,  by  the  20th  of  the  month  previous  to  publi- 
cation. 


FOR  SALE:  Bean  No.  103  Potato  Grader, 
bought  new  this  fall.  Used  very  little. 
$225.00.  A.  T.  Blakeslee,  Blakeslee, 
(Monroe  County) ,  Penna. 

POTATO  EQUIPMENT  FOR  SALE: 

One  two-row  Cletrac  Avery  Cultivator 
complete,  one  two-row  Cletrac  Avery 
Weeder,  one  Killifer  Disc  Harrow  with 
24"  blades,  all  slightly  used.  Good  condi- 
tion. Reasonable.  If  interested,  write  W. 


J.  Braddock,  c/o  Wheeling  Bronze  Cast- 
ing Company,  Wheeling,  W.  Va. 
PLANTER  WANTED:  2  row  Iron-Age 
Picker  Type.  Can  also  use  good  used 
grader  and  Digger.  Write  Ray  Salmon, 
Waterford,  Erie  County,  Penna. 
AVAILABLE:  Copies  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Nix- 
on's book,  "The  Principles  of  Potato 
Production,"  $1.25  per  copy.  Write  for 
your  copy  today,  to  Association  office, 
Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania. 


THE  ASSOCIATION  MARKETING 
PROGRAM 

(Continued  from  page  7) 

What  is  the  cost  of  the  Association 
trade  marked  paper  bags? 

The  price  of  bags  is  as  follows:  Blue 
Label  Pecks:  $18.00  per  thousand;  Blue 
Label  Bushels  (two  walled  bag) ;  $45.50 
per  thousand,  (three  walled  bag) :  $48.75 
per  thousand;  Red  Label  Pecks:  $17.50 
per  thousand;  Economy  Pack  Peck: 
$17.50  per  thousand.;  Uuclassified  Bu- 
shels: $38.50  per  thousand. 

Where  do  I  get  the  wire  ties  and  the 
twister  for  tying  the  bags? 

The  wire  ties  come  with  each  bag 
shipment.  The  twisters  for  tying  can 
be  had  by  contacting  or  ordering  from 
the  Association  Office,  Masonic  Temple, 
Bellefonte,  Pa. 

I  have  a  crop  of  potatoes  that  show 
some  stem  end  discoloration.  Should  1 
pack  them  Blue  Label  Pecks? 

No.  A  crop  showing  any  appreciable 
percentage  of  stem-end  should  be  pack- 
ed U.  S.  Commercial,  Economy  Pack 
Pecks,  or  if  too  bad  should  be  packed 
Unclassified. 

I  would  like  to  pack  and  sell  2,000  Blue 
Label  Pecks.  Who  should  I  contact  to 
make  the  sale? 

Your  local  Community  or  County 
Contact  Man.  If  there  is  no  Contact  Man 
in  your  area  then  contact  the  Associa- 
tion Office,  Bellefonte  Pa. 


If  I  decide  to  market  through  the  As- 
sociation to  what  market  am  I  likely  to 
have  to  make  deliveries? 

In  so  far  as  possible  the  nearest  mar- 
ket to  you.  If  the  local  market  is  con- 
gested thereby  demoralizing  the  price 

(Continued  on  page  16) 


HARVEST 

of  the 

1940  PENNSYLVANIA 
POTATO  CROP 

is  revealing 
Some  Outstanding  Yields 

If  you  have  a  yield,  don't  fail 
to  have  it  checked  for  the 

400-BUSHEL  CLUB 

If  you  are  not  fully  acquainted 
with  the  requirements,  write 
the  Association  Office. 

Masonic  Temple  Building 

Bellefonte,  Penna. 

immediately 


14 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


October,  1940 


Sample  tubers  of  Iwo  of  the  most  promis- 
ing seedlings  harvested  at  "Camp  Pota- 
to/' October  3rd.  Many  other  new  seed- 
lings harvested  on  above  date  were 
equally  promising.  Growers  from  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  state,  present  for  the 
digging,  were  enthusiastic  about  these 
seedlings  and  whole-heartedly  back  of 
the  continuation  of  the  project. 


Frisks  of  the  Frost 

From  McGuffey's  Fourth  Reader — 

Editor's  Note:  This  is  one  of  the  finest 
word  pictures,  in  poetry,  in  the  language. 
Try  reading  it  aloud  to  members  of  the 
family.  Or  better  yet  let  the  best  reader 
in  the  family  read  it  aloud.  It  requires 
the  proper  inflection  on  pauses  to  bring 
out  clearly  the  full  meaning.  Try  com- 
mitting it  to  memory.  How  friskish  have 
you  known  the  frost  to  be?  Kill  one 
neighbor's  potatoes  or  leave  another  un- 
touched. Frost  will  split  a  mountain, 
upset  a  building.  It  is  both  useful  and 
harmful. 

The  Frost  looked  forth  one  still,  clear 

night, 
And  whispered,  ''Now  I  shall  be  out 

of  sight; 
So  through  the  valley,  and  over  the 

height, 
In  silence  I'll  make  my  way; 
I  will  not  go  on,  like  the  blustering 

train. 
The  wind  and  the  snow,  the  hail  and 

the  rain, 
Who  make  so  much  bustle  and  noise 

in  vain, 
But  I'll  be  as  busy  as  they." 

Then  he  flew  to  the  mountain,  and 

powdered  its  crest; 
He  lit  on  the  trees,  and  their  boughs  he 

dressed 
In  diamond  beads;  and  over  the  breast 
Of  the  quivering  lake,  he  spread 
A  coat  of  mail,  that  need  not  fear 


The  downward  point  of  many  a  spear 
That  hung  on  its  margin,  far  and  near. 
Where  a  rock  could  rear  its  head. 

He  went  to  the  window  of  those  who 

slept. 
And  over  each  pane,  like  a  fairy,  crept. 
Wherever  he  breathed,  whenever  he 

stepped, 
By  the  light  of  the  moon  were  seen 
Most    beautiful    things;    there    were 

flowers  and  trees; 
There    were    bevies    of    birds,    and 

swarms  of  bees; 
There  were  cities  with  temples  and 

towers  and  these 
All  pictured  in  silver  sheen. 

But  he  did  one  thing,  that  was  hardly 
fair; 

He  peeped  in  the  cupboard,  and  find- 
ing there 

That  all  had  forgotten  for  him  to  pre- 
pare, 

"Now  just  to  set  them  a-thinking, 

I'll  bite  this  basket  of  fruit,"  said  he, 

"This  costly  pitcher  I'll  burst  in  three; 

And  the  glass  of  water  they've  left  for 
me 
Shall  "Tch-Tch-Tch"  to  tell  them  I'm 

drinking." 


THE     POTATO     MARKETING     PRO- 
GRAM WILL  DO  THESE  THINGS  FOR 
YOUR  INDUSTRY 

(Continued  from  page  6) 

rubber  checks  and  extending  the  buy- 
er long  doubtful  credit. 

PROVIDE  a  market  service — including 
the  attractive  Association  trade  mark- 
ed bags,  to  all  growers  small  or  large 
without  discrimination  as  to  cost. 

INSPIRE  growers  to  achieve — better 
yields  of  improved  quality  through 
the  use  of  new  varieties,  good  seed, 
proper  spraying,  improvement  of  soils, 
and  careful  attention  to  details  in 
growing,  harvesting,  storing,  and  mar- 
keting the  crop. 


Not  Surprised 

Binks — "Do  you  know  that  your  wife 
is  going  about  telling  everybody  that 
you  can't  keep  her  in  clothes?" 

Banks— "That's  nothing.  I  bought  her 
a  home,  and  I  can't  keep  her  in  that." 


» 


» 


Plenty  of  Potash 
For  Good  Potatoes 


Potash  is  more  necessary  to  the  agriculture  of  the  United 
States  now  than  ever  before,  according  to  the  Bureau  of 
Mines  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  the  Interior.  The  Bureau 
states  that  it  is  gratifying  to  find  that  the  virtual  stoppage 
of  imports  in  late  1939  causes  none  of  the  anxious  fore- 
boding that  gripped  American  farmers  in  1914,  and  that 
today  our  expanded  needs  can  be  met  from  domestic 
sources.  Therefore  Americaia  potato  farmers  are  assured 
of  plenty  of  potash  for  their  plantings  next  spring. 

If  your  harvest  this  year  has  been  unsatisfactory,  you 
will  wish  to  start  checking  up  now  on  your  soils  and  fer- 
tilization practices  to  see  if  you  are  using  enough  potash 
to  get  the  larger  yields  and  greater  percentage  of  No.  I's 
which  this  necessary  plant  food  insures.  For  a  good  crop 
of  first  grade  potatoes,  soil  and  fertilizer  must  supply  at 
least  200  lbs.  of  available  potash  per  acre.  Your  county 
agent  or  experiment  station  will  help  you  check  soils  and 
fertilizer  practices.  Your  fertihzer  dealer  will  tell  you  how 
little  it  costs  to  apply  enough  potash. 


If  we  can  be  of  any  help  to  you,  please 
write  us  for  free  information  and 
literature  on  how  to  fertilize  your 
crops. 


American  Potash  Institute,  Inc 


Investment  Building 


Washington,  D.  C. 


I 


16 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


October,  1940 


THE  ASSOCIATION  MARKETING 
PROGRAM 

(Continued  from  page  13) 

you  may  be  asked  or  encouraged  along 
with  other  growers  to  make  deliveries 
to  a  more  distant  market.  Cooperation 
in  such  a  plan  leads  to  better  prices  in 
the  local  market  and  a  greater  return 
for  your  crop  over  the  season.  Often 
times  a  greater  net  return  can  be  had  in 
the  more  distant  market  over  and  above 
the  cost  of  delivery. 

I  understand  all  bags  must  be  stamped. 
How  do  I  get  one  of  these  stamps? 

Stamps  are  only  issued  to  qualified 
and  licensed  Grade  Supervisors. 

Should  I  pack  potatoes  before  offering 
them  to  the  Association  for  sale  or 
should  I  make  the  offering  and  begin 
packing  when  the  sale  is  confirmed? 

It  is  not  advisable  to  pack  ahead  of 
sales.  Begin  packing  when  you  are  as- 
sured they  will  move  into  market. 

There  are  a  number  of  stores  in  my 
community  that  would  like  to  have  my 
potatoes  in  peck  bags.  Could  I  pack 
them  in  the  Association  trade  marked 
bags  and  service  these  stores? 

This  is  entirely  possible,  however,  it 
is  important  that  you  make  the  set  up 
with  these  stores  through  or  with  the 
knowledge  and  sanction  of  the  Associa- 
tion. 

How  do  I  get  word  of  local  meetings 
being  staged  by  the  Association  to  train 
local  Grade  Supervisors? 

Let  the  Association  Office,  Masonic 
Temple,  Bellefonte,  Pa.  know  of  your 
interest  and  you  will  be  informed  of  any 
and  all  meetings  staged  in  your  section. 

I  have  no  grader  but  have  several 
hundred  bushels  of  potatoes  I  would  like 
to  sell  through  the  Association.  How  can 
I  participate? 

By  grading  by  hand,  borrowing  a 
grader,  or  by  hauling  your  potatoes  to 
a  grower  who  will  cooperate  with  you 
in  packing.  In  any  of  these  cases  you 
will  need  the  services  of  a  local  Grade 
Supervisor  to  make  sure  that  the  grade 
and  weight  is  right. 

Is  any  particular  type  of  scales  re- 
quired for  packing  pecks? 

No,  but  be  sure  the  weight  is  correct. 
Pecks  packed  from  clean  dry  potatoes 


POTATO  CHIPS 

(Continued  from  page  9) 

vania  is  Over  Last  Year";  "New  York 
State  Potato  Prospects  Favorable*';  *To- 
tato  Crop  Much  Larger  in  Maine";  "Mi- 
chigan Shippers  Report  Expect  Produc- 
tion Same  or  Increased  Over  1939" — and 
others,  too  numerous  to  list.  But,  it  adds 
up  to  one  certain  total:  lots  and  lots  of 
good  potatoes  this  winter. 


Food  prices  held  remarkably  stable 
during  the  first  year  of  the  European 
war,  the  Bureau  of  Agricultural  Ec- 
onomics reported  in  a  recent  statement. 
Prices  rose  sharply  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  war,  but  subsequently  declined. 
Farm,  wholesale  and  retail  prices  in  Au- 
gust, 1940,  were  lower  than  in  Septem- 
ber, 1939 — the  first  month  of  the  war — 
and  only  slightly  higher  than  in  the 
months  immediately  preceding  the  be- 
ginning of  the  war. 

The  following  bit  of  poetry,  gleaned 
from  the  Cooperative  Digest,  is  more 
truth  than  poetry: 

HORSE  SENSE 

In  shooing  flies  or  hauling  freight, 
It's  wiser  to  cooperate, 
For  better  jobs  are  sooner  done, 
If  two  take  hold  and  work  as  one. 

Now*  that's  a  truth  all  horses  know, 
They  learned  it  centuries  ago, 
When  days  are  hot  and  flies  are  thick 
Co-operation  does  the  trick. 

One  tail  on  duty  at  the  rear 
Can't  reach  the  fly  behind  the  ear; 
But  two  tails,  if  arranged  with  craft 
Give  full  protection,  fore  and  aft. 

Though  fools  pursue  a  lonely  course. 
Let  wise  men  emulate  the  horse. 
To  make  a  burden  half  as  great. 
Use  horse  sense  and  co-operate. 

— from  the  "Eggsaminer." 

"Small  Potato" 
Pinch-hitting  for  Bill  Shakespud. 

for  immediate  delivery  should  be  pack- 
ed 5  to  7  ounces  over  15  lbs.  When  pack- 
ing from  fresh  dug  or  otherwise  damp 
potatoes  with  some  dirt  they  should  be 
7  to  9  ounces  over  15  lbs.  Potatoes  that 
are  wet  dirty  or  muddy  should  not  be 
packed  but  allowed  to  dry  so  that  they 
will  clean  in  grading  and  be  dry  when 
packed.  Be  sure  that  your  scales  are 
right. 


I 


ti 


EQUITABLE 


Pane/i  Baa 


i 


COMPANY 

INCORPORATED 


I 


^Specialists  in  the  manufacture  of 

POTATO  SACKS 

and  All  Other  Types  of  Heavy  Duty 
Pasted  Bottom  Paper  Sacks 

♦Specialists  because  .  .  . 

We  operate  our  own  paper  mill,  and  control  every 
step  to  the  finished  paper  bag,  giving  Equitable  cus- 
tomers these  three  important  advantages:  uniform 
high  quality,  rehable  service,  and  economy  in  price. 
Our  art  and  research  departments  (a  gratis  service 
to  Equitable  customers)  assure  you  of  a  well  designed 
bag,    efficiently    suited    to    your    particular    needs. 

PROMPT    Deliveries 

RELIABLE  Quality 

ECONOMICAL  Prices 


4700  Thirty-first  Place.  Long  Island  City.  N>  Y. 
Paper  Mills  at  Orange.  Texas 


18 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


October,  1940 


SOURCES  OF  PENNSYLVANIA 

CERTIFIED  SEED  POTATOES 

(Continude  jrovfi  page  5) 

Katahdin,  2.0  acres;  Everett  Blass,  Coud- 
ersport,  Nittany,  22.0  acres;  Everett 
Blass,  Coudersport,  Russet,  26.0  acres; 
F.  D.  Blough,  Coudersport,  Russet,  18.0 
acres;  F.  D.  Blough,  Coudersport,  Nit- 
tany, 6.0  acres;  L.  G.  Blough,  Couders- 
port, Nittany,  2.0  acres;  L.  G.  Blough, 
Coudersport,  Katahdin,  2.0  acres;  L.  G. 
Blough,  Coudersport,  Russet,  18.0  acres; 
Milford  Clark,  Coudersport,  Russet,  2.0 
acres;  J.  A.  Furman,  Genesee,  Russet, 
9.0  acres;  J.  A.  Furman,  Genesee,  W. 
Rural,  2.0  acres;  J.  A.  Furman,  Genesee, 
Nittany,  3.0  acres;  Ed.  L.  Gross,  Couders- 
port, Russet,  3.6  acres;  Paul  Hamilton, 
Genesee,  Russet,  21.0  acres;  Fred 
Hughes,  Genesee,  Russet,  3.5  acres; 
Merle  Jacobs,  Coudersport,  Russet,  14.0 
acres;  H.  and  Taylor  Jones,  Shingle- 
house,  W.  Rural,  6.0  acres;  C.  S.  Ladd 
and  Son,  Ulysses,  Katahdin,  5.0  acres; 
L.  L.  Leete,  Genesee,  Russet,  5.0  acres; 
Walter  S.  Leete,  Genesee,  Russet,  5.0 
acres;  Lafe  Littlefield,  Coudersport, 
Russet,  4.0  acres;  Arthur  Mattison, 
Coudersport,  Pennigan,  5.5  acres;  Ar- 
thur Mattison,  Coudersport,  Russet,  2.0 
acres;  Arthur  Metzger,  Roulette,  Russet, 
4.0  acres;  Walter  Metzger,  Roulette, 
Russet,  4.0  acres;  Leigh  N.  Neefe,  Coud- 
ersport, Chippewa,  1.5  acres;  Thos.  J. 
Neefe,  Coudersport,  Chippewa,  14.5 
acres;  W.  S.  Olmstead,  Coudersport, 
Russet,  7.5  acres;  Louis  Perkins, 
Shinglehouse,  W.  Rural,  5.0  acres;  W.  E. 
Saringer,  Coudersport,  W.  Rural,  0.5 
acre;  W.  E.  Sarginger,  Coudersport, 
Katahdin,  1.0  acre;  Will  Scott,  Couders- 
port, W.  Rural,  6.0  acres;  A.  C.  Shoop, 
Coudersport,  Russet,  27.0  acres;  A.  C. 
Shoop,  Coudersport,  Nittany,  6.0  acres; 
A.  C.  Shoop,  Coudersport,  Chippewa, 
4.0  acres;  P.  R.  Smith,  Ulysses,  Russet, 
31.0  acres;  P.  R.  Smith,  Ulysses,  Houma, 
10.0  acres;  P.  R.  Smith,  Ulysses,  Katah- 
din, 31.0  acres;  Robert  Smith,  Ulysses, 
Katahdin,  1.0  acre;  Robert  Smith,  Ulys- 
ses, Russet,  1.5  acres;  Leon  Spencer, 
Ulysses,  Katahdin,  6.0  acres;  Stearn- 
stead  Farms,  Coudersport,  Pennigan, 
7.0  acres;  Stearnstead  Farms,  Couders- 
port, W.  Rural,  6.6  acres;  Straley  Bros., 
Germania,  Russet,  6.0  acres;  Lyle  Tar- 
box,  Ulysses,  W.  Rural,  18.0  acres;  Lyle 
Tarbox,  Ulysses,  Russet,  6.0  acres;  L.  C. 
Traub,  Galeton,  Russet,  2.7  acres;  L.  C. 
Traub,    Galeton,    Katahdin,    1.0    acre; 


L.  C.  Traub,  Galeton,  Nittany,  2.0  acres; 
M.  L.  Van  Wegen,  Coudersport,  Katah- 
den,  2.0  acres;  M.  L.  Wegen,  Coudersport, 
Russet,  4.0  acres;  H.  N.  Watkins  and  G. 
L.  Tarbox,  Ulysses,  Russet,  15.0  acres; 
H.  N.  Watkins  and  G.  L.  Tarbox,  Ulysses, 
W.  Rural,  3.0  acres;  F.  W.  Way,  Couders- 
port, Russet,  8.0  acres. 

Somerset  County — Wm.  H.  Barnett, 
Somerset,  Russet,  2.0  acres;  C.  R.  Bauer- 
master,  Berlin,  R.  2,  Katahdin,  1.0  acre; 
C.  R.  Bauermaster,  Berlin,  R.  2,  Mason, 
3.0  acres;  O.  W.  Beachley,  Somerset,  R. 
5,  Pennigan,  9.0  acres;  O.  W.  Beachley, 
Somerset,  R.  5,  Mason,  10.0  acres;  Bird 
Bros.,  Meyerdale,  R.  3  Katahdin,  7.0 
acres;  Harry  Braugh,  Rockwood,  R.  3, 
Mason,  3.0  acres;  Jos.  H.  Fisher,  Boswell, 
Russe,  17.0  acres;  Jos.  H.  Fisher,  Bos- 
well, Katahdin,  10.0  acres;  Frank  Hand- 
werk,  Berlin,  R.  3,  Mason,  2.0  acres;  Jay 
Hauger,  Berlin,  Mason,  4.0  acres;  C.  J. 
Hoffman,  Berlin,  R.  2,  W.  Rural,  2.5 
acres;  A.  R.,  Knepper,  Berlin,  R.  2,  Ma- 
son, 4.0  acres;  Howard  Powell,  Hoovers- 
ville.  Russet,  1.25  acres;  Howard  Powell, 
Hooversville,  W.  Rural,  2.0  acres;  Syl- 
vester Powell,  Hooversville,  Mason,  2.5 
acres;  J.  C.  Reimen,  Berlin,  R.  2,  Mason, 
10.0  acres;  Glenn  Sadler,  Somerset,  R.  5, 
Mason,  3.0  acres;  Clyde  Walker,  Berlin, 
R.  5,  Mason,  3.0  acres;  Gladen  Walker, 
Somerset,  R.  5,  Mason,  10.0  acres. 

Sullivan  County — Stafford  Randall, 
Dushore,  Russet,  4.5  acres;  F.  V.  Rohe, 
Dushore,  Russet,  4.0  acres. 

Warren  County — C.  F.  Camp,  Tor- 
pedo, Russet,  3.0  acres;  R.  H.  Duntley  & 
Son,  Cory  don.  Russet,  5.0  acres;  John 
Jensen,  Bear  Lake,  Russet,  10.5  acres; 
John  Jensen,  Bear  Lake,  Chippewa,  5.0 
acres. 

Wyoming  County — D.  M.  Bartron, 
Tunkhannock,  Russet,  11.0  acres. 

York  County — J.  E.  Mundis,  Windsor, 
Cobblers,  8.0  acres;  Clarence  Striewig, 
Glen  Rock,  Katahdin,  4.0  acres;  Clarence 
Striewig,  Glen  Rock,  Russet,  5.0  acres. 


Serious 

Man — (to  small  son  of  one  of  his 
workmen  who  has  met  with  an  acci- 
dent) .  "When  will  your  Dad  be  fit  for 
work  again?" 

Boy — "Can't  say  for  certain,  but  it 
will  be  a  long  time?" 

Man— "What  makes  you  think  that?" 

Boy — "  *Cause  compensations*  set  in." 

— Santa  Fe  Magazine 


ti 


October,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


Id 


ip 


t4 


NOTICE  TO 

HUNTERS 

Arrangements  have  been 
made  to  make  "Camp  Potato" 
available  to  all  Association 
members  and  their  guests  dur- 
ing the  deer  hunting  season. 

Sleeping  cots,  mattresses, 
and  pillows  are  available. 
Blankets,  bed  linens,  and  other 
accessories  must  be  furnished 
by  applicants. 

The  use  of  all  alcoholic  bev- 
erages is  strictly  probibited, 
and  Association  members  shall 
be  responsible  for  the  proper 
conduct  of  their  guests. 

The  cost  will  be  $1.50  per 
day,  per  person,  all  meals  in- 
cluded, and  reservations 
should  be  made  early,  accom- 
panied by  the  fee  for  the  days 
reserved,  by  contacting 


Mrs.  Wayne  Hindman 
''Camp  Potato" 

Coudersport,  Penna. 
First  come  —  First  served 


PACK  POTATOES 

IN  PAPER 

irS  THE  WAY 
OF  MODERN 
MERCHANDISING 

Attractively  Printed  Paper 
Bags  Bring  Greater  Returns 
to  the  Grower. 

HAMMOND 
BETTERBAGS 

Combine  High  Grade  Printing, 
Strength  and  Quality 

HAMMOND 
BETTERBAGS 

Will  Bring  You  Repeat  Orders 


Hammond  Bag  & 
Paper  Co. 

WELLSBURG,  W.  VA. 

Bags  for 

Lime,  Limestone,  Fertilizer,  Flour, 

Feed  and  Potatoes 


wm. 


20 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


October,  1940 


GROWERS  AND  GRADE 

SUPERVISORS  SHOW  KEEN 

INTEREST  IN  MEETINGS 

(Continued  from  page  11) 
discussion  and  work  with  growers  and 
present  supervisors  present,  seven  new 
Grade  Supervisors  were  qualified  for 
Lancaster,  Chester,  Berks,  Lebanon,  and 
Bucks  Counties. 

The  second  meeting  was  at  the  Harry 
Roth  farm,  Nazareth,  Northampton 
County.  The  digging  of  a  seedling  and 
Fertilizer  (Potash  treatments)  Test  Plot 
added  to  the  interest  of  this  meeting.  The 
attendance  was  beyond  expectations 
with  85  growers  and  Grade  Supervisors 
in  attendance.  In  addition  to  the  instruc- 
tions to  growers  and  present  supervisors 
a  class  of  14  entered  the  Grade  Super- 
visor training.  In  view  of  the  number, 
the  time  for  ample  instruction,  grading, 
packing  and  inspection  for  each  candi- 
date and  the  interest  shown,  it  was  6 
P.  M.  Tuesday  evening  before  the  final 
gong  was  rung  down  on  this  meeting. 

Thursday  was  a  wet,  rainy,  cold  day 
but  the  fine  storage  on  the  farm  of  A.  D. 
Knorr  and  Son,  Numidia,  Columbia 
County,  gave  comfortable  shelter  to  one 
of  the  largest  and  most  interested  crowds 
of  the  week.  Here,  too,  we  had  the  largest 
turn-out  of  present  licensed  supervisors 
from  Columbia,  Luzerne,  Northumber- 
land, Wyoming  and  Centre  Counties. 
Twenty-four  supervisors  and  candidates 
in  addition  to  a  large  number  of  growers 
took  part  in  the  discussion  and  work 
which  also  lasted  well  into  the  evening. 
Seven  new  Grade  Supervisors  were 
qualified,  several  of  whom  are  already 
supervising  the  packing  of  Blue  Labels 
for  market. 

The  final  meeting  was  at  the  farm  of 
Robert  Aten,  Macungie,  Lehigh  County. 
Those  in  attendance  represented  Lehigh, 
Schuylkill,  Berks,  and  Centre  counties. 
Although  the  attendance  was  smaller, 
the  interest  was  good  and  we  are  con- 
fident those  present  were  well  repaid  for 
there  was  ample  time  for  instruction, 
grading,  packing,  and  inspection  for  the 
class  of  11  candidates.  Five  new  Grade 
Supervisors  were  qualified,  three  of 
whom  will  operate  in  entirely  new  com- 
munities in  packing  and  selling  pota- 
toes through  the  Association. 

The  Management  wishes  to  thank  the 
four  growers,  Messrs.  Mast,  Roth,  Knorr, 
and  Aten,  for  making  available  their 
equipment  and  rooms  for  the  meetings 
and  expresses  its  appreciation  for  the 
assistance  given  by  individuals  and  or- 
ganizations for  publicizing  the  meetings 
in  their  communities. 


Membership  Drive 

The  Association  membership  drive 
slowed  considerably  during  the  past  few 
weeks,  and  few  contributing  members 
had  part  in  what  gain  was  made,  but 
however  small,  all  gains  are  in  the  right 
direction — and  appreciated. 

"Camp  Potato"  manager,  Wayne  A. 
Hindman,  led  the  drive  with  two  new 
memberships,  secured  from  **Camp  Po- 
tato" visitors  from  way  down  east. 

John  Schrope,  well  known  to  the  As- 
sociaiton  membership  as  the  "Potato 
Growers'  Philosopher",  from  Hegins, 
Schuylkill  County,  secured  his  new 
member. 

Morris  Kriebel,  of  Barto,  Berks 
County,  who  has  been  a  faithful  con- 
tributor throughout  the  drive,  enrolled 
a  new  member  from  Montgomery 
Couixtv. 

Lynn  Sill,  of  Corry,  Erie  County 
large  packer  of  Blue  Labels,  and  con- 
stant booster,  signed  up  one  of  his 
neighbors  for  membership. 

Harry  F.  Roth,  of  Northampton 
County,  and  a  real  cooperator,  enrolled 
one  of  his  neighbors  also,  in  his  com- 
munity of  Nazareth. 

A  number  of  other  new  members 
signed  themselves  up  to  help  increase 
the  months'  Association  growth. 

All  of  these  new  members  we  heartily 
welcome  into  our  ranks: 

Eilus  O.  Saylor,  Easton,  Northampton 
County. 

Herbert  K.  Dries,  Fleetwood,  Berks 
County. 

Francis  Coleman,  Hegins,  Schuylkill 
County. 

Owen  S.  Gerhard,  Palm,  Montgomery 
County. 

Clinton  Mathews,  Corry,  Erie  County. 

Harvey  Schaffer,  Nazareth,  North- 
ampton County. 

Howard  Waring,  Linesville,  Crawford 
County. 

H.  B.  Leighty,  Newry,  Blair  County. 

George  Hamilton,  Genesse,  Potter 
County. 

Wheeler  Smith,  Nescopeck,  Luzerne 
County. 

Eugene  Fetterman,  Catawissa,  Colum- 
bia County. 

(Continued  on  page  22) 


YOUR  EXTRA  PROFIT 

FROM  THE  USE  OF  A  BEAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 

WILL  PAY   FOR  IT 


3  CAPACITY  SIZES  OF  BEAN  GRADERS 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  BRUISING 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  CUTTING 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  INACCURACY 
IN  YOUR  POTATO  GRADING 

..YOU  DON'T  GET  IT.. 

WITH  A   BEAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 
OUR  CATALOG  SHOWS  YOUR  WAY  TO  PROFIT 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co. 


LANSING 


MICHIGAN 


-i-i<li"'f';.''>'i' 


22 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


October,  1940 


DOBBINS  BROTHERS  HAND- 
LING LOWER  GRADES  IN 
PITTSBURGH  AREA 

A  contract  has  been  executed  with 
DOBBINS  BROTHERS,  2014  PIKE 
STREET,  PITTSBURGH,  PA.,  for  the 
movement  of  the  lower  grades  of  pota- 
toes in  the  Pittsburgh  marketing  area 
as  during  the  1939-40  season. 

The  commission  of  a  commission  mer- 
chant is  10%.  Of  this  10%  deducted  by 
the  sales  agent,  3%  will  be  refunded  by 
him  to  the  association  upon  completion 
of  the  sale.  This  3%  refund  in  turn  has 
been  deducted  from  the  price  of  all  As- 
sociation bags  used  for  the  lower  grades, 
in  order  to  bring  the  price  of  the  con- 
tainer more  nearly  in  line  with  the  grade 
of  potatoes  being  packed  and  sold.  In 
other  words,  the  3%  refund  is  turned 
back  to  the  growers. 

By  the  elimination  of  competition  on 
the  Association  pack  of  Red  Labels  (U.S. 
No.  1,  Size  B);  Green  Label  (U.S.  Com- 
mercial); also  Unclassified  in  60-pound 
paper,  which  is  accomplished  by  giving 
but  one  concern  in  each  market  the  ex- 
clusive sale  of  these  packs,  the  highest 
net  returns  are  assured  to  the  grower, 
while  at  the  same  time,  identified  pota- 
toes are  better  established  in  the  mar- 
kets. 

The  above  mentioned  concern  has  al- 
ready established  a  real  demand  for  the 
Association  pack  in  Pittsburgh. 

Confine  the  movement  of  the  above 
mentioned  trade-marked  packs  to  the 
concern   mentioned   and   thereby   help 


yourself  and  the  Association  in  its  at- 
tempts to  again  popularize  Pennsylvania 
potatoes  in  her  own  markets. 

Also  confine  delivery  of  potatoes  to 
the  above  house  in  the  lower  grades  only. 


Association  Bag  Prices 

Prices  Quoted  are  Per  1000  Delivered 


Blue  Label, 
Red  Label, 
Economy  Pack, 
Blue  Label, 
Blue  Label, 
Unclassified, 


15's  (2-wall) 
15's  (2-wall) 
15's  (2-wall) 
GO'S  (2-wall) 
60's  (3-wall) 
60*s  (2-wall) 


$18.00 
$17.50 
$17.00 
$45.50 
$48.75 
$38.50 


The  above  prices  are  for  delivery  to 
any  point  in  Pennsylvania  and  include 
the  wire  loop  ties  and  the  commission  to 
the  Association. 


MEMBERSHIP  DRIVE 

(Continued  from  page  20) 

Elmer  O.  Achnebach,  Pen  Argyl, 
Northampton  County. 

Clarence  C.  Sherry,  Strattonville, 
Clarion  County. 

J.  Lewis  Williams,  Uniontown,  Fay- 
ette County. 

Ward  McCall,  New  Bethlehem,  Clar- 
ion County. 

H.  F.  MacCallum,  Buffalo,  New  York. 

George  R.  Pietch,  Binghamton,  New 
York. 


It  isn't  what  you  know  but  how  well  you  know 
how  to  use  what  you  know  that  really  counts. 

ALBERT  C.  ROEMHILD 

Potato  Commission  Merchant 

122  Dock  St.        PHILADELPHIA        Lombard  1000 


"More  1'  Per  Acre 

-That's  Where  Agrico  Counts!" 

Say  Leading  Potato  Growers, 
from  Maine  to  Minnesota 

MORE  No.  One's  -  that's  where  potatoes  pay  off!  It's  those 
extra  bushels  of  dean,  smooth,  uniform  potatoes  that  mean 
extra  cash  income  to  the  grower.  And  that's  the  basis  on  which 
we  ask  you  to  consider  Agrico,  the  Nation's  Leading  Fertilizer. 
Wherever  good  potatoes  are  grown,  from  Maine  to  Minnesota, 
leading  farmers  have  proved,  clearly  and  convincingly,  that  Agrico  s 
extra  crop-producing  efficiency  means  EXTRA  yields  .  .  .  EXTRA 
Quality  .  .EXTRA  cash  profit.  There's  a  reason  -  several  reasons, 
in  fact  -  why  crop  results  on  farm  after  farm  show  such  outstand- 
mfact      wny       p     _        j^g  records  with  Agrico:  (1)  There's  an 

Agrico  specially  formulated  to  grow  po- 
tatoes —  made  to  do  this  one  job  and 
do  it  better;  (2)  Agrico  is  "made  to 
measure"  for  local  soils  and  growing 
conditions;  (3)  Agrico  contains  all  the 
needed  plant  foods,  in  just  the  right 
balance. 

Use  Agrico  on  your  own  farm  and 
profit  by  the  difference  it  makes  in  yield 
and  above  all  in  the  quality  of  the  crop. 

Agrico  is  Manufactured  ONLY  by 

The  AMERICAN  AGRICOLTURAL  CHEMICAL  Co. 

Baltimore,  Md-    Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Carteret,  N.  J- 

There's  a  brand  of  agrico  for  each  crop 


AGRICO 


THE  NATION'S  LEADING 
FERTILIZER 


VISION 


This  Picker  Picked 

i;527J50 

Seed  Pieces! 


THE  LONG  LIVED 
PICKER  OF  THE 

IRONAQE 

AUTOMATIC 
POTATO   PLANTER 


This  picker  was  taken  from 
the  first  Four  Row  Iron  Age 
Potato  Planter  made,  and 
sold  to  A.  C.  Ramseyer, 
Smithville,  Ohio. 

The  Iron  Age  Automatic 
Picker  is  simple,  durable,  de- 
pendable, accurate  and 
harmless  to  seed. 

Adjustable  for  seed  ranging 
in  size  from  ^  to  4  ounces. 
These  pickers  are  almost  hu- 
man in  their  ability  to  pick  a 
piece  of  seed  every  time  the 
picker  arm  passes  through 
the  seed  chamber.  Each  pick- 
er arm  resembles  a  mechan- 
ical hand  in  its  precise  hand- 
ling of  the  seed. 

An  exclusive  IRON  AGE 
FEATURE. 


A.  B.  FARQUHAR  CO., 

Limited 
322  Duke  St.,  York.  Pa. 


/;  M)  M  m  f( 


VlHHSUV44ij^ 


NOVEMBER    •    I940 

PidMldJted  Im  ike 

PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE 
POTATO  GROWERS  ASSOCIATION 

INCORPORATED 


A  new  Nixon-developed  Seedling  yielding 
615  bushels  per  acre  on  the  farm  of  Associa- 
tion Director,  Hugh  McPherson,  Bridgeton, 
York  County.  In  the  foreground  holding 
the  large  vigorous  top  is  the  Association 
Secretary-Treasurer  and  General  Manager, 
E.  B.  Bower,  and  Mr.  McPherson.  The  dig- 
ging of  the  Seedling  Plot  and  Grade  Super- 
visor Training  school  was  held  on  Oct.  25th, 
and  was  participated  in  by  86  interested 
growers  and  friends. 


i 


DR.  NIXON  WRITES  ON:  ™ 

The  Influence  of  Weather  on  the  Prevalence 

of  Potato  Diseases 


There  are  now  three  diseases  of  the 
potato  which  react  so  closely  to  weather 
conditions  that  they  might  be  thought 
of  as  being  caused  by  the  weather  itself. 

It  has  been  only  a  few  generations 
since  it  was  shown  by  the  aid  of  the 
microscope  that  definite  organisms  (bac- 
teria and  fungi)  were  the  cause  of  many 
of  the  diseases  of  plants  and  animals. 

However,  careful  observers  over  the 
years  have  associated  certain  weather 
changes  with  epidemics  of  disease. 

For  example,  late  blight  of  potatoes 
has  been  associated  with  wet  weather 
long  before  it  was  found  to  be  caused 
by  mildew. 

The  mildew  which  causes  the  disease 
known  as  late  blight  is  a  frail  little  or- 
ganism that  could  not  thrive  for  long 
when  exposed  to  hot  drying  winds,  but 
under  wet  conditions  will  completely 
kill  a  potato  field  in  a  short  time. 

Fortunately  the  mildew,  which  causes 
late  blight,  is  controlled  by  proper  spray- 
ing under  any  weather  conditions.  By 
correlating  the  rainfall  and  certain  other 
measures  inaugurated  with  almost  un- 
canny accuracy. 

Another  disease  which  comes  under 
the   category   of  the  weather   is   stem 
rot,    stem-end    discoloration,    or    blue 
stem.   There   is   no   specific   or    causal 
organism   associated   with   this   potato 
malady.  It  follows  a  high  soil  tempera- 
ture,  when   associated   with   a   certain 
stage  of  development  of  the  potato  plant. 
Sometimes  two  weeks  difference  in  the 
time  of  planting  is  responsible  for  the 
presence  or  absence  of  this  trouble,  it 
can  be  completely  controlled  by  keeping 
the  soil  temperature  below  60  degrees  at 
the  "critical"  stage  in  the  development 
of  the  plant.  There  is  no  relationship  in 
the  amount  of  stem-end  discoloration 
resulting  in  planting  affected  or  unaffec- 
ted seed.  In  other  words  it  is  not  trans- 
milted  in  the  seed.  Apparently  all  varie- 
ties are  equally  susceptible  when  ex- 
posed to  identically  the  same  conditions 
at  the  "critical"  stage  of  development  of 
the  plant.  The  Russet  potato  has  recently 
^in  the  last  several  years— become  very 


unpopular  due  largely  to  stem-end  dis- 
coloration.  This   state-wide   malady   is 
definitely  associated  with  a  cycle  of  hot 
weather   and   accompanying   high   soil 
temperature  at  the  critical  stage  of  the 
plant  development.  It  is  significant  that 
the  Russet  potato,  this  present  season, 
having  cool  weather  at  the  critical  stage 
of  growth  has  produced  a  large  crop  of 
high  quality  potatoes  quite  free  of  stem- 
end  discoloration.  While  most  of  the  evi- 
dence sited  above  is  circumstantial,  con- 
trolled experiments  in  soil  temperature 
control     just     completed     prove     that 
when  the  soil  temperature  reaches  80 
degrees    for    short    periods    of    certain 
stages  in  the  development  of  the  plant, 
stem-end    discoloration    invariably    oc- 
curs. On  the  other  hand,  when  the  soil 
temperature  was  maintained  at  tempera- 
tures   below    60    degrees   no    stem-end 
discoloration  occurred. 

It  is  evident  that  a  low  soil  tempera- 
ture    whether    the    result    of    climatic 
conditions  or  of  any  other  cause,  con- 
trols this  potato  malady.  In  the  experi- 
ment referred  to  above  circulating  ice 
water  was  used  to  maintain  a  low  soil 
temperature.  While  this  would  not  be  a 
practical     procedure     for     the     potato 
grower,  it  did,  never  the  less,  Prove  that 
stem-end  discoloration  is  a  result  of  high 
soil  temperatures,  conversely  is  preven- 
ted with  low  soil  temperature.  Anything, 
therefore,  that  the   g^o^yer  can  do  to 
lower  soil  temperatures  like  deep  Plant- 
ing, incorporating  on  abundance  of  hu- 
mus in  the  soil,  shading  the  ground  by 
training  the  vines  down  the  rows  with 
the  weeder,  using  Northern  to  North- 
eastern slopes,  planting  early  varieties 
early,  all  are  beneficial.  Certain  climatic 
conditions,  obviously  beyond  the  control 
of  man,  are  the  biggest  factors  in  stem- 
end  discoloration.  Unlike  late  blight  this 
trouble  is  not  controlled  by  spraying. 

The  third  disease  which  is  attracting 
considerable  attention  is  the  compara- 
tively new  one,  known  as  bacterial  wilt 
or  ring  rot.  This  is  another  disease  which 
reacts  very  closely  with  certain  weather 
conditions  at  critical  stages  m  the  de- 
velopment of  the  potato  plant,  unlike 
(Continued  on  page  22) 


k 


! '■rr'i":;'; 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


November,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 

Published  monthly  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Cooperative  Potato  Growers,  Inc. 

OFFICERS 
J.  A.  Donaldson,  Emlenton  . .  President 
Roy  R.  Hess,  Stillwater  . . .  .Vice-Pres. 

E.  B.  Bower,  Belief onte, 

Sec'y-Treas.  and  Gen.  Mgr. 


DIRECTORS 

Jacob  K.  Mast Elverson,  Chester 

P.  Daniel  Franlz Coplay,  Lehigh 

Hugh  McPherson Bridgeton,  York 

John  B.  Schrack Loganton,  Clinton 

Roy  R.  Hess Stillwater,  Columbia 

Ed.  Fisher Coudersport.  Potter 

Charles  Frey  North  Girard,  Erie 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.l,  Emlenton,  Venango 
R.  W.  Lohr  Boswell,  Somerset 

Annual  membership  fee  $1.00.  This  in- 
cludes the  Guide  Post. 

All  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary-Treas- 
urer and  General  Manager,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania. 

I 


I  Do  Not  Grieve 

by  Myrtle  Vorst  Sheppard 

Why  should  I  grieve 

That  the  summer  is  gone; 

That  brown  leaves  cover  the  aging  lawn? 

Why  should  I  grieve, 

When  our  hearth  is  warm, 

And  I  can  sit  in  the  curve  of  your  arm, 

Watching  the  play  of  the  yellow  flames? 

He  is  a  fool  who  blames 

His  discontent  on  the  autumn  rains 

There  is  no  season  for  happiness. 

Joy    does    not    vanish    when    summer 

wanes. 
Love  loves  a  hearthstone  no  less 
Than  the  lanes, 

Lit  by  a  silvery  moon  from  above. 
It  is  the  heart  that  has  never  known  love 
That  foolishly  grieves 
When  the  summer  leaves! 

— From  National  Home  Monthly 


Seven  Million  Bushels  of  Maine 

Seed  Stock  Quality  Certification 

Label  in  1940 

E.  L.  Newdick,  Chief 

Maine  Division  Plant  Industry 

Issues  Certification  Report 

AUGUSTA,  Me.,  Nov.  14.  —The  Maine 

Department  of  Agriculture,  through  its 

Chief  of  Division  of  Plant  Industry,  E.  L. 

Newdick,  has  announced  that  State  of 

Maine  Certified  Seed  Potatoes  will  be 

available  this  season  in  good  volume  and 

great  variety.    He  reports  that   26,873 

acres  have  been  certified,  which  qualifies 

them  for  the  famous  Maine  "Blue  Label" 

and  the  total  yield  as  given  in  his  final 

certification  report  totals  over  7,000,000 

bushels. 

Release  of  the  certification  report 
shows  that  there  was  an  increase  in  all 
varieties  except  Green  Mountains,  the 
heaviest  increases,  following  the  trend 
of  the  past  three  or  four  years,  being  in 
Katahdins,  Chippewas,  Sebagoes  and 
Houmas,  as  well  as  in  miscellaneous  va- 
rieties. The  quantities  and  varieties  re- 
ceiving field  certification  are  as  follows: 

Green  Mountains  8026     acres 

Irish  Cobblers        8630 

Katahdins  6203 

Chippewas  2217 

Sabagoes  61  li 

Houmas  182 

Others  975i 

A  feature  of  this  year's  crop,  accordmg 
to  the  Department,  is  the  vigor  and  uni- 
formity of  the  vine  growth,  the  high 
yields  of  the  tubers  themselves  and  their 
uniform  size  and  bright  color. 

The  increase  in  Maine's  seed  potato 
acreage  this  year  is  traceable  to  the 
splendid  demand  that  seed  growers  en- 
joyed last  season.  In  addition  to  in- 
creased business  done  with  domestic 
growers  over  a  widening  territory,  an 
increased  demand  was  also  developed 
in  the  export  field  with  particularly 
heavy  takings  from  South  American 
countries.  This  export  business  is  re- 
flected in  the  increase  of  acreage  of  some 
of  the  newer  potato  varieties  which  seem 
better  adapted  to  growing  conditions  and 
planting  dates  in  these  newer  territories 
that  Maine  growers  are  now  serving. 

To  qualify  for  the  Blue  Certification 
Label  of  the  Maine  Department  of  Agri- 
culture all  seed  acreage  must  pass  two 
field  inspections  during  the  growing  sea- 
son, many  plantings  more  frequently,  in 
addition  to  further  inspections  at  the 
time  of  digging  and  as  potatoes  are  in 
storage. 


(t 
(( 
it 

n 
it 


November,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


i 


,1 


Association  Meetings  in  Late  October  Well  Attended 


Five  Association  meetings  staged  in 
the  East,  South-east  and  central  areas 
were  participated  in  by  236  growers  and 
friends    during     late     October.     These 
meetings  were  held  as  follows:  Clemon 
Smith  Farm,  Nescopeck,  Luzerne  Coun- 
ty,   Maurice    Getz    Farm,    Kresgeville, 
Monroe  County,  Snyder  &  Sons,  Equip- 
ment Warehouse,  Neffs,  Lehigh  County, 
Hugh  McPherson  Farm,  Bridgeton,  York 
County,    and   Glenn   McCloskey   Farm, 
Zion,  Centre  County.  Activities  at  these 
meetings  included  discussions  of  market- 
ing   problems,    training    of  Association 
Grade    Supervisors,    and    grading    and 
packing  potatoes  in  Association  trade- 
marked  bags  for  market.  Seedling  plots 
were  dug  at  two  of  the  meetings,  on  the 
Getz  farm,  Monroe  County  and  on  the 
McPherson  farm,  York  County. 

Thirty-one    new    Association    Grade 
Supervisors  were  trained  at  these  meet- 
ings with  eight  present  licensed  Grade 
Supervisors  in  attendance  and  assisting 
with  grading  and  packing  Blue  Pecks. 
The  Association  Management  was  assis- 
ted in  the  training  of  these  new  Grade 
Supervisors  at  four  of  the  meetings  by 
R    B.  Donaldson,  Department  Agricul- 
tural Economics,  State  College  and  D. 
M     James,    State    Bureau    of   Markets, 
Harrisburg.  The  Association  was  repre- 
sented by  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary-Trea- 
surer and  General  Manager,  and  L.   i. 
Denniston,  Association  Field  Represen- 
tative, who  were  in  charge  of  the  meet- 
ings and  the  various  activities. 


k 


Tuesday  morning,  October  22nd  was 
the  coldest  morning  of  the  season  and 
this,  coupled  with  the  fact  that  many 
growers  were  not  finished  digging  before 
even  colder  weather  would  arrive  un- 
doubtedly cut  into  the  attendance  at  the 
first  meeting.  Those  present  helped  this 
meeting  along  by.  the  interest  they 
showed  in  the  training,  grading,  and 
packing  work. 

Wednesday  morning,  October  23rd,  the 
meeting  got  under  way  early  with  the 
Sng  of  "Camp  Potato"  developed 
seldlings  at  the  Getz  farm.m  Monroe 
County.  The  Management  wishes  to  ex- 
nress  its  appreciation  of  the  fine  coopera- 
tion given  here  by  Harold  E.  Davis  and 
his  Vocational  students  of  the  Kresge- 
ville Chapter  of  Future  Farmers.  Thirty 
of  the  most  promising  seedlings  out  of 
200  were  selected  for  further  study  and 
trial.  A  number  of  these  created  keen 


interest  on  the  part  of  the  growers  pres- 
ent, due  to  their  smoothness,  shape  and 
tuber  characteristics.  The  meeting  con- 
tinued throughout  the  day  with  keen 
interest  shown  in  grading,  instruction, 
and  packing. 

In  Lehigh,  on  Thursday,  the  growers 
were  slow  to  gather  but  when  activities 
got  under  way,  a  total  of  43  growers  and 
friends  took  part  in  the  meeting.  Mr. 
Snyder  set  up  a  full  line  of  potato  sizers, 
scales,  etc.,  used  by  growers  in  grading 
and  packing  potatoes. 

Digging  of  the  seedling  plot  at  the  Mc- 
Pherson   farm,    York    County,    began 
shortly  after  7  A.  M.  Friday.  Here  again 
the  Management  wishes  to  give  credit 
to   Future   Farmer   groups  represented 
by  the  Fawn  Grove  Vocational  School, 
York  County,  under  Mr.  Wm.  V.  God- 
shall,     and    the    Millheim    Vocational 
Group,  Centre  County  under  Mr.  Bright. 
The  high-light  of  the  harvest  of  this  plot 
was  a  high  yield  of  one  of  the  more 
promising   seedlings  developed  by  Dr. 
Nixon  at  '*Camp  Potato".  It  yielded  615 
bushels  per  acre.  The  Grade  Supervisor's 
school  brought  growers  and  candidates 
from  York,  Centre,  Somerset  and  Lacka- 
wanna Counties.  Eleven  candidates  pas- 
sed successfully  in  the  training,  and  have 
been  licensed  by  the  Association. 

On  Tuesday,  October  29th  an  unex- 
pected attendance  of  43  growers  and 
friends  attended  and  took  part  in  a  meet- 
ing at  the  Glenn  McCloskey  Farm,  near 
Zion,  Centre  County.  After  some  grader 
alterations,  the  meeting  got  under  way 
with  the  packing  of  Blue  Label  Pecks 
and  the  training  of  Grade  Supervisors. 
This  was  the  start  of  grading  out  a  2500 
bushel  crop  of  Cobblers  grown  by  Mr. 
McCloskey.  Seven  new  Grade  Supervi- 
sors were  trained  at  this  meeting  for 
Centre  and  surrounding  Counties. 

The  Association  wishes  to  thank  the 
Smith  Brothers,  Clemon  and  Wheller, 
Maurice  Getz  and  Robert  Getz,  J.  M. 
Snyder  &  Sons,  Hugh  McPherson,  and 
Glenn  McCloskey  for  their  fine  coopera- 
tion in  making  equipment  and  meeting 
room  available  for  the  above  meetings. 


The  worst  bankrupt  in  the  world  is  the 
man  who  has  lost  his  enthusiasm. 

Cooperative  Cotton  Gin 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


November,  1940 


November,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


Putting  Pennsylvania  Potatoes  in  the  Bag 

Attention  —  Grade  Supervisors 

Enthusiasm  and  Optimism: 

1.  The  Grade  Supervisor  should  be  thoroughly  convinced  of  the  es- 
sential worth  of  the  v^ork  he  is  doing.  (Grading,  packing,  and  local  inspec- 
tion of  Pennsylvania  potatoes) . 

2.  He  should  show  a  whole-hearted  purpose  in  the  performance  of  ac- 
tivities. (Grading,  packing,  and  local  inspection  of  Pennsylvania  potatoes) . 

3.  By  teaching  and  by  example  he  should  encourage  others  to  believe 
in  the  proper  grading,  packing,  and  local  inspection  of  Pennsylvania 
potatoes. 

Test  Your  Own  Efficiency. 

When  you  became  a  Grade  Supervisor  you  took  some  very  definite 
instruction  on  grades,  grading  and  packing  of  potatoes.  To  determine  your 
ability  to  do  the  work  of  a  Grade  Supervisor  you  were  given  an  examina- 
tion which  you  must  have  passed  or  you  would  not  have  been  licensed  by 
the  Association  to  do  this  job. 

Now  that  you  are  on  the  job,  how  efficient  are  you?  Be  Fair  and  Honest 
with  yourself  and  see  how  you  rate  on  the  following  ten  questions. 

1.  Are  you  making  the  grade  right?  Are  the  growers  you  are  servicing 
having  any  rejections  in  the  markets? 

2.  Are  you  packing  proper  weight?  Are  growers  whom  you  serve 
having  trouble  on  short  weight?  Do  you  check  the  scales  from  time  to 
time  when  in  the  process  of  packing?  Are  you  allowing  sufficient  over- 
weight for  shrinkage — 6-8  ounces  on  dry  potatoes,  8-9  ounces  on  freshly 
dug  or  moist  potatoes,  and  do  not  pack  wet  or  muddy  stock. 

3.  Do  you  have  abundant  light  over  the  sizer  or  picking  table?  Is  the 
light  properly  shaded  so  as  to  cut  off  the  glare?  Do  you  move  this  light  so 
as  to  be  in  proper  position  when  you  move  the  sizer? 

4.  Have  you  seen  to  it  that  all  bags  are  stamped?  Are  you  stamping 
them  so  that  the  number  is  legible? 

5.  Are  you  seeing  to  it  that  bags  are  kept  clean  before  and  after  being 
packed? 

6.  Do  you  make  a  careful  examination  of  the  stock  pile  before  start- 
ing to  pack?  Do  you  cut  for  stem-end,  hollow  heart,  wire  worm  and  other 
hidden  defects? 

7.  Do  you  inspect  the  packs  from  time  to  time  when  packing  to  see 
if  they  are  in  grade?  In  doing  so,  do  you  look  for  both  seen  (cut)  and  for 
hidden  defects? 

8.  Do  you  suggest  to  the  grower  how  packing  can  be  made  more  plea- 
surable and  efficient?  Do  you  check  to  see  that  the  sizer  is  in  proper  work- 
ing condition? 

9.  Are  you  constantly  seeking  additional  information  to  improve  your 
efficiency?  Do  you  attend  Association  meetings  when  called  in  or  near 
your  community? 

10.  Are  you  enthusiastic,  interested,  or  indifferent  toward  the  work  of 
a  Grade  Supervisor? 


i 


Arsenal  in  the  Potato  Bin 


The  Tuber  is  FiUing  its  Greatest  Role 
in  History,  as  a  Food  and  as  a  Base  for 
War  Products. 

NEW  YORK — The  German  official 
wireless,  in  a  broadcast  heard  in  New 
York,  October  20th,  said  that  the  British 
were  dropping  bags  of  Colorado  beetles 
to  destroy  the  German  Potato  crop.— 
(News  Item) 

Ten  thousand  years  of  human  history 
look  down  upon  the  potato  as  it  now 
assumes  a  cardinal  role  as  a  determmant 
of  the  war  in  Europe.  Since  Europe  s  war 
of  the  ideologies  will  affect,  m  its  out- 
come, other  de  facto  wars,  the  once 
humble  tuber  now  stands  at  one  of  hu- 
manity's fateful  crossroads  and  threatens 
to  dictate  just  where  the  irrational  two- 
legged  animal  wiU  go  from  here. 

The  worst  news  that  the  British  Min- 
istry of  Economic  Warfare  and  blockade 
authorities  have  received  in  many 
months  was  the  report  that  capricious 
nature  elected  this  year  to  bestow  an 
especially  bountiful  potato  harvest  upon 
Germany.  For  this  single  German  potato 
crop— approximately  five  times  as  large 
as  th^t  of  the  United  States— means  that 
the  current  war  will  be  a  long  one,  bar- 
ring the  sudden  collapse  of  one  of  the 
belligerents. 


l 


The  potato,  which  has  already  turned 
Europe's  fate  several  times  since  it  was 
introduced  there  from  America    today 
steps  into  its  greatest  role-not  so  much 
as  a  food  product,  though  i^^  that  ^^ut 
as  a  base  for  production  of  numerous 
items    which    Germany    "^fyj^.^^ 
anxiously   require    as   »   result   of   the 
blockade   The  German  chemical  indus- 
trv  l^e  that  of  the  United  States,  is  al- 
ready geared  to  produce  alcohols,  motor 
sS    industrial  starches,  from  which 
f  variety  of  chemical  P/oducts  may  be 
prepared,  and  plastics,  of  which  the  Ger 
mins  are  already  making  numerous  air- 
plane parts,  from  potatoes. 

Moreover,  according  to  the  Office  of 
Foreign  Agricultural  Relations  of  the  U. 
S  Department  of  Agriculture,  the  Ger^ 
mans  have  developed  n^f,f  ^  for  usm^^^ 
potatoes— particularly  culls  and  residues 
from  other  processes-as  succulent  wm- 
ter  feed  for  livestock. 
This  may  be  of  utmost  significance  as 

an^xplSion  for  the  tr^^f^.^^ark 
stock  from  conquered  Holland,  DenmarK 


and  parts  of  France  to  Germany,  where 
they  may  be  fattened  on  potato  proaucts 
instead  of  the  meal  cake  and  other  im- 
ported feed  and  fodder  which  the  British 
blockade  has  cut  off. 

Though  necessity  is  the  mother  of  in- 
vention, Germany's  ''providential  pota- 
to crop  makes  invention  possible,  it 
German  airplanes,  largely  built  of  pota- 
toes, begin  flying  over  England  and  using 
potato  fuel,  from  potatoes  and  their  tat 
from  potato-fed  animals,  then  will  the 
potato  have  reached  its  highest  estate. 

The  quasi-savage  "Indians"  of  the 
Andes  Mountains  (who  first  developed 
the  potato  as  a  food  product,  gave  it  to 
Spanish  conquistadores  who  took  it  to 
Spain,  which  sent  it  to  Florida  to  nourish 
Spanish  garrisons  whose  officers  gave  it 
to  British  colonists  in  Virginia  where  Sir 
Thomas  Herriot,  one  of  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh's  company,  found  it  and  took  it 
to  Europe)  would  no  doubt  be  entranced 
if  they  could  have  lived  to  see  the  fate 
of  their  potato. 

The  potato,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  was  for 
many  decades  the  control  value  of  emi- 
gration from  Europe.  It  governed  the 
rate  of  settlement  of  America  The 
United  States,  in  particular,  would  have 
been  settled  much  more  rapidly  than  t 
was  if  it  had  not  sent  the  Potato  to  Eu- 
rope. When  potato  crops  were  good  in 
Europe  the  people  remamed  on  their 
lands;  when  potato  crops  bailed  they 
flocked  to  America,  especially  from  the 
Germanic  states  and  Ireland 


The  first  real  check  to  potato  cultiva- 
tion came  in  1842  when  the  now  well- 
known  potato  disease,  Phytophthora 
fnfestans  (late  blight)  made  its  appear- 
ance in  Germany.  It  w^^  s??,^,^/,^^^^^^ 

Canada  and  the  U^^.^^^^^lf  ;  then  in 
it  appeared  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  then  in 
Sand  and  by  1846  it  had.  spread  to 
most  of  Europe.  A  great  famine  m  Ire- 
land followed  and  it  vfas  feared  the  pota- 
to would  become  extinct. 

Then  appeared  one  of  the  great  ro- 
mances of  science,  today  remembered 
^the  hur^ble  "Bordeaux  Mixture  "now 
wirtpiv  used  on  other  crops  as  well  as 
poSes  During  the  height  o  .the  Irish 
Famine,  which  almost  depopulated  Ire- 
land as  thousands  fled  to  America  the 
efficacy  of  sulphate  of  copper  and  lime 
(Continued  on  page  H) 


8 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


November,  1940 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 


by  Inspector  Throwout 


Teacher:  "Edward,  give  me  three  col- 
lective Nouns." 

Eddie:  "Fly  paper,  waste  basket  and 
garbage  can." 

•  •      • 

"Now  children,"  said  the  Sunday 
school  teacher,  'T  have  told  you  the  story 
of  Jonah  and  the  whale.  Willie  you  may 
tell  us  what  the  story  teaches.  Yes  m, 
said  Willie,  the  bright-eyed  son  of  the 
pastor.  "It  teaches  that  you  can  t  keep  a 
good  man  down." 

•  •      • 

Any  system  can  be  defeated  by  one 
single  man  who  places  himself  out  of 
harmony  with  it. 

•  •      • 

The  best  preparation  for  good  work  to- 
morrow is  to  do  good  work  today;  The 
best  preparation  for  life  in  the  hereafter 
is  to  live  now. 

•  •      • 

There  are  three  kinds  of  friends:  those 
who  love  you;  those  who  are  indifferent 
to  you;  and  next  friends  who  are  those 
people  who  want  something  that  is 
yours. 

•  •      • 

Optimist 

"I  want  to  grow  some  trees  in  my  gar- 
den. Can  you  sell  me  a  few  seeds?"  in- 
quired Mrs.  Newly  wed. 

"Certainly,  Madam,"  replied  the  clerk. 
He  fetched  her  a  packet. 

"Can  you  guarantee  these?"  she  asked. 

"Yes,  Madam,  we  can." 

"Will  the  trees  be  tall  and  thick  in  the 
trunk?" 

"They  should  be.  Madam." 

"And  quite  strong  at  th  eroots,  I  sup- 
pose?" 

"Oh,  yes.  Madam." 

"Very  well.  I'll  take  a  hammock  also." 

— Bagology. 

•  •      • 

Jim:  (at  2  A.  M.)  "Hey,  Bill,  didn't  the 
landlord  say  this  was  a  feather  bed?" 

Bill:  "Sure,  that's  what  he  said. 

Jim:  "Well,  change  places  with  me.  Its 
my  turn  to  be  on  the  feather." 


"Who  yuh  shovin'?" 
"Dunno,  what's  your  name?'* 

•      •      • 

Doctor:  "I'm  sorry,  my  boy,  but  I  can't 
seem  to  diagnose  your  case.  However,  I 
think  it's  drink." 

Patient:  "That's  all  right,  Doc.  I'll 
come  back  when  you're  sober. 


A  woman  was  buying  groceries. 

"I  want  some  grapes  for  my  sick  hus- 
band," she  said.  "Do  you  know  if  any 
poison  has  been  sprayed  on  these? 

"No  Ma'am,"  answered  the  grocer, 
you'll  have  to  get  that  at  the  druggist's." 


A  saucy  damsel  speeding  through  traf- 
fic found  herself  stopped  by  an  officer. 

"Hey,  "growled  the  cop,  "where's  the 
fire?" 

"That  shouldn't  worry  you,"  said  the 
girl.  "You're  no  fireman." 


A  young  woman  walked  into  a  rail- 
road ticket  office  in  Chicago  and  asked 
for  a  ticket  to  New  York. 

"Do  you  wish  to  go  by  Buffalo."  asked 
the  ticket  agent. 

"Certainly  not!"^^  she  replied.  "By 
train,  if  you  please." 


As  you  enter  a  certain  small  western 
town  a  bill-board  is  posted  at  the  road- 
side reading: 

4,076  people  died  last  year  of  gas 
29  inhaled  it 
47  put  a  light  to  it,  and 
4,000  stepped  on  it. 

•      •      • 

A  grower  we  know  took  several  dif- 
ferent trips  with  a  bushel  of  potatoes  to 
a  nearby  housewife.  When  he  had  de- 
livered the  last  bushel,  the  woman  asked 
for  his  bill.  After  much  thought,  he  gave 
her  this  bill. 

"Three  comes  and  three  goes  at  two 
bits  a  went— $1.50" 


November,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


i 


Edinboro  Potato  Experiment 

by  Norman  P.  Manners,  Supervisor 


i 


It  is  a  pleasant  sensation  to  come  to 
the  end  of  a  growing  season  and  find 
that  a  service  has  been  rendered  co  hu- 
manity. Here,  at  Edinboro,  that  service 
takes  the  form  of  a  contribution  in  co- 
operation w  ith  the  Pennsylvania  Potato 
Growers  Association,  in  helping  to  pro- 
duce an  experiment  that  shall,  in  future 
vears,  prove  its  value  to  the  local  grow- 
ers by  givhsg  to  them  some  outstanding 
varieties  of  potatoes  adaptable  to  this 

climate.  -n.  -c,  a 

The  many  boys  of  the  Edinboro  F.F.A. 
are  not  the  only  members  of  that  great 
Future  Farmer  organization  who  gave 
freely   of  time  and  labor.    At  various 
times  during  the  growing  season  teach- 
ers and  boys  were  to  be  found  visiting 
the  seedling  plot.    Following  are  some 
of  the  Future  Farmer  groups  who  aided 
the  Edinboro  group  in  making  the  plot 
outstanding  in  North-Western  Pennsyl- 
vania Potato  History;  Roscoe  Coblentz 
Ind  boys  of  West  Springfield ;  From  West 
Millcreek,  Jeffrey  Payne  and  F.F.A  ers 
Roy  Fordyce  and  his  boys  from  North 
East;    Waterford   responded   with   Ray 
Salmon  and  his  boys;  Biron  Decker  had 
boys  from  all  over  the  County  visit  quite 
frequently;  The  County  Supervisor  of 
Crawford  county,  Dave  Crum  cooper- 
ated 100%  at  all  times.  Many  of  his  local 
supervisors  spent  happy  hours  in  deter- 
mining the  most  productive  potato  varie- 
^es      Jess    Whitney    of    Spartansburg, 
Lance  of  Linesville,  Mowry  of  Conneaut- 
ville,  and  Terrill  of  Cambridge  Springs 
had  boys  present  at  digging  time  to  help 
turn  out  the  crop. 

Pictures  of  the  seedlings  were  taken 
by  the  author  and  Mr.  Decker  from 
time  to  time  during  the  entire  experi- 
ment, from  the  day  the  potatoes  were 
planted  until  harvested.  Many  compari- 
sons were  made  to  determine  the  most 
resistant  varieties  in  relation  to  diseases 
and  heat.  Of  the  one-hundred  and 
ninety-two  varieties  grown  forty-five 
were  saved  for  next  years  planting. 

The  forty-five  varieties  saved  ^yill  be 
stored  in  a  potato  cellar,  but  before 
storing  they  will  be  weighed,  tagged  and 
bagged  so  that  the  same  means  of  iden- 
tificltion  will  be  carried  through  from 
beginning  to  end.  The  remammg  varie- 
ties of  the  original  one-hundred  and 
ninety-two  were  turned  over  to  tne 
Etoboro  F.F.A.  The  local  boys  have 


graded  the  potatoes,  placed  them  in  Blue 
Label  bags  and  put  them  on  the  local 
market.  At  the  present  time  those  pota- 
toes are  selling  at  seven  cents  a  peck 
more  than  local  potatoes  in  the  town 
stores. 


Editors  Note:  The  above  is  a  brief  re- 
port of  the  seedling  varieties  experiment 
conducted  by  Future  Farmers  of  North- 
eastern Pennsylvania  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Biron  E.  Decker  and  Norman  P. 
Manners,  in  cooperation  with  this  As- 
sociation. 

With  further  reference  to  this  project, 
Mr.  Decker  has  written  us  the  following:. 

Edinboro,  Penna. 
November  5,  1940 

"Mr.  E.  B.  Bower,  Manager, 

The  Pennsylvania  Potato  Growers 

Association, 

Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania 

"Dear  Mr.  Bower: 

"I  think  it  proper  and  fitting  that  I 
should  express  my  personal  appreciation 
for  the  splendid  cooperation  which  your 
organization  has  given  Erie  County  by 
way  of  making  available  the  192  varie- 
ties of  seedling  potatoes  for  experi- 
mental purposes. 

"It  would  be  impossible  to  tell  you  how 
manv  people  have  visited  the  test  plot 
but  the  number  would  be  unbelieveable. 
Vocational  Agricultural  Supervisors  rep- 
resenting a  large  area.of  North  Western 
Pennsylvania  have  visited  the  experi- 
ment. Many  vocational  pupils  have  also 
had  the  opportunity  of  ^^specting  the 
project  and  they  did  so  We  have  a  set 
of  color  slides  which  were  taken 
throughout  the  progress  of  the  project. 
ThTs  material  will  be  used  as  the  occa- 
sion  warrants.  .  ,       ,  . 

"Hundreds  of  farmers  visited  the  plot 
esoecially  the  more  progressive  potato 
lrowe?s  It  was  a  treat  to  have  the  plot 
Eed  so  convenient  to  growers  who 
have  annually  grown  more  than  J'O"" 
acres  of  potatoes.    They  too  have  co- 

°%SKtion  should  go  to  C  W  Bil- 
lines  who  made  his  farm  and  a  full  hne 
of  fhe  most  modern  potato  equipment 
available  to  the  Edinboro  F.F.A.  for  use 

°" 'Laltl'bl' most  important  locally,  we 

should  all  recognize  the  splendid  work 

(Continued  on  page  is) 


10 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


November,  1940 


Future  Fanner  Groups  Support  Association  Program 


The  following  Chapters,  Supervisors 
and  members  of  Future  Farmer  groups 
have  participated  in  various  activities  of 
fhe  Association  during  the  season    We 
wish  to  express  our  appreciation  ot  tne 
fine  cooperation  given  by  these  Super- 
visors  and  their  students.  We  are  confi- 
dent   that    their    time    spent    in    these 
projects,  along  with  the  combined  out- 
ings at  "Camp  Potato  were  profitably 
solnt     Educational    instruction,    work 
and  recreation  were  combined  in  most 
of  these  activities.  If,  by  any  chance  we 
have  missed  any  group  we  would  appre- 
ciate having  it  drawn  to  our  attention. 
Oakland  Maryland  ChapterO.  T.  Gra- 
zier, Supervisor:  36  members.^  Plant- 
ing seedlings  at  "Camp  Potato 
Hepburn  Chapter,  Lycoming  County.  D. 
E.  Woomer,  Supervisor:  15  niembers. 
Planting  seedlings  at  "Camp  Potato 


Montgomery  Chapter,  Lycoming  Coun- 
ty. Luther  C.  Rahauser  Supervisor:  5 
members.  Planting  seedlings  at  Camp 
Potato" 

Montoursville  Chapter,  Lycoming  Coun- 
ty.  Charles  D.  Carey,  Supervisor:  15 
members.  Planting  seedlings  at  Camp 
Potato" 

Conneautville  Chapter,  Crawford  Coun- 
tv  Kenneth  Mo  wry.  Supervisor:  6 
members.  Care  of  seedlings  at  Camp 
Potato." 

Glennville  Chapter,  York  County.  Earl 
W  Hetrick,  Supervisor:  15  members. 
Care  of  seedlings  at  "Camp  Potato 

Loganton  Chapter,  Clinton  County.  Geo. 
S.  Mumma,  Supervisor.  15  members. 
Care  of  seedlings  at  "Camp  Potato 

(Continued  on  page  20) 


Tubers  Infecled  with  Bacterial  Ring  Rot.  Infection  is  not  confined  to  any  par- 
ticular  part  of  the  tuber.  Rot  or  break  down  most  commonly  begins  at  the  eyes 
or  the  stem  end  of  the  tuber. 


November,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


11 


; 


I 


I 


"POTATO  CHIPS" 


The  eovernment  potato  estimate,  re- 
leased November  15th,  boosted  the  pro- 
duction prospect  for  the  1940  crop  by 
S  000  bushels  over  the  October  1st 
estimate.  On  the  basis  of  reported  yields 
^er^cre,  total  production  of  potatoes  for 
the  1940  season  is  estimated  at  393,931,- 
000  bushels  compared  with  364  016,000 
bushels  in  1939.  The  estimated  yied  per 
acre  for  the  United  States  is  the  highest 
of  record. 

All  of  this  proves  that  there  are  plenty 
of  potatoes  to  be  sold  this  winter. 


Many  very  outstanding  potato  yields 
are  being  reported  to  the  Association  of - 
fici  in  application  for  membership  in  the 
Pennsylvania  400-Bushel  Potato  Club. 
Other  yields  are  known  to  have  been 
hprvested  that  have  not  been  reported. 
If  one  of  these  is  yours.  Make  it  known 
offidaUy.  without'fail,  by  December  1st. 

*  *  * 

"Together"  is  the  most  inspiring  word 
in  the  English  language.  Keepmg  to- 
'^ether    mfans    Progress;    coming    to 
gether    means     begmnmg;     working 
together  means  success. 

—Edward  Everett  Hale. 


Mrs.  Wayne  Hindman  at  "Camp  Potato 
will  take  your  reservation  —  and  taKe 
good  care  of  your  lodging  needs— if  you 
write  her  soon. 


The  best  thing  about  obstacles  is  that 
thev  make  us  prove  ourselves  to  our- 
selves Some  of  life's  keenest  satisfac- 
tion comes  from  doing  things  we  thought 
we  couldn't  do.— Henry  Ford. 

♦       ♦       ♦ 

Dr.  Nixon  is  a  very  busy  nian  these 
davs  During  the  past  couple  of  months, 
Ms  activities  have  been  varied  and  great 
With  farmers'  cooperatives  he  has  been 
at    work    with    problems    concerning 
plaches,     apples,     Potatoes     cabbages, 
milk   grapes,  grape  ]uice,  maple  syrup. 
He  haf  solved  many  general  marketing 
problems,    made  .  many    speeches    and 
driven  day  and  night. 

With  all  other  work,  however,  Dr.  Nix- 
on as  promised,  gave  the  potato  industry 
his  enthusiastic  and  consistent  help^  In  a 
two-month  period,  actually,  Dr^  Nixon 
eave  the  potato  program  21  valuaDie 
fays  harvesting  seedlings,  workmg  out 
Setfng  problems  and  givmg  general 
valuable  assistance. 


I 


Department  of  Agriculture  Inspectors 
under  the  supervision  of  D.  M.  JaHle'^, 
wrrhPen  checking  Pennsylvania  Blue 
Si  potatoes  in  various  Pennsylvanm 

markpts    and  their  reports  are  mighty 

r/ouraging  Especially  encouran'Sg 
that  this  year,  with  competition  running 
\^iah  airpadv  for  all  markets,  the  pacK 
Sis  rorrTgh?  Will  not  have  a  "home.'' 

»      •      • 

There  never  was  a  person  living  who 
dil  anythfng  worth  doing  that  did  not 
receive  more  than  he  gave, 
receive  _Henry  Ward  Bucher. 

♦       ♦       ♦ 


of  bitterness  or  self -pity. 

—James  Gordon  Gilkey. 

•      *      * 

jim-"Money  talks,  I  tell  you." 
Dandy-"Yes,  But  it  never  gives  itself 

away." 

*      *      * 

There  was  a  jumble  sale  i"  the  vUlage 
and  a  villager  who  was  helping  walkea 
UD  to  the  organizer.  „ 

"There,  I  think  I've  done  very  weU, 
she  said  proudly.  „ 

"I've  sold  everything  m  that  room. 

.'Goodness!"  exclaimed  the  organizer, 
"that  was  the  cloak  roon.^^^^^^  q^„,,. 


m-f3:Tr~-'i\'-^-r .-.' 


m--'~»rr. 


14 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


November,  1940 


November,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


15 


Membership  Drive 


nurinfi  the  past  month  the  drive  for 
new  members  has  not  brought  in  many 
contributions,  but  some  have  been  sent 
and  a  number  of  new  members  have   ^ 
come  to  the  Association  unsolicited. 

WUliam  W.  Hayes,  of  Jersey  Shore, 
contributed  membership  for  a  fellow 
Lycoming  Countian. 

T  S  Hummer,  from  the  Luzerne  Coun- 
ty AgeSffice',  at  Wilkes-Barre  sent  m 
a  new  member. 

R  R  Walker,  member  from  Edinboro, 
Erie  County,  enlisted  a  new  member 
from  his  own  community. 

p  G  Niesley,  Columbia  County  Agent, 
forwarded  membership  for  one  of  his 
constituency. 

John  N.  Stoltzfus,  of  Parkesburg, 
Chester  County,  sent  in  one  new  member 
from  his  county. 

J    C.  Jacobsen,  Erie  County  booster, 
enlisted  a  member  from  his  community. 
A    L.    Hacker,    County    Agent   from 
Allentown,  Lehigh  County,  sent  mem- 
bership for  one  of  his  constituency. 

As  a  result  of  the  the  drive,  with  the 
contributors  and  the  new  members  who 
applied  themselves,  we  welcome  the 
following  new  members: 

C.  L.  Shipman,  Williamsport 
Ray  Riggs,  Nescopeck 
Paul  Woods,  Edinboro 
Elmer  Tyson,  Catawissa 
David  High,  Atglen 
Maurice  Gabel,  Girard 
Granville  Krause,  Slatington 
William  P.  Campbell,  Centre  Hall 
Norman  P.  Manners,  Edinboro 
Morris  B.  Freedline,  Somerset 
Robert  F.  Whitehill,  Somerset 
Miss  Frances  Cumberland,  Nazareth 
Raymong  Howell,  Bloomsburg 
Chester-Delaware  Farm  Bureau  Co- 
operative Association,  West  Chester 
Lawrence  D.  Smale,  Kunkletown 
E.  H.  Deller,  York 
WilUam  H.  Fritz,  York 
Fred  S.  Shearer,  York 


One  Is  Enough 

"Have  an  accident?"  asked  the  fellow 
who  arrived  too  late  at  the  scene  of  a 
motor  car  wreck. 

"No,  thanks."  replied  the  victim  as  he 
picked  himself  up;  "I've  just  had  one. 
—California  Grocer  Advocate 


1939-40  Maine  Potato  Deal 
A  Twenty  Million  Dollar  Industry 


Cash  Income  to  Potato  Growers 
Increases  25%  in  1939-40  Over 
the  Previous  Shipping  Season 


AUGUSTA,  Me.,  Nov.  7.--The  Mame 
Development  Commission  has  .lust  re- 
leased for  publication  their  annual  esti- 
mate on  the  cash  income  received  by 
Maine's  potato  growers  during  the  past 
shipping  season.    This  study  which  is 
prepared  annually  by  the  Research  De- 
Dartment  of  Brooke,  Smith,  French  & 
^orr^nce,  Inc.,  of  New  York,  Maine's 
merchandising  and  advertising  counse- 
lors   estimates  the  income  received  by 
Mainf  growers  during  the  1939-40  ship- 
ping  selson  at  $19,403,080.00  which  tops 
bv  nearly  $8,000,000.00  above  the  esti- 
mated income  for  the  1937-38  crop. 

The  estimated  average  price  per  bar- 
rel received  by  Maine  g/owers  m  the 
lQ'^9-40  deal  was  $2,035;  for  the  1938-39 
seLon  $r499,  and  for  the  1937-38  season 
$  897  This  reflects  an  increase  last  sea- 
son of  $  53  per  barrel  over  1938-39  and  of 
$113  per  barrel  over  the  1937-38  average 
price. 

It  is  stated  in  authoritative  advertising 
circles  that  no  national  or  semi-national 
merchandising  and  advertising  program 
is  being  operated  at  a  lower  percentage 
of  income  received  for  the  Maine  crop  as 
is  the  program  of  the  Maine  Develop- 
ment Commission  now  starting  its  fourth 
year. 


"When  I  look  at  this  congregation, 
said  the  preacher, 

"I  ask  myself,  'Where  are  the  poor? 
and  then,  when  I  look  at  the  collection,  I 
say  to  myself,  'Where  are  the  rich? 

•      •      • 

*'That  lawyer  of  mine  has  a  nerve! 

*'Why  so?" 

-Listen  to  this  item  in  his  bill:  "For 
waking  up  in  the  night  and  thinking 
over  your  case — $5.00." 


"You  have  only  yourself  to  please," 
said  a  married  friend  to  an  old  bachelor 

"True,  ''replied  he,''  but  you, cannot 
tell  what  a  difficult  task  I  find  it. 


Bacterial  Ring  Rot 


\ 


I 


The  same  five  tubers  appearing  elsewhere  in  this  issue  «»d«^^^^^  with^  ac- 
le^rial  Wng  Rot.\he  tubers  have  been  cu^m  half  to  how  *h  a  attentive 
|?a=a^r\rt?fe%Tca  fl^fe  w^lt  P^p'l.Tood  pacU  if  infection  of  the  crop  « 
not  loo  great.  " 


NotWng  is  what  you  generally  get  when 
you  think  you  are  getting  something 

for  nothing. 

ALBERT  C  ROEMHILD 


122  Dock  St. 


Commission  Merchant 

PHILADELPHIA       Lombard  1000 


16 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


November,  1940 


Grower  to  Grower  Exchange 

The  rate  for  advertising  in  this  column  is  a  penny  ^d^^f^S"*^ 'e°  orferelf  at 
payable  with  order.  (10%  reduction  when  four  o^J^^^^^^^^T^J^posT.  Masonic 
d^^r^^irrBSfefo'Se!^^^^^^^^^  -nth  previous  to  publi- 

cation. 


FOR  SALE:  Bean  No.  103  Potato  Grader, 
bought  new  this  fall.    Used  very  little. 
$22500.    A.    T.    Blakeslee,    Blakeslee, 
(Monroe  County) ,  Penna. 
FOR  SALE:  Choice  seed  potatoes  grown 
from  Certified  Seed.  Our  potatoes  were 
sprayed  every  seven  days.  Yields  up  to 
600  bushels  per  acre.  Cobblers  or  Rural 
Russets.    Write   W.   W.   Hayes,   Jersey 
Shore,  Lycoming  County,  Penna. 
AVAILABLE:  Pistol-Grip  Twisters  for 
tying  paper  bags,  $1.25.    Write  the  As- 
sociation Office,  Belief  onte,  Penna. 

OFFICIAL  POTATO  TAGS  AVAIL- 
ABLE: The  Association  Office  has  made 
available  with  a  local  printer.  Official 
Potato   Tags,   for  use   on   plain  potato 


sacks  as  required  by  law.  If  needed, 
wrUe  Association  Office.  We  will  prmt 
accordingly,  at  cost. 

AVAILABLE:  Spring  Return  Tying 
Tools,  for  tying  paper  bags,  P'^^- ^^f^^ 
Association  Office  has  stocked  a  few  of 
these  for  your  convenience. 

PLANTER  WANTED:  2  row  Iron-Age 
Picker  Type.  Can  also  use  good  used 
grader  and  Digger.  Write  Ray  Salmon, 
Waterford,  Erie  County,  Penna. 

AVAILABLE:  Copies  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Nix- 
on's book,  "The  Principles  of  Potato 
Production,"  $1.25  per  copy.  Write  for 
your  copy  today,  to  Association  office, 
Belief  onte,  Pennsylvania. 

vania  Potatoes  is  equal  to  the  best  when 
properly  graded  and  packed.  Dieticians 
of  our  Institutions,  Hotels,  and  Restau- 
rants can  and  do  attest  to  their  cooking 
quality  and  flavor.  The  complaint  of  all 
these  groups  has  been,  and  still  Jf  on  the 
part  of  some  of  them,  the  inability  to 
secure    a    well    graded,    standardized, 
clean,  attractive  pack  of  Pennsylvania 
Potatoes.  Your  Association  through  the 
Marketing  Program  is  lending  i*  "^nr- 
ing   efforts   toward   changing   this   un- 
favorable  standing   of   our   Potato   In- 
dustry for  the  benefit  of  Pennsylvania  s 
individual  growers  and  the  Industry  of 
the  State  as  a  whole.  We  appreciate  the 
ever  increasing  favorable  expression  on 
the  part  of  growers,  distributors,  and 
consumers  in  these  efforts. 


COOKING  PENNSYLVANIA 

QUALITY  POTATOES 
Buyers,  distributors,   and  consumers 
freely  admit  that  the  quality  of  Pennsyl- 


A  Few  Things  Worth  Striving  For 

Productive  employment  for  the  family 
and  others  in  the  community. 

Better  education  for  members  ot  tne 

family.  .  «^/i  -PnvTi- 

Modern  home  conveniences  and  turn 

ishings.  .   _^„x 

Practical  uptodate  farm  equipment. 
Attractive  home  and  farm  surround- 

^^Fuller  participation  in  community  af- 
fairs. 

(Continued  on  page  18) 


Plenty  of  Potash 
For  Good  Potatoes 


1 


Potash  is  more  necessary  to  the  agriculture  of  the  United 
States  now  than  ever  before,  according  to  the  Bureau  ot 
Mines  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  the  Interior.  The  Bureau 
states  that  it  is  gratifying  to  find  that  the  virtual  stoppage 
of  imports  in  late  1939  causes  none  of  the  anxious  fore- 
boding that  gripped  American  farmers  in  1914,  and  that 
today  our  expanded  needs  can  be  met  from  domestic 
sources.  Therefore  American  potato  farmers  are  assured 
of  plenty  of  potash  for  their  plantings  next  sprmg. 

If  your  harvest  this  year  has  been  unsatisfactory  you 
will  wish  to  start  checking  up  now  on  your  ^oils  and  fer- 
tilization practices  to  see  if  you  are  using  enough  potash 
to  get  the  larger  yields  and  greater  percentage  of  No^  1  s 
which  this  necessary  plant  food  insures.  For  a  good  crop 
of  first  grade  potatoes,  soil  and  fertilizer  -st  -ppl^^^^^ 
IP^^t  200  lbs   of  available  potash  per  acre.  Your  county 

?1  or  experiment  station  will  help  you  check  soils  and 
r^Ler  pracUces.  Your  fertilizer  dealer  will  tell  you  how 
little  it  costs  to  apply  enough  potash. 


If  we  can  be  of  any  help  to  you.  please 
wrile  us  for  free  information  and 
Utertture  on  how  to  fertilize  your 
crops. 


means 

moreProfit 


flmerican  Potash  Institute,  Inc. 

Washington,  D.  C. 
Investment  Building 


18 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


November,  1940 


DOBBINS  BROTHERS  HAN- 
DLING LOWER  GRADES  IN 
PITTSBURGH  AREA 

A  contract  has  been  executed  with 
DOBBINS  BROTHERS,  1014  ^^^^^ 
STREET,  PITTSBURGH,  PA.,  for  the 
movement  of  the  lower  grades  of  pota- 
toes in  the  Pittsburgh  marketmg  area 
as  during  the  1939-40  season. 

The  commission  of  a  commission  mer- 
chant is  10%.  Of  this  10%  deducted  by 
the  sales  agent,  3%  will  be  refunded  by 
him  to  the  association  upon  completion 
of  the  sale.  This  3%  refund  m  turn  has 
been  deducted  from  the  price  of  all  As- 
sociation bags  used  for  the  lower  grades, 
in  order  to  bring  the  price  of  the  con- 
tainer more  nearly  in  line  with  the  grade 
of  potatoes  being  packed  and  sold.  In 
other  words,  the  3%   refund  is  turned 
back  to  the  growers. 

By  the  elimination  of  competition  on 
the  Association  pack  of  Red  Labels  (U.S. 
No.  1,  Size  B);  Green  Label  (U.S.  Com- 
mercial); also  Unclassified  in  60-pound 
paper,  which  is  accomplished  by  giving 
but  one  concern  in  each  market  the  ex- 
clusive sale  of  these  packs,  the  highest 
net  returns  are  assured  to  the  grower, 
while  at  the  same  time,  identified  pota- 
toes are  better  established  in  the  mar- 
kets. 

The  above  mentioned  concern  has  al- 
ready established  a  real  demand  for  the 
Association  pack  in  Pittsburgh. 

Confine  the  movement  of  the  above 
mentioned  trade-marked  packs  to  the 
concern  mentioned  and  thereby  help 
yourself  and  the  Association  in  its  at- 
tempts to  again  popularize  Pennsylvania 
potatoes  in  her  own  markets. 

Also  confine  delivery  of  potatoes  to 
the  above  house  in  the  lower  grades  only. 


Association  Bag  Prices 

Prices  Quoled  are  Per  1000  Delivered 


Blue  Label, 
Red  Label, 
Economy  Pack, 
Blue  Label, 
Blue  Label, 
Unclassified, 


15's  (2-wall) 
15's  (2-wall) 
15's  (2-wall) 
60's  (2-wall) 
60's  (3-wall) 
60's  (2-wall) 


$18.00 
$17.50 
$17.00 
$45.50 
$48.75 
$38.50 


The  above  prices  are  for  delivery  to 
any  point  in  Pennsylvania  and  include 
the  wire  loop  ties  and  the  commission  to 
the  Association. 


A  Few  Things  Worth  Striving  For 

(Continued  jrom  page  16) 
Annual  vacation  trip  for  members  of 
the  family. 
Protective  insurance  —  personal  and 

property. 

Pride  in  a  farm  business  enterprise. 

Contributions  to  the  advancement  of 
the  industry  of  which  you  are  a  part. 


EDINBORO  POTATO 

tuiJN  aurvKj  EXPERIMENT 

(Continued  from  page  9) 
recently  terminated  by  the  Edinboro 
FF  A.,  under  the  able  and  untiring  ef- 
fort of  Norman  P.  Manners,  who  directed 
the  activity  of  the  boys  during  the  time 
which  they  promoted  the  seedling  po- 
tato  test  plot  for  the  Pennsylvania  Potato 
Growers  Association. 

-Mr  Manners  and  I  both  agree  that 
this  project  was  probably  one  of  the  most 
educational  enterprises  which  North 
Western  Pennsylvania  has  ever  been 
able  to  present  as  a  school  and  com- 
munity enterprise  for  the  public  in  gen- 
eral.   

ARSENAL  IN  THE  POTATO  BIN 

(Continued  jrom  page  7) 
in  combatting  the  disease  was  discover- 
ed, and  this,  under  the  name  of  Bordeaux 
Mixture,  greatly  helped  to  preserve  the 
potato  as  we  know  it. 

The  potato  today  is  one  of  the  basic 
food  products  of  the  white  race.  It  repre- 
seS  per  cent  of  the  food  of  European 
and  English  speaking  peoples.  In^*^^ 
United  States  average  consumption  is 
between  three  and  four  bushels  per  per^ 
son  per  year,  but  in  Europe  it  is  as  h^|^ 
as  25  per  cent  of  the  food  of  European 
and  English  speaking  peoples. 

As  a  food  product,  and  now  aj:hemi^^^ 
product,  the  potato  undoubtedly  s  one  ot 
the  most  striking  products  evf  P^o 
duced  from  the  soil.  Its  chemical  struc 
ture  is  such  that  it  can  f  ven  be  used  as  a 
detector  of  radio  signals  and  indeed,  in 
lone  emergencies,  has  so  been  usea.  /v 
good  s^Il  needle 'stuck  into  a  sound  po- 
tato and  needle  and  potato  connected  in 
(Continued  on  page  20) 


YOUR  EXTRA  PROFIT 

FROM  THE  USE  OF  A  BEAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 

WILL  PAY   FOR  IT 


7 


3  CAPACITY  SIZES  OF  BEAN  GRADERS 


•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  BRUISING 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  CUTTING 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  INACCURACY 
IN  YOUR  POTATO  GRADING 

..YOU  DON'T  GET  IT.. 

1,/fTw    A    RFAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 
OmCATAWG  SHOWS  YOVH  WAY  TO  PROFIT 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co. 


LANSING 


MICHIGAN 


20 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


November,  1940 


I  ARSENAL  IN  THE  POTATO  PAN 

i  (Continued   jrom  page   18) 

Precisely  the  same  manner  that  a  crystal 
detector  is  connected,  will  pick  up  radio 
signals  which  may  be  heard  over  an 
earphone. 

I  Potatoes  had  to  be  rushed  to  Alaska 
during  the  Gold  Rush  days  to  save  entire 
Speditions  from  the  disease  of  scurvy. 
bS  today  the  Russians  are  growing  po- 
tatoes  in   their  far  northern   outposts, 
both  Russia  and  the  United  States  have 
^developed  strains  of  potatoes  which  will 
grow  in  thin  Arctic  soils  and  ripen  rapid- 
ly during  the  brief  sub-polar  summer. 
Their  value  in  the  Arctic,  as  everywhere 
else,  resides  in  the  fact  that  they  are  one 
of  our  principal  sources  of  carbohydrate. 
Thev  also  contain  mineral  salts,  some 
nrotein,  and  small  quantities  of  vitamin 
ABC  and  G.  Although  the  protem 
quantity  is  of  excellent  quality. 

The  above  supplies  at  least  one  reason 
for  the  extraordinary  sturdiness  ot  the 
German  and  Irish  peoples.  DepartmeM 
of  Agriculture  experts  have  found  that 
a  pound  of  baked  potatoes  and  half  a 
Dint  of  whole  milk  constitute  a  perfect 
food  combination  which,  ^loreover,  may 
be  used  by  obese  persons  who  don  t  want 
to  get  any  fatter. 

Germany  also  uses  large  quantities  of 
potato  flour.  Her  armies  today  are  sup- 
plied not  only  with  potato  flour,  but 
with  dried  potatoes  for  general  service 
in  the  army  messes.  In  the  United  States 
dried  potatoes  are  finding  steadily  ex- 
panded acceptance.  Many  restaurants 
have  found  that  they  can  produce  quick 
batches  of  fine  mashed  potatoes  by  the 
use  of  dried  potatoes,  a  little  skim  milk, 
butter  and  seasoning. 

Since  up  to  20  per  cent  of  the  potato 
production  of  the  world  usually  is  com- 
posed of  culls  (diseased  and  frozen  pota- 
toes) a  great  effort  is  now  under  way  in 
Germany,  Great  Britain,  Ireland  and  the 
United  States— to  obtain  the  full  value 
from  the  culls  in  various  chemical  by- 
products. 

The  latest  successful  effort  in  the 
United  States  to  utilize  culls  has  been 
featured  by  utilization  of  waste  dairy 
products  in  combination  with  the  cull 
potatoes.  The  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Dairy  In- 
dustry has  devised  a  new  food  article 
from  skim  milk  and  cull  potatoes.  The 
potato  and  skim  milk  mixture,  with  a 
little  sale  added,  is  made  into  wafers 
chips,  sticks  or  croutons,  and  oven  dried 
to  crispness. 


In  Germany,  as  in  the  United  States, 
the  study  of  the  potato  engages  many 
phases  of  chemistry  and  micro-biology, 
soils,  fertilizers,  insecticides,  bacteria- 
cides,  thermal  effects  and  economics.  No 
angle  is  overlooked,  for  the  potato  is 
important  to  warfare  and  life  m  C^er- 
many,  and  there  is  more  than  casual 
significance  in  a  report  that  potato  bugs 
are  being  dropped  from  the  skies  on  the 
potato  fields  of  an  enemy  nation,  as  a 
new  "weapon  of  destruction. 

Reprinted  from  The  Philadelphia  Rec- 
ord, October  20,  1940. 


FUTURE  FARMERS  GROUP 

SUPPORT  ASSN.  PROGRAM 

(Continued  jrom  page  10) 

Hughesville  Chapter,  Lycoming  Coun- 
ty. J.  D.  Ryburn,  Supervisor:  27  mem- 
bers. Care  of  seedlings  at  "Camp  Po- 
tato" 

Kresgeville  Chapter,  Monroe  County. 
Harold  E.  Davis,  Supervisor:  20  mem- 
bers. Planting,  care,  and  harvesting 
seedlings  on  Monroe  County  plot. 

Numidia  Chapter,  Columbia  County.  J. 
E.  Atherton,  Supervisor:  20  members. 

(Continued  on  page  22) 


All  Applications  for 

Membership 

in 

The  Pennsylvania 

400  -  Bushel 

Potato  Club 

Must  be  in 
The  Association  Office 

by 
DECEMBER  L  1940 

If  you  have  had  a  yield,  prop- 
erly checked,  and  do  not  have 
the  proper  blanks,  write  for 
them  today. 


MODERN 
MERCHANDISING 


requires 


'1 

i 


Potatoes 


Attractively  Printed,  Strong, 
Quality 


HAMMOND 
BETTERBAGS 

Will  Sell  Your  Spuds 
in  Style 


Hammond  Bag  & 
Paper  Co. 

WELLSBURG.  W.  VA. 

Bags  for 

Lime.  Limestone.  Fertilizer. 

Flour.  Feed  and  Potatoes 


CERTIFIED 

SEED 
POTATOES 


Maine  — 


Irish  Cobblers 
Green  Mountains 
Katahdins 
Chippewas 

Favorable  weather  and  increased 
acreage  of  most  varieties  resulted 
in  a  higher  total  yield  tl^a."  ^^^^^^ 
vear.  Size  of  tubers,  depending  on 
Spacing,  averages  larger  causing  a 
heavier  sort  when  g'^ding  to  seed 
requirements.  Disease  readings  are 
markedly  lower,  especially  on 
Sops  planted  with  fresh  tuber  unit 
foundation  slock. 


APPROVED 

Michigan -Rural  Russets 

Gieen  Mountains 

Growing  season  was  near  ideal 
for  Iven  stands,  thrifty  growth  of 
lor  *^^"  j\„_:er  than  usual  set. 
V^ds  were  well  rogued  and  prac- 
««Uv^rll  of  disease.  Type  and 
sizfof  tubers  indicate  croPS  will 
grade  a  high  percentage  of  clean, 
dependable  seed. 

Sel«t«l  wWl.  «r»wln«  b.  th. 
Mi  .nd  .cc«.t«l  on  y  when 
meetinc  •"  reaairement..  Wnte 
or  wire  n»  for  price.. 

Dougherty  Seed  Growers 
Waiiamsport,  Pennsylvania 


22 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


November,  1940 


THE  INFLUENCE  OF  WEATHER  ON 
PREVALENCE  OF  POTATO  DISEASE 

(Continued  from  page  3) 


late  blight  it  is  not  controlled  by  spray- 
ing. Like  most  other  bacterial  plant 
parasites,  this  disease  will  probably  not 
be  controlled  except  by  the  use  of  resis- 
tant or  immune  varieties.  This  disease 
behaves  in  all  respects  just  like  tire 
blight  of  pears  and  apples 

They  both  spread  most  rapidly  when 
the  plants  are  most  vigorous. 

Neither  will  spread  when  the  plants 
are  dormant.  Both  operate  most  vigor- 
ously and  spread  most  rapidly  during 
periods  of  high  humidity  and  heat. 

Neither  will  spread  under  excessively 
dry  conditions.  The  organisms  which 
cause  fire  blight  of  pears  and  apples  and 
bacterial  wilt  of  potatoes  live  oyer  in 
their  respective  host  tissues  or,  m  the 
case  of  the  latter,  will  live  over  in  old 
bags,  and  perhaps  a  lot  of  other  places. 

Anyone  who  has  inoculated  soy  beans 
using  the  soil  method  can  appreciate  the 
ease  with  which  the  soy  bean  plant  is 
infected  with  the  bacteria  which  will 
cause  the  well-known  nodules. 

It  is  just  as  easy  and  as  simple  with  a 
bacterial  disease  of  the  potato--a  little 
dust  here,  a  little  mud  there.  The  inside 
of  most  potato  planters  is  coated  witn 
mud,  piles  of  dirt  are  shoveled  from  be- 
neath the  graders,  both  capable  of  mak- 
ing as  thorough  a  job  of  infecting  pota- 
toes as  the  soil  particles  carry  the  inocu- 
lum for  soy  beans.         ,    ,  ^     ^    .  i      -ix 
Except  for  the  fact  that  bacterial  wilt 
of  the  potato  is  kept  in  check  by  certain 
weather  conditions  and  inherent  varie- 
tal resistance  the  potato  industry  would 
be  in  a  precarious  condition.  As  it  is, 
growers  will  simply  have  to  put  up  with 
another  hazard   in   growing  the  more 
susceptible  varieties  depending  on  cer- 
tain coincidences  in  weather  conditions 
and    plant    development.    Disease-free 
seed    sources   will   become   fewer   and 
farther  between  if  any  are  left.  While  the 
Katahdin   Variety   has  been   the   most 
seriously  affected,  there  are  other  varie- 
ties as  much  or  more  susceptible.  The 
Chippewa  and  Nittany,  and  in  some  lo- 
calities the  Katahdin,  were  dead  before 
the  optimum  conditions  for  spreading 
occurred.  There  are  excellent  prospects 
for   resistant   varieties   to   this   serious 
maladv.  In  the  meantime,  we  can  only 
hope  that  the  coincidence  of  optimum 
weather  conditions  for  serious  infection 
will  not  occur  with  such  severity  or  fre- 
quency as  to  disturb  our  chances  of  some 
profit  from  our  potato  crop. 


FUTURE  FARMER  GROUPS 

SUPPORT  ASS'N  PROGRAM 

(Continued  from  page  20) 
Grade  Supervisors  School  Columbia 
County. 
Fawn  Grove  Chapter,  York  County.  Wm. 
V.  Godshall,  Supervisor:  25  members. 
Harvesting  seedlings  and  York  County 
Grade  Supervisor  school. 
Millheim  Chapter,  Centre  County.  Ray 
Bright,  Supervisor:  8  members   Har- 
vesting seedlings,  and  attending  York 
and  Centre  County  Grade  Supervisor 
Schools. 
Coudersport  "Spud  Growers"  Chapter, 
Potter  County.  C.  L.  Dewey,  Super- 
visor:  30  members.   Harvest  of  seed- 
lings at  **Camp  Potato" 
West  Springfield  Chapter,  Erie  County. 
Roscoe  Coblentz,  Instructor    Work  at 
the  Edinboro  (Erie  County)  Seedling 
plot. 
West  Millcreek  Chapter,  Erie  County. 
Jeffrey  Payne,  Instructor.  Work  at  the 
Edinboro  plots. 
North  East  Chapter,  Erie  County;  Roy 
Fordyce,  Instructor;  Assistance  in  iLd- 

inboro  plots.  „  .     ^       *      -d^,, 

Waterford  Chapter,  Erie  County,  Ray 
Salmon,  Instructor.  Active  participa- 
tion in  Edinboro  plot. 
Crawford  County  Chapters,  under  the 
supervision  of  D.  L.  Crum,  of  Mead- 
ville,  including  Spartansburg,  Lines- 
ville,  Conneautville,  and  Cambridge 
Springs,  under  leadership  of  Instruc- 
tors Whitney,  Lance,  Mawey  and  Ter- 
rill.  Assisted  with  digging  of  192 
varieties  on  plots  at  Edinboro,  Erie 
County. 

Over  200  boys  participated  in  the 
planting,  care,  and  harvest  of  the  Somer- 
set County  seedling  plot  on  the  C.  K. 
Bauermaster  farm,  at  Somerset,  ra. 
These  boys  were  members  of  the  follow- 
ing Future  Farmer  Chapters: 
Berling-Brothersvalley  Chapter,  W.  D. 

Igoe,  Instructor 
Boswell  Chapter,   Franklin  La  Vigne 

Instructor  ^  n-   ^  ir. 

Conemaugh  Chapter,  Galen  Oelling,  In- 
structor 

Meyersdale  Chapter,  H.  J.  Hartshorn, 
Instructor 

Shade  Chapter,  Arthur  Myers,  Instruc- 

Stonycreek  Chapter,  Robert  Lohr,  Jr., 

Instructor 
Somerset  Chapter,  J.  C.  Bulick  and  E. 

W.  Cleeves,  Instructors 


J 


J 


"More  *P  Per  Acre 

-That's  Where  Agrico  Counts!" 

Say  Leading  Potato  Growers, 
from  Maine  to  Minnesota 

m  a-nniT  No    One's -that's  where  potatoes  pay  off!  It's  those 

l«.4ta» fannmhav.  proved,  •='»''^»"'' ^^^S    ! .  EXTRA 

-"^.r^-'^^'Ju'^t.  SwIS^n  -  .v„a.  ,easo„s, 
quality  .  .  .  EXIKA  casn  prout.  outstand- 

?n  fact -why  crop  results  on  fannafter^ar^^^^^     ^^^  ^^^^^,^  ^^ 

Agrico  specially  formulated  to  grow  po- 
tatoes-made to  do  this  one  job  and 
do  it  better;  (2)  Agrico  is  ''«n''d^^« 
measure"  for  local  soils  and  growing 
conditions;  (3)  Agrico  co^tams  all  the 
needed  plant  foods,  in  just  the  right 

balance. 

Use  Agrico  on  your  own  farm  and 
nrofit  by  the  difference  it  makes  m  yield 
and  a^ve  aU  in  the  quality  of  the  crop. 

Agrico  is  Manufactured  ONLY  by 

The  AMERICA  MRICOLTURAL  CHEMICAL  Co. 


AGRICO 


Baltimore,  Wld.    Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Carteret,  N-  J- 


ililERE'S  A  BRAND  OF  AERICO  FOR  EACH  CROP 


THE  NATION'S  LEADING 
FERTILIZER 


VISION 


IRON  AGE  FLASH    .•••    IRON  AGE  FLASH 


Watch  for  important 

IRONM 

Potato  Planter 

\ 

Announcement 

on  this  page  next  month 


K  M  M  W^'A 


^tHHS^LV4yV^ 


NUMBER  12 


ih  6 -'40 


*  \ 


^NOWlfcHCE 


»-vi%i0flH 


5  5  u»5.  mr- 


"Say  It  With  Blue  Labels'' 


^  1  * 


^t^o 


fS^ 


tefflaia 


XNOWl.tP''' 


Rw^f^' 


A.  B.  FARQUHAR  CO.  Limited 
322  Dulce  St.     -     Yorl(,  Pa. 


FLASH  .  .  .  IRON  AGE  FLASH*  •  •  IRON  AGE 


3 


DECEMBER    •    I940 

PuUaked  kf>  ike 

PENNSYLVANIA  COOPERATIVE 
POTATO  GROWERS  ASSOCIATION 

INCORPORATED 


l^\^\M(i;ij 


DR.  NIXON  WRITES  ON :  - 

"The  Spirit  Which  Prevails  at  Christmas  Should 
Become  the  Stones  of  the  Corner" 


A  flower  unblown;  a  book  unread; 
A  tree  with  fruit  unharvested; 
I     A  path  untrod;  a  house  whose  rooms 
§         Lack  yet  the   heart's   divine   per- 
Sj  fumes; 

h     A  landscape  whose  wide  border  lies 
%         In  silent  shade  'neath  silent  skies; 
$.     A  wondrous  fountain  yet  unsealed; 
I         A  casket  with  its  gifts  concealed— 
g     This  is  the  Year  that  for  you  waits 
§         Beyond  tomorrow's  mystic  gates. 

i5  —Horatio  Nelson  Powers 


"The  spirit  which  prevails  at  Christ- 
mas should  become  the  stones  of  the 
corner" — : 

We  do  not  have  to  be  rich  to  be  gen- 
erous, and  most  of  us  are  rich  in  the 
possessions  which  make  generosity  pos- 
sible. If  he  has  the  spirit  of  true  gen- 
erosity— a  pauper  can  give  like  a  prince. 

"Be  useful  where  thou  livest  that  they 
may  both  want  and  wish  thy  pleasing 
presence  still; 

Find  out  men's  wants  and  will, 

And  meet  them  there. 

All  worldly  joys  go  less  than  the  one 
joy  of  doing  kindness." 

Washington  wrote  in  1791: 

"Because  land  is  cheap,  much  ground 
has  been  scratched  over  and  none  cul- 
tivated and  improved  as  it  ought  to  have 
been." 

This,  too,  is  applicable  to  the  social, 
political,  economical  and  industrial 
heritage  of  America  today. 

Oliver  Goldsmith  wrote: 
"111  fares  the  land,  to  hastening  ills  a 

prey. 
Where   wealth   accumulates,   and   men 

decay; 
Princes  and  lords  may  flourish,  or  may 

fade; 
A  breath  can  make  them,  as  a  breath  has 

made 
But  a  bold  peasantry,  their  country's 

pride 
Whence  once  destroyed,  can  never  be 
supplied." 
It  has  been  said,  "The  farm  is  the 
foundation  of  society." 

"The  nation  that  is  strongest  is  the 
one  that  is  most  self-reliant." 

"No  country  in  the  world  is  or  can 
be  as  self-reliant  as  the  United  States." 

In  1815  William  Hazlitt,  one  of  the 
greatest  of  essayists  said: 

"The  present  is  an  age  of  talkers  and 
not  of  doers,  and  the  reason  is  that  the 
world  is  growing  old.  We  are  so  far 
advanced  in  the  arts  and  sciences  that 
we  live  in  retrospect  and  dote  on  past 


achievements.  The  accumulation  of 
knowledge  has  been  so  great  that  we  are 
lost  in  wonder  at  the  height  it  has 
reached  instead  of  attempting  to  climb 
or  add  to  it,  while  the  variety  of  ob- 
jects distracts  and  dazzles  the  looker-on. 
What  niche  remains  unoccupied?  What 
path  untrod?  What  is  the  use  of  doing 
anything  unless  we  could  do  it  better 
than  all  those  who  have  gone  on  be- 
fore us?  And  what  hope  is  there  of 
this?" 

Think,  when  this  was  written,  in  1815 
lighthouses  were  lighted  by  tallow  can- 
dles; smallpox,  typhoid  fever  and  "con- 
sumption" were  regarded  as  the  visita- 
tion of  God  with  which  it  was  impious  to 
interfere.  The  germ  theory  of  disease 
was  not  within  sixty  years  of  birth. 
There  were  no  steamships  or  railroads, 
no  telephones,  no  friction  matches  and 
only  in  our  time  has  wireless  and  the 
radio  come  into  existence.  Depressions 
were  known  then  as  now  and  their 
cause  and  cure  are  in  the  same  status  as 
the  "plague"  and  human  diseases  were 
in  1815 — a  visitation  of  God. 

The  survival  of  Ihe  fittest  must  be  ir- 
revocably basic  in  all  creation.  Truth 
may  lose  a  battle  but  it  will  win  in  the 
war.  Goodness,  justice,  law,  order, 
truth,  love  and  the  Golden  Rule  will  in 
the  end  prevail — this  is  the  inevitable 
Cosmic  Destiny. 

Here  is  a  battle  front  for  those — the 
youth  of  our  land — for  whom  it  has  been 
said,  there  is  nothing  to  do.  Tennyson 
said, 

"I  doubt  not  through  the  ages 

one  increasing  purpose  runs 

And  the  thoughts  of  men  are 

widened 
with  the  process  of  the  Sun." 

Paradoxically  as  it  seems  there  is  "too 
much  Potatoes,"  too  much  Milk,  too 
much  Cabbage,  too  much  Wheat,  too 
much  Meat,  too  much  Labor,  too  much 
Oil,  too  much  Gas,  too  much  Furniture 
...  too  much  everything  on  the  one 

hand. 

(Continued  on  page  18) 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


December,  1940 


December,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


THE  GUIDE  POST 

Published  monthly  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Cooperative  Potato  Growers,  Inc. 

OFFICERS 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  Emlenton  ..President 
Roy  R.  Hess,  Stillwater  . . . .  Vice-Pres. 

E.  B.  Bower,  Bellefonte, 

Sec'y-Treas.  and  Gen,  Mgr. 


DIRECTORS 

Jacob  K.  Mast Elverson,  Chester 

P.  Daniel  Frantz Coplay,  Lehigh 

Hugh  McPherson Bridgeton,  York 

John  B.  Schrack Loganton,  Clinton 

Roy  R.  Hess Stillwater,  Columbia 

Ed.  Fisher Coudersport,  Potter 

Charles  Frey North  Girard,  Erie 

J.  A.  Donaldson,  R.l,  Emlenton,  Venango 
R.  W.  Lohr   Boswell,  Somerset 

Annual  membership  fee  $1.00.  This  in- 
cludes the  Guide  Post. 

All  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  E.  B.  Bower,  Secretary-Treas- 
urer and  General  Manager,  Bellefonte, 
Pennsylvania. 


The  Dying  Soldiers™ 

From  McGuFFEYS  Readers 

A  Waste  of  land,  a  sodden  plain, 

A  lurid  sunset  sky 
With  clouds  that  fled  and  faded  fast 

In  ghostly  phantasy; 
A  field  upturned  by  trampling  feet, 

A  field  uppiled  with  slain. 
With  horse  and  rider  blent  in  death 

Upon  the  battle-  plain. 

The  dying  and  the  dead  lie  low; 

For  them,  no  more  shall  rise 
The  evening  moon,  nor  midnight  stars, 

Nor  daylight's  soft  surprise. 
They  will  not  wake  to  tenderest  call, 

Nor  see  again  each  home. 
Where  waiting  hearts  shall  throb  and 
break 

When  this  day's  tidings  come. 

Two  soldiers,  lying  as  they  fell 

Upon  the  reddened  clay — 
In  daytime  foes;  at  night,  in  peace 

Breathing  their  lives  away! 


Brave  hearts  had  stirred  each  manly 
breast. 

Fate  only  made  them  foes; 
And  lying,  dying  side  by  side, 

A  softened  feelmg  rose. 

"Our  time  is  short,"  one  faint  voice  said, 

"Today  we've  done  our  best  ^^ 

On  different  sides;  what  matters  now. 

To-morrow  we  shall  rest! 
Life  lies  behind,  I  might  not  care 

For  only  my  own  sake; 
But  far  away  are  other  hearts, 

That  this  day's  work  will  break. 

"Among  New  Hampshires  snowy  hills, 

There  pray  for  me  to-night 
A  woman,  and  a  little  girl  ^^ 

With  hair  like  golden  light; 
And  at  the  thought,  broke  forth  at  last 

The  cry  of  anguish  wild, 
That  would  no  longer  be  repressed— 

"O  God!  my  wife,  my  child!" 

"And,"  said  the  other  dying  man, 

"Across  the  Georgia  plain. 
There  watch  and  wait  for  me,  loved  ones 

I  ne'er  shall  see  again. 
A  little  girl,  with  dark,  bright  eyes. 

Each  day,  waits  at  the  door; 
Her  father's  step,  her  father's  kiss. 

Will  never  greet  her  more. 

"Today  we  sought  each  other's  lives, 

Death  levels  all  that  now; 
For  soon  before  God's  mercy-seat 

Together  we  shall  bow. 
Forgive  each  other  while  we  may; 

Life's  but  a  weary  game. 
And,  right  or  wrong,  the  morning  sun 

Will  find  us,  dead,  the  same." 


^1 


The  dying  lips  the  pardon  breath; 

The  dying  hands  entwine; 
The  east  ray  fades,  and  over  all 

The  stars  from  heaven  shine; 
And  the  little  girl  with  golden  hair. 
And  one  with  dark  eyes  bright, 
On  Hampshire's  hills  and  Georgia's 
plain 

Were  fatherless  that  night! 


Good  Advice 

A  naval  officer  writes:— "Should  a 
husband  praise  the  good  traits  of  other 
women  so  his  wife  may  imitate  them.' 
The  answer  is  No — not  unless  he  has 
been  ordered,  immediately,  on  a  long, 
long  cruise. — Kansas  City  Star 


The  Potato  Grower's  Inventory 

L.  T.  Denniston,  Association  Field  Representative 


Most  business  houses  around  the  first 
of  the  year  make  a  complete  check  of 
stock  or  supplies  on  hand.    Looking  at 
potato  growing  as  a  business,  it  occur- 
red to  me  that  it  would  be  at  least  in- 
teresting if  not  helpful,  to  a  lot  of  us 
to  take  a  look  at  the  equipment,  sup- 
plies, and  services  necessary  or  helpful 
to  successful  commercial  potato  produc- 
tion.  I  find  you  cannot  do  this  without, 
"sticking  your  neck  out,"  so  to  speak, 
but  I  am  willing  to  go  through  with  it 
for  the  sake  of  argument  and  discussion 
for  I  know  some  good  will  come  of  it. 

In  submitting  the  following  list  of 
items,  no  doubt  some  of  importance 
have  been  omitted.  This  is  not  inten- 
tional, but  due  to  the  inability  to  picture 
all  items  in  the  short  time  devoted  to 
making  up  the  list.  I  trust  that  no  young 
beginners  or  future  potato  grower  will 
be  frightened  by  a  long  list  of  equip- 
ment essential  or  helpful  in  attaining 
success  for  I  know  of  no  potato  grower 
who  has  all  the  items  listed  below. 
"Circumstances  alter  cases"  —  this  is 
quoted  from  a  story  in  McGuffeys 
Reader.  There  are  many  circumstances 
altering  the  case  as  to  whether  you  need 
this  tool  and  how  many  of  them  are 
actually  necessary. 

For  the  sake  of  separating  the  more 
essential  items  I  submitted  this  list  to 
three  prominent  successful  growers  ask- 
ing them  to  designate  all  items  of  v/nich 
they,  in  their  operation,  must  have  or 
have  the  service.  Due  to  a  difference  of 
opinion  and  to  the  nature  of  this  set-up, 
as  growers,  they  naturally  were  not  in 
full  agreement  on  all  items.   In  all,  129 
of  the  159  items  listed  were  checked  by 
one  or  more  of  the  three  growers  as  be- 
ing essential.  Thinking  of  these  growers 
as  A,  B,  and  C,  grower  A  checked  108 
items    as    essential    to    his    operations, 
grower  B  118  items,  and  grower  C,  113 
items.   This  is  very  close.  However,  the 
same  three  growers  were  in  agreement 
on  only  92  items  as  being  essential.    I 
have  numbered  the  92  items  on  which 
growers  A,  B,  and  C,  agreed  as  essen- 
tial.  This  does  not  make  them  essential 
to  you  in  your  operation   nor  does  it 
eliminate   many   other   articles   not   so 
numbered  as  being  important  but  gives 
you  an  interesting  reaction  on  the  part 
of  your  fellow  grower.   How  would  you 
list  them?    (Since  writing  this  article  I 


checked  the  list  with  my  father,  Thomas 
Denniston,  Butler  County,  whom  many 
of  you  know  personally,  and  it  was  in- 
teresting to  find  that  he  had  126  of  the 
items  listed). 

Axe 

Anvil 

Arsenate  (for  insects) 

1.  Barrels  (lime  and  blue  stone) 

2.  Brace  and  bits 

3.  Buckets  (water  lime  and  blue  stone) 

4.  Brushes  (paint) 

5.  Blue  stone 

6.  Bags  (picking  and  marketing) 

7.  Bolts  (assortment  machine,  carriage 
and  stone) 

Bag  holder  (for  pickouts) 
Bolt  cutter 

8.  Brooms  (floor) 

9.  Baskets,  crates  or  buckets(  picking) 
Block  and  tackle  (or  service  of) 

10.  Bill  heads  (for  billing  sales) 

11.  Brushes  (bristle  and  wire) 

12.  Blow  torch  (or  service  of) 
Brusher  (potato) 

13.  Cotter  pins  (assortment  of) 
Crowbars 

14.  Cultivators 
Cutter  (potato) 
Center  punches 

15.  Chisels  (metal  or  wood  cutting) 

16.  Chains  (pulling  and  tie) 
Combine  (grain  and  bean  or  service 

of) 
Conveyers  (bin  filling  or  loading) 

17.  Car  (business) 
Counter  (loading) 

18.  Cash  or  credit 
Dies  and  taps 

19.  Digger  (potato) 

20.  Drill  (grain  and  bean) 
Draw  knife 

21.  Drill  press  (or  service  of) 
Desk  and  files  (office) 

22.  Extension  cord  and  light 

23.  Emery  wheel,  grind  stone  or  hones 

24.  Electric  Current  (light  and  power) 

25.  Fertilizer 
26!  Files  (flat,  round  and  rat  tail) 

Fire  extinguisher 

27.  Flares  (truck-road) 
Forge  and  tools 

28.  Fuel  tanks  (gas  and  oil) 

29.  Funnels 
First  aid  kit 
Forks  (potato  digging) 
Fan  belt  (extra  truck  and  tractor) 
Flash  light 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


December,  1940 


30. 
31. 
32. 
33. 
34. 

35. 

36. 

37. 


38. 
39. 


Gasoline  engine 

Grease  (gear  and  cup) 

Grease  guns 

Gasoline  cans 

Grader  (potato  or  service  of) 

Gasoline 

Hatchet  ,    .     ..     ^ 

Hammers  (clean  and  rivetmg) 

Hose  (spray  plant) 

Hose  (extra  sprayer) 

Hoes  (weed) 

Harrow  (disk) 

Harrow  (deep  tillage) 

Horse  power 

Harness 

Hay  and  Grain 

IZrancI  IfaMity  (auto  and  truck) 
Insurance  (workman's  compensa- 

Iron  (strap  and  angle) 

Irrigation  system 

Tsck 

Knives  (potato  cutting) 

Knife  sharpener 

Kerosene 

Knife  (pocket) 

Letterhead  and  envelopes 

Level 

Lime  spreader 

Lumber  (assortment  of) 

Lanterns  (gas  or  kerosene) 

Lime  mixing  spud 

Light  shade  (grader) 

Lime 

Magneto  service 

Motor  repair  service 

Market  or  service 

Nails  (assortment  of) 

Nozzle  disks  and  plates  (extra) 

Nicotine  sulphate  (for  insects) 

Needle  (bag  sewing)   ,  ,  ,    .     ..     . 

Oil  (tractor,  truck  and  lubricating) 

Oil  (penetrating) 

Oil  cans 

Pick  and  maddock 

Pliers  (grip) 

Pliers  (cutting) 

Post  maul 

57.  Plows 

Plow  points  (extra) 

58.  Punches  (assortment) 
Punch  (leather  or  belting) 

59.  Pipe  (assortment) 

Pipe  cutter  . 

60.  Pipe  threading  dies  (or  service  of) 

61.  Pipe  reducers  (assortment  of) 

62.  Paint 

63.  Planter  (potato) 
Pressure  gauge  (tire) 
Pump  (water-spray  plant) 

64.  Pump  packing  (extra) 
Pump  valves  (extra) 

65.  Pump  repair  service 


40. 
41. 


42. 


43. 

44. 
45. 
46. 
47. 
48. 
48. 
50. 
51. 

52. 
53. 
54. 
55. 

56. 


Rivets  (assortment  of) 
Rawhide  (mending) 

66.  Rope  and  twine  (assortment  of) 

67.  Saw  (carpenters) 

68.  Saw  (back  and  extra  blades) 

69.  Scales 

70.  Shovels  (dirt) 

71.  Shovels  (scoop) 

72.  Shovel  or  fork  (potato) 

73.  Screws  (assortment  wood  and 

metal) 

74.  Screw  driver 

Scythe  (grass  or  brush) 

75.  Seed  potatoes 

76.  Seed  (grass,  gram,  beans) 

77.  Seeder  (grass) 
Sledge  (stone) 
Shears  (tinners)  . 

78.  Sprayer  (potato  or  service  of) 

79.  Storage  (potato)  . 

80.  Storage  (machinery  and  equipment) 
Square 

Sand  paper 

Stove  (oil,  gas,  coal  or  wood) 

Straw  (bedding) 

Tile  drain  pipe 

Tire  pump 

81.  Tractor 

82.  Truck 
Tractor  light 

83.  Tool  shed  and  bench 
Thermometers 
Tanks  (spray  plant) 

84.  Tarpaulins 

85.  Tape  measure  or  rule 

86.  Twister  (bag  tying) 

87.  Vice  ^  .     ^ 
Vulcanizing  kit  (or  service) 

Wheel  barrow 

88.  Work  clothes 

89.  Wrenches  (assortment  of) 
Wire  (phable  tying) 

90.  Weeder  (potato) 

91.  Washers  (lock  and  steel— assort- 

ment of) 
Washer  (potato) 

92.  Welding  outfit  (or  service  of) 

Note:— The  writer  will  appreciate  a 
letter  or  card  from  any  grower  or  indi- 
vidual listing  additional  items  deemed 
by  them  as  being  essential  or  especially 
helpful  to  the  potato  business. 


John— "My  wife  has  the  worst  habit 
of  staying  up  until  one  and  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  I  can't  break  her 
of  it." 

Joe— "What  does  she  do  all  that 
time?" 

John — "Waits  for  me  to  come  home.** 


December,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


^TOTATO  CHIPS'' 


Always  with  us — like  death  and  taxes 
— is  the  question — "Which  is  the  best 
variety  to  grow  for  highest  yields?"  A 
variety  test  on  the  farm  of  Ellis  Artley, 
near  Catawissa,  showed  the  following 
yields  during  the  past  season: 

Pennigon         380.8  bushels 


Russets 
Houma 
Katahdins 
Chippewa 


346.6  bushels 
321  bushels 
312.8  bushels 
288.2  bushels 


Seems  as  if  the  Surplus  marketing  ad- 
ministration could  very  well  discontinue 
the  purchase  of  Pennsylvania  apples  — 
of  which  there  is  no  surplus  —  but 
rather  a  short  crop  and  turn  to  the  re- 
moval of  some  of  the  surplus  potatoes 
from  the  market. 

♦      ¥      * 

Anyone  who  had  the  opportunity  to 
see  the  digging  of  "Doc."  Nixon's  seed- 
lings at  the  various  locations  in  the  State 
this  fall  has  no  doubt  been  impressed 
with  a  number  of  new  varieties  of  very 
good  promise.  We  will  not  mention  any 
by  number  here  but  will  leave  that  for 
"Doc."  to  do  himself,  but  it  looks  as  if 
*'Doc."  now  has  several  new  varieties 
which  are  worthy  of  introduction  into 
commercial  channels. 

»      *      ♦ 

The  potato  market  has  shown  a  little 
stronger  undertone  of  late.  Possibly  after 
some  of  the  barn-floor  stocks  get  cleaned 
up,  which  must  find  homes  before  cold 
weather,  the  market  may  be  a  little 
healthier.  However,  no  run-away  prices 
may  be  looked  for  this  season.  Just  too 
many  potatoes  in  Maine,  Michigan,  New 
York,  Wisconsin,  Idaho,  and  Pennsyl- 
vania— not  to  mention  a  dozen  other  les- 
ser potato  states— for  a  strong  upward 
moving  market  this  season. 

¥  Jf  ^ 
"Busy  people  do  more  work,  read 
more,  live  longer  and  have  a  better  time 
than  those  with  more  leisure  on  their 
hands.  We  are  so  constituted  that  when 
we  have  nothing  to  do  life  becomes  dull 
and  uninteresting.  A  lot  of  folks  who 
think  they  are  very  busy  are  only  ac- 
complishing a  small  part  of  what  they 
might  do  if  they  were  more  efficient. 

jf      Jf      ¥ 
Did  you  ever  know  that  different  va- 
rieties  of  potatoes   freeze   at   different 


temperatures?  Russets,  for  instance,  can 
stand  a  temperature  of  281"  but  a  Cob- 
bler freezes  at  291°.  Freezing  tempera- 
tures of  some  other  varieties  are,  Green 
Mountain  28^,  Bliss  Triumph  29  1/5° 
and  Spaulding  Rose  29  T-  The  average 
freezing  temperature  of  18  varieties  test- 
ed was  28.9°. 

•  •      * 

John  Milton  many  years  ago  made  the 
following  statement  which  is  just  as  true 
today  as  it  was  then.  "There  is  nothing 
that  makes  men  rich  and  strong  but  that 
which  they  carry  inside  of  them;  wealth 
is  of  the  heart,  not  of  the  hand.  A  good 
man  is  the  ripe  fruit  which  our  earth 
holds  up  to  God." 

•  •      • 

The  distribution  of  Blue  Label  pota- 
toes continues  to  expand  to  greater  dis- 
tribution areas.  This  season  shipments 
have  been  made  to  Cleveland,  to  many 
other  Ohio  cities,  to  markets  in  western 
New  York,  Baltimore,  and  to  other  cities 
in  New  York,  and  Maryland. 

•  •       • 

The  Producers  Cooperative  Exchange, 
one  of  the  largest  egg  auction  Coopera- 
tives in  Pennsylvania,  has  recently  start- 
ed to  pack  "Blue  Labels"  as  an  added 
service  to  its  members  who  raise  pota- 
toes in  addition  to  poultry.  Glad  to  see 
this  live  group  of  poultrymen  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  marketing  facilities  of  the 
brother-Cooperative  of  potato  growers. 

•    •    • 

According  to  Mrs.  Pauline  B.  Mack  of 
The  Pennsylvania  State  College  and  of 
national  renown  for  research  work  in 
Home  Economics,  approximately  10%  of 
the  average  food  expenditure  is  money 
spent  for  the  lowly  spud.  People  with 
incomes  of  less  than  $1000,  who  are  not 
on  direct  relief,  are  the  heaviest  users  of 
potatoes,  28%  of  their  entire  food  bud- 
get being  spent  for  potatoes. 

•      •      • 

"Diggers  injure  about  one  tenth  of  the 
potato  crop,"  according  to  the  state  in- 
spectors in  Michigan.  Never  heard  what 
this  damage  amounts  to  in  Pennsylvania 
but  probably  not  a  bit  less  than  in  the 
Wolverine  state,  and  a  lot  higher  than  it 
has  any  right  to  be.  Guess  you've  heard 
growers,  who  have  off  grade  potatoes  try 
(Continued  on  page  14) 


8 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


December,  1940 


December,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


Grower  to  Grower  Exchange 

X-  •   ^  •    +v,ie  r>niiimn  IS  a  oennv  a  word,  minimum  cost  25  cents, 

cation. 

FOR  SALE:  Bean  No.  103  Potato  Grader, 
bought  new  this  fall.    Used  very  little. 
$225  00.    ^    T.    Blakeslee,    Blakeslee, 
(Monroe  County) ,  Penna. 

FOR  SALE:  Choice  seed  potatoes  grown 
from  Certified  Seed.  Our  Potatoes  were 
sorayed  every  seven  days.  Yields  up  to 
fino  bushels  per  acre.  Cobblers  or  Rural 
KeTs  W^^^^^^  W.  W.  Hayes,  Jersey 
Shore,  Lycoming  County,  Penna. 

AVAILABLE:  Pistol-Grip  Twisters  for 
lying  paper  bags,  $1.25.  Write  the  As- 
sociation Office,  Bellefonte,  Penna. 

POTATO  PLANTER  FOR  SALE:  Two- 
row  Iron  Age  potato  planter  in  good  con- 
dmon  $175  00  WilUam  W.  Hayes,  Jersey 
Shore,  Lycoming  County,  Pennsylvania. 

AVAILABLE:  Spring  Return  Tying 
Tools,  for  tying  paper  bags,  f -J^-  |^^^ 
Association  Office  has  stocked  a  few  of 
these  for  your  convenience. 

PLANTER  WANTED:  2  row  Iron-Age 
Picker  Type.  Can  also  use  good  used 
grader  and  Digger.  Write  Ray  Salmon, 
Waterford,  Erie  County,  Penna. 

AVAILABLE:  Copies  of  Dr.  E.  L  Nix- 
on's  book,  "The  Principles  of  Potato 
Production,"  $1.25  per  copy.  Write  for 
your  copy  today,  to  Association  office, 
Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania. 


OFFICIAL  POTATO  TAGS  AVAIL- 
ABLE: The  Association  Office  has  made 
available  with  a  local  printer,  Official 
Potato  Tags,  for  use  on  plain  potato 
sacks,  as  required  by  law.  If  needed, 
write  Association  Office.  We  will  print 
accordingly,  at  cost. 

CERTIFIED  SEED  POTATOES  FOR 
SALE:  Grown  from  the  best  of  Northern 
Certified  Seed  Stock.  Katahdins  and 
Russets.  U.  S.  No.  I's  and  seconds.  Grown 
in  Somerset's  high  cool  climate.  Free  of 
fohage  and  tuber  diseases.  Price  reason- 
able at  storage  or  delivered  in  truck 
loads.  Joe  Fisher,  Boswell,  Somerset 
County,  Pennsylvania  (storage  5  miles 
east  of  Johnstown  on  Windber  road). 

PLANTER  AND  DIGGER  FOR  SALE: 

A  used  two-row  new  type  Iron  Age 
picker  Planter;  a  two-row  Kid  Glove 
digger.  Both  in  good  condition  at  a 
price  you  can  afford  to  pay.  Contact  Joe 
Fisher,  Boswell,  Somerset  County,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

GRADERS  FOR  SALE:  2  — No.  102p 
John  Bean  rubber  roll  potato  graders 
complete  with  electric  motor;  like  new; 
used  one  year;  1-No.  3  used  Boggs  po- 
tato grader;  excellent  condition;  1— No. 
6  large  capacity  Boggs  potato  grader 
complete  with  electric  motor;  new  chains 
last  Spring.  J.  Jacobsen  &  Son,  Girard, 
Pa.  Farm  Equipmen  Sprayers  and 
Graders. 


Potato  Wart  Control 


As  a  result  of  the  intensive  activities 
bv  the  Department  of  Agriculture  m  the 
control  of  potato  wart,  the  diseaso  has 
been  prevented  from  spreading  to  any 
commercial  potato  farms  m  this  otate. 
Secretary  John  H.  Light  has  announced. 
The  disease  has  been  confined  to  gardens 
in  a  few  areas  where  control  measures 
are  constantly  being  enforced  by  De- 
partment agents. 

During  this  season  a  section  in  Oni- 
lena,  Cambria  County,  comprising  16 
abandoned  gardens,  was  added  to  the 
quarantined  area.  Agents  of  the  Depart- 


ment destroyed  all  growth  and  spaded 
the  land  in  co-operation  with  the  land 
owners.  In  line  with  the  course  pursued 
in  attempting  to  eradicate  the  disease, 
the  agents  will  plant  those  gardens  to 
an    immune    variety    of    potatoes    next 
Spring.  After  the  harvesting  of  the  crop 
the  soil  will  be  treated  and  the  following 
Spring  a  variety  of  potatoes  known  to 
be  a  susceptible  to  the  disease  will  be 
planted  which  will  show  if  the  land  is 
still  infested.  This  course  will  be  follow- 
ed for  three  years  during  which  inspec- 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


Putting  Pennsylvania  Potatoes  in  the  Bag 

Attention  -—  Grade  Supervisors 


Aggressiveness: 

It  wins  football  games — an  aggressive 
little  team  often  beats  an  indifferent  big 
team. 

It  wins  major  battles  and  often  deter- 
mines the  final  outcome  of  wars — the  lit- 
tle country  with  a  well  trained  small 
aggressive  army  can  win  major  battles 
and  change  the  outcome  of  wars. 

Aggressiveness  isn't,  "tearing  your 
hair."  It  isn't  "picking  a  fight."  It  comes 
from  having  a  purpose,  an  aim,  a  goal.  A 
good  purpose,  a  good  aim,  or  a  good  goal. 
One  worth  striving  for,  worth  achieving, 
yes  worth  fighting  for. 

The  potato  grower,  to  be  successful, 
must  have  it.  He  must  combine  it  with 
knowledge,  good  experience,  proper 
equipment  and  good  common  sense. 

You,  as  a  Grade  Supervisor,  must  have 
it,  and  must  also  combine  it  with  knowl- 
edge, experience,  and  use  good  common 
sense.  You  should  be  striving  not  only 
for  your  own  personal  success  —  this 
worthy  goal  will  be  attained  if  you  suc- 
cessfully serve  your  employer,  the  grow- 
er, or  growers  of  your  community,  the 
Association  which  trained  and  licensed 
you,  for  the  benefit  of  this  great  Penn- 
sylvania Industry  in  which  you  are  play- 
ing an  important  part. 

Some  Things  To  Do: 

1.  I  repeat— see  that  all  bags  are  prop- 
erly stamped,  that  the  grade  and  weight 
are  maintained,  that  the  pack  is  kept 
clean.  This  requires  constant  checking  of 
weight  and  scales,  and  inspection  of  the 
pack  when  grading.  Remember  you  are 
serving  the  grower,  the  Association  (the 
success  or  failure  of  a  program),  the  dis- 
tributor whose  future  orders  depend  on 
satisfied  customers,  and  the  consumer 
who  is  entitled  to  the  grade  and  weight 
specified  on  the  bag. 

2.  Report  to  your  employer,  the  local 
contact  man  handling  the  Association 
deal,  the  Association  or  its  officials,  cir- 
cumstances or  problems  on  which  you 
are  in  doubt  or  unable  to  solve. 

3.  If  you  know  of  a  store,  group  of 
stores,  or  a  dealer  who  is  interested  in 
handling  the  Association  pack  or  might 
be  an  outlet  for  additional  sales  report 
this  at  once  to  your  local  contact  man  or 
forward  the  information  to  the  Associa- 
tion office,  Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania. 


The  Blue  Label  Peck  reaches  the 
consumers  kitchen.  With  the  right  pota- 
toes in  the  bags,  as  shown  here,  the  cus- 
tomer will  be  a  repeat  buyer  on  shopping 
day.  These  potatoes  were  packed  by  P. 
D.  Frantz,  Copley,  Lehigh  County. 

« 

4.  On  a  day  when  you  are  not  busy- 
visit  and  study  the  set  of  a  leading 
grower  and  packer  in  your  section  or  an 
adjoining  county,  (or)  Accompany  a 
shipper  with  his  shipment  into  a  leading 
market  and  study  how  the  distributor 
handles  this  important  food  in  serving 
the  buying  public. 

5.  If  and  when  you  are  within  acces- 
sible distance  of  the  Association  office, 
Masonic  Temple  (across  from  the  Post 
Office),  Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania,  drop  in 
and  see  for  yourself  how  this  program 
and  deal  functions.  You  will  be  more 
than  welcome. 


The  pathway  to  success  is  in  serving 
humanity.  By  no  other  means  is  it  pos-. 
sible,  and  this  truth  is  so  plain  and 
patent  that  even  very  simple  folk  recog-. 
nize  it. 


10 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


December,  1940 


OVER  THE  PICKING  TABLE 


by  Inspector  Throwout 


A  tramp,  coming  down  a  country  road 
in  England,  stoped  a  moment  in  Medi- 
tation before  a  sign  on  which  was 
written.  "George  and  the  Dragon 

He  entered  the  tavern  to  whicn  the 
sign  was  affixed  and  asked  for  the  land- 
lady. 

"Noble  lady",  he  began,  ''have  you  a 
meal  and  some  old  clothes  to  spare  for 
a  poor,  hungry  man? 

%ot  for  the  likes  of  you.  Now  go! 
she  said  sternly.  Then,  seeing  he  desired 
to  get  another  word  with  her.    Well  .' 

"Then  please.  Ma'am,  could  I  speak  to 

George?" 

•      •      • 

A  fellow  was  tearing  up  the  road  at 
80  miles  an  hour  when  a  cop  pulled  up 

beside  him.  , ,   „„ 

"Where's  the  fire,  buddy?       ,.  ^    ,, 
"I'm    so    sorry,    officer",    replied    the 

speeder.  "I  realize  I  was  going  a  little 

too  fast."  ^    ^ 

"You  weren't  going  too  fast,  you  were 
flying  too  low,"  the  cop  came  back. 

•  *      • 
At  Christmas,  play  and  Make  good  cheer 
For  Christmas  comes  but  once  a  year. 

•  •      • 
When  tillage  begins,  other  arts  follow. 
The  farmers,  therefore  are  the  founders 
of  human  civilization. 

if       if       ^ 

"Your  potatoes  cost  more  than  they 
used  to,"  complained  the  buyer. 

"Yes",  replied  a  grower,  known  well 

°"When  a  grower  is  supposed  to  know 
the  botanical  name  of  what  he  is  raising, 
and  the  zoological  name  of  the  insect 
that  eats  it,  and  the  chemical  name  ot 
what  will  kill  it,  somebody  s  got  to  pay. 

¥      jf      * 
Remorse  is  the  form  that  failure  takes 
when  it  has  made  a  grab  and  got  nothing. 

•      •      • 
Mutual  Aid 

In  every  country  and  every  language, 
whither  it  is  called  'la  cooperation 
Kooperationen,"  -genossenchafts- 
wesen",  "Samarbejde,"  or  ^'oswestoi- 
minta"  co-operation  ^eans  mutual  a^^ 
among  the  common  people  for  their  mu- 
tual benefit^^^  Co-operative  Builder 


"Life  is  a  foreign  language:   All  men 
mispronounce  it." 

•      •      • 
"Who  was  the  first  man?"  asked  the 

teacher  of  Billy.  ^,       ^    ^ 

"George  Washington  was  the  first 
man.  He  was  first  in  war,  first  in  peace, 
and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  country- 
men." 

"Oh,  No.",  said  the  teacher. 

"Adam  was  the  first  man".  . 

"Oh  well,  teacher,  if  you  want  to  bring 
in  foreigners,  you  may  be  right",  con- 
ceded Billy. 

•  •      • 
Sentry:  "Halt!  Who's  there?" 
Voice:  "American" 

Sentry:  "Advance  and  recite  the  second 
verse  of  the  *Star  Spangled  Banner     . 
Voice:  "I  don't  know  it."      ^^ 
Sentry:  "Proceed,  american. 

•  •      • 

"They  wrote,  in  the  old  days,  that  it 
is  sweet  and  fitting,  to  die  for  one  s 
country.  But  in  modern  war.  there  is 
nothing  sweet  nor  fitting  in  your  dying. 
You  will  die  like  the  dog  for  no  good 

reason. 

— Hemmingway 

•  •      • 
A  recession  is  a  period  in  which  you 
tighten  up  your  belt. 
A  depression  is  a  time  in  which  you  have 

no  belt  to  tighten.  ,    ,    u  ia  ..r.  h'c 

When  you  have  no  pants  to  nola  up,  ii  s 

a  panic. 

•  •      • 
We  need  to  sit  "loose":— 
One  trouble  with  many  of  us  white 

folks  is  that  we  haven't  developed  a 
working  philosophy  like  that  ^  the  fat 
negro  cook  down  in  Houston.  Texas. 

She  was  asked  what  was  the  secret  of 
her  calmness  and  freedom  from  care. 
Her  reply  was  thorough  and  complete. 

"Well,  h'its  disaway.  When  I  sits  I  sits 
loose!  An'  when  Ah  stah'ts  to  worry,  I 
falls  asleep." 

•  •      • 

Those  who  dream  by  day  are  congni- 
zant  of  many  things  which  escape  those 
who  dream  only  by  night. 

•  •      • 
Bounty   always  receives  Part  of   its 

value  from  the  manner  in  which  it  is 
bestowed. 


December,  1940 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


11 


A  young  woman  and  a  handsome  farm 
lad  were  walking  along  a  country  road 
together  in  the  evening.  The  farm  lad 
was  carrying  a  large  pail  on  his  back, 
holding  a  chicken  in  one  had,  a  cane  in 
the  other,  and  leading  a  goat.  They  came 

to  a  dark  lane.  ,    . ,  .         ,,  , 

Said  the  girl:  "I'm  afraid  to  walk  here 

with  you.  You  might  try  to  kiss  me." 
Said  the  farm  lad:  "How  could  I  with 

all  these  things  I'm  carrying?" 

"Well,  you  might  stick  the  cane  in  the 

ground,  tie  the  goat  to  it,  and  put  the 

chicken  under  the  pail." 

— Equity  Union  Exchange 


God  rest  you,  Merry  Innocents, 
While  innocence  endures. 
A  sweeter  Christmas  than  we  to  ours 
May  you  bequeath  to  yours. 

— Countee  CuUen 

•  •      • 

Doubt  whom  you  will,  but  never  your- 
self. _ 

— ^Boyer 

•  •      • 

The  victory  of  success  is  half  won  when 
one  gains  the  habit  of  work. 

— Bolton 


Here  is  good  utilization  of  the  Potato  Growers^^^^^^ 

^^oS;ar^ennr^^^^^^  5^1iils%'^  l^t'A^^  grol  and  has  good 

^as^  to  Sv^^^^^    have  added  to  the  value  of  his  property. 


When  you  define  liberty  you  limit  it, 
and  when  you  limit  it,  you  destroy  it. 

— Whitlock 

Every  man  naturally  persuades  him- 
self that  he  can  keep  his  resolutions: 
Nor  is  he  convinced  of  hi  simbicility  but 
by  length  of  time  and  frequency  of  ex- 
periment! _saxnuel  Johnson 

•  *  *  ,      .  A. 

Believe  me,  every  man  has  his  secret 
sorrows,  which  the  world  knows  not; 
and  oftentimes  we  call  a  man  cold  when 
he  is  only  sad.  ^Longfellow 


I  would  rather  be  sick  than  idle. 

— Senoca 

•  •      * 

Great  spenders  are  bad  l^^^/^^^^j^^.^ 

jf    ^    ^ 

Teacher— "James,    why    do    we   call 
English  our  Mother  tongue?" 

James— "Because  Mother  uses  it  more 

than  Father." 

•  •      * 
"Inspector  Throw-out"  wishes,  one  and 


12 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


December,  1940 


Education  for  Character  or  Are  We  Educated 

Lester  K.  Ade,  President 
State  Teachers  College,  Mansfield,  Pennsylvania 


1.  Do  I  keep  myself  physically  fit,  or 
am  I  usually  below  par? 

2.  Am  I  capable  of  earning  a  living  for 
myself,  or  am  I  dependent  on  the 
earnings  of  another? 

3.  Am  I  constantly  doing  my  work  bet- 
ter and  better  through  study,  or  am  I 
like  a  machine? 

4.  Are  my  social  interests  constantly 
widening,  or  does  human  welfare 
mean  less  and  less  to  me? 

5.  Am  I  keeping  old  friends  and  mak- 
ing new  ones,  or  is  the  circle  of  my 
friends  constantly  growing  smaller? 

6.  Am  I  indignant  at  social  wrongs,  or 
have  I  settled  down  to  let  the  world 
wag  as  it  may? 

7  Am  T  suitable  as  a  life  partner  for 
another,  or  would  living  day  by  day 
with  me  prove  disappointing? 

8.  Am  I  tolerant  of  opinions  different 
from  my  own,  or  do  I  regard  those  as 
wrong-headed  who  differ  from  me? 

9.  Do  I  stand  for  the  welfare  of  hu- 
manity, or  do  I  put  myself  and  my 
little  group  against  the  world? 

10.  Am  I  loyal  to  good  causes,  or  is  my 
loyalty  limited  to  family  and 
friends? 

11.  Do  I  love  nature,  or  am  I  blind  to 
her  wonders  and  beauties? 

12  Do  I  prize  tne  creative  more  than 
the  possessive,  or  is  possession  my 
measure  ot  value? 

13.  Are  my  opinions  based  on  evidence, 
or  on  emotional  attitudes? 

14.  Am  I  careful  in  expressing  judg- 
ments, or  hasty? 

15.  Can  I  truly  call  mine  a  happy  life, 
or  have  I  missed  the  way? 

16.  Can  I  enjoy  a  vacation,  or  am  I  tied 
to  my  work? 

17  Have  I  the  courage  to  do  right 
against,  odds,  or  do  I  follow  the  line 
of  least  resistance? 

18  Do  I  feel  at  ease  in  the  presence  of 
my  superiors,  or  am  I  awkward  and 
embarrassed? 

19  Can  I  make  something  with  my 
hands  like  .an  artist  or  a  craftsman 


or  are  my  hands  just  the  ends  of 
my  arms? 
20    Do  I  sense  my  kinship  with  all  men 
and  with  God,  or  is  religion  a  mean- 
ingless thing  to  me? 

Submitted  by  Ed.  Fisher, 
Coudersport,  Pa. 

Editor's  Note:  President  Ade's  quest- 
tionaire  may  offer  some  good  sug- 
gestions jor  some  really  fine  New  Years 
Resolutions.  If  not,  some  valuable  food 
for  thought. 


POTATO    WART    CONTROL 

(Continued  from  page  8) 

tions  are  made  and  if  after  that  time 
there  is  no  evidence  of  the  disease  the 
quarantine  originally  placed  on  the  area 
will  be  lifted. 

During  the  next  season  about  100 
gardens  in  which  the  disease  has  been 
found  will  be  test  planted  by  the  De- 
partment. When  the  disease  is  found  the 
area  is  spot  treated  and  kept  under  in- 
spection for  a  minimum  period  9f  tour 
years.  After  that  time  periodic  inspec- 
tions are  made  to  prevent  a  possible 
recurrence  of  the  disease. 

Inspection  is  also  made  by  the  agents 
during  the  Fall  and  Winter  months  of 
all  seed  potatoes  in  those  areas  and  po- 
tatoes which  are  found  to  be  diseased 
or  of  a  prohibited  variety  are  ordered 
to  be  witheld  from  planting. 

The  wart  has  been  confined  to  small 
areas  in  Cambria,  Schuylkill,  Carbon, 
Clearfield,  Somerset,  Luzerne  and  Sulli- 
van counties. 


Every  year  college  deans  pop  the  rou- 
tine question  to  their  undergraduates: 
"Why  did  you  come  to  college?" 

Traditionally,  the  answers  match  the 
questions  in  triteness. 

However,  last  year  one  University  of 
Arizona  co-ed  unexpectedly  confided^^ 
"I  came  to  be  went  with,  but  I  am  t  yet! 


Do  You  Know  How  Much 
POTASH  Goes  Off  Your 
Farm  in  a  Year's  Harvest  ? 


Everything  sold  off  the  farm  reduces  its  fertility.  If  you 
had  a  good  crop  of  potatoes  this  past  fall,  more  potash  than 
nitrogen  and  phosphoric  acid  combined  v^ent  out  of  the 
soil  with  them.  To  grow  a  good  crop  of  No.  Ts,  soil  and 
fertilizer  must  supply  at  least  200  lbs.  of  available  potash 
(actual  KoO)  per  acre.  Your  fertilizer  last  spring  may  have 
supplied  this  amount— if  not  your  soil  is  poorer  by  the  dif- 
ference. 

Consult  your  county  agent  or  experiment  station  about 
the  amounts  of  potash  needed  to  grow  the  crops  you  plan 
for  1941  and  how  much  your  soil  will  supply.  See  your 
fertilizer  dealer  early.  He  will  tell  you  that  there  is  plenty 
of  potash  on  the  market  and  show  you  how  little  extra  it 
will  cost  to  apply  enough  for  greater  returns  on  your  invest- 
ment. Make  more  money  in  1941. 


T 


Write  us  for  our  free  illuslraled  book- 
let on  how  much  plant  food  crops  use. 


means 

niorePtofit 


flmerican  Potash  Institute,  Inc. 

Washington,  D.  C. 


Investment  Building 


I 


m^ 


14 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


December,  1940 


'4  ■"*,  :•.»<! 


"POTATO  CHIPS" 

(Continued  jrom  page  7) 

to  justify  the  poor  quality  by  stating 
"That's  the  way  God  grew  *em.  W^  may 
be  able  to  blame  the  Almighty  for  the 
lack  of  rainfall,  the  excessive  heat  or  the 
early  freeze  but  at  least  we  know  He 
didn't  set  the  potato  digger  too  shallow. 

•      •      • 
One  of  the  finest  tributes  to  the  co- 
onerative  movement  ever  spoken  were 
the  words  of  Charles  W.  Holman,  Secre- 
tarv  of  the  American  Institute  of  co- 
operation.  He  said,  "I  look  forward  to 
the  production  of  a  new  farm  leader- 
ship in  this  nation— a  leadership  capable 
in  mind,  trained  in  technique  and  adroit 
in  business  strategy.   I  look  forward  to 
the  development  of  a  finer,  abler  body  of 
master  cooperators,  living  on  the  f amis 
of  this  nation,  owning  and  controlling  m 
truly  democratic  manner  the  great  eco- 
nomic instruments  of  sale,  purchase  and 
credit  necessary  to  their  existence.  Out 
of  such  development  will  come  the  long- 
sought  American  farm  ideal— a  better 
and  richer  way  of  living. 

•      •      • 
The  truth  may  hurt  sometimes  but  it 
is  better  to  have  than  a  sugar  coated  pill, 
so  let  the  chips  fall  where  they  may. 
Some  of  our  Blue  Label,  packers  have 
continued  to  make  deliveries  of  off-grade 
tubers,    even    after   being   rejected    on 
earlier  deliveries.  This  has  made  it  neces- 
sarv  for  some  of  the  distributors  to  re- 
fuse any  more  deliveries  froni  certain 
growers  or  packers  but  they  will  accept 
other  marks.  This  is  not  as  it  should  be 
and   will    eventually   mitigate    against 
everyone.  The  Blue  Label  belongs  to  all 
our  members  and  when  you  defile  its 
good  name  you  not  only  hurt  yourself 
but  also  every  other  potato  grower  in 
the  state  is  injured  by  your  neglect. 

•  •  • 
Did  vou  ever  notice  how  easy  it  is  to 
tear  down  a  big  building?  How  much 
longer  it  took  to  put  the  building  to- 
gether piece  by  piece  than  to  rip  it  down, 
I  whole  floor  at  a  time.  And  how  many 
more  of  us  tear  down  than  build  up. 


The  value  of  advertising  is  forcefully 
displayed  by  the  Maine  potato  publicity 
campaign.  At  a  cost  of  3  mills  per  grow- 
ers' dollar  of  sales  (the  lowest  cost  on 
record  for  such  a  campaign)  the  Maine 
growers  realized  22%  more  cash  for  their 
tubers. 


In  1940  Maine  growers  received  18  mil- 
lion dollars  for  37  thousand  carloads, 
while  in  1939,  when  they  shipped  3  thou- 
sand more  cars,  they  received  4  million 
dollars  less  return.  In  1938  when  they 
shipped  13  thousand  more  cars  they  only 
received  10  million  dollars  or  only  60% 
of  the  1940  returns.  It  really  pays  to  ad- 
vertise! 


Department  of  Agriculture 
Is  Checking 

Proper  grade  labeling  of  all  potatoes 
in  closed  packages  sold  in  this  State  is 
now  being  checked  by  the  Department 
of  Agriculture,  it  is  announced.  The  Po- 
tato Marketing  Law  makes  compulsory 
the  branding  or  tagging  of  all  closed 
packages  of  potatoes  packed,  transpor- 
ted, or  offered  for  sale  or  sold  in  this 
State.  The  Department  also  points  out 
that  an  error  on  the  part  of  the  grower 
or  shipper  in  marking  the  package  does 
not  relieve  the  dealer  from  responsibility 
under  the  law. 

Checking  the  grades  and  grade  label- 
ing is  being  carried  on  by  the  Depart- 
ment at  both  shipping  points  and 
terminal  markets. 


A  young  woman  of  West  Chester, 
Pennsylvania,  whose  fiance  has  disap- 
peared, asked  the  Clerk  of  Courts  to 
give  her  a  hunting  license  in  exchange 
for  her  marriage  license.— Indianapolis 

News 

•      •      * 

The  old  lady  entered  the  butchers' 
shop  with  the  light  of  battle  in  her  eyes 

*T  believe  that  you  sell  diseased  meat 
here,"  she  accused  the  butcher. 

"We  do  worse,"  blandly  replied  the 
shop-keeper. 

"What  do  you  mean,  worse  ? 

The  butcher  put  a  finger  to  nis  lips. 
"The  meat  we  sell  is  dead,'*  he  confided 
in  a  stage  whisper. 

•    •    • 

A  pompous  physician  who  was  in- 
clined to  criticize  others  was  watching 
a  stone-mason  build  a  fence  for  his 
neighbor,  and  thought  the  mason  was 
using  too  much  mortar.  He  said,  Jim, 
mortar  covers  up  a  good  many  mistakes, 
does  it  not?" 

"Yes,  doctor,"  replied  the  mason,  "and 
60  does  the  spade." 


Michigan  Potato  Growers    Exchange,  Inc. 

EXTENDS  TO  YOU   OUR  CUSTOMERS   AND   FRIENDS 

A  VERY  MERRY  CHRISTMAS  and  a 

HAPPY  AND  PROSPEROUS  NEW  YEAR 


Prosperity  is  the  Re- 
sult of  Success 

Success  is  The  Result 
of  Good  Business  Judg- 
ment 


Good  Business  Judg- 
ment in  Growing  Pota- 
toes Begins  With  Good 
Seed 

Chief  Petoskey  Certi- 
fied Seed  is  The  Finest 
Seed  The  Market  Af- 
fords 


WE   OFFER   SUBJECT   TO   PRIOR   SALE 
IRISH  COb'SleS^™  „SpPEWAS  GREEN  MOUNTAINS 

RUSSET   RURALS  nrkNTTttr«; 

KATAHDINS  WHITE  RURALS  PONTIACS 

Michigan  Potato  Growers'  Exchange,^lnc.^^ 

CADILLAC 


Plan  To  Meet  With  Your  Association 

At  The  FARM  SHOW 

Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania 

January  20—24. 1941 


The  fellow  who  sits  and  waits  for  his  ship  to 
come  in,  is  likely  to  find  on  its  arrival  that  it's 
a  hardship.  .  •  • 

ALBERT  C.  ROEMHILD 

Potato  Commission  Merchant 

122  Dock  St.        PHILADELPHIA        Lombard  1000 


16 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


December,  1940 


Lecturers  and  Essayists  on  Potato  Culture  in 

Pennsylvania  in  1895-1918 


Editors  Note :  We  publish  here  a  list  of 
growers  and  individuals  who  were  lec- 
turers, and  essayists  on  potato  culture  in 
Pennsylvania  during  the  period  Jrom 
1895  to  1918.    It  is  our  purpose  to  honor 
and  pay  tribute  to  these  men,  many  oj 
whom  gave  freely   of  their  time  and 
energy  for  the  betterment  of  their  fel- 
low growers  and  the  industry.    In  the 
light   of  present   day   knowledge    un- 
doubtedly many  of  these  early  lecturers 
and  writers  were  mistaken  in  their  ideas 
and  conclusions,  but  such  mistakes  as 
there  may  have  been,  were  of  the  head 
and  not  of  the  heart.  On  the  other  hand, 
many  of  these  men  if  now  living,  would 
see   their  ideas   which   were   frowned 
upon  by  others  growers  of  their  time 
and  even  by  our  Agricultural  Expert- 
mentations,  in  common  practice  today. 
T  B  Terry,  Hudson,  Ohio,  was  unques- 
tionably the  most  outstanding  individual 
of  the  group.   A  keen  thinker  and  a  close 
observer,  Terry,  gave  us  many  of  the 
principles    underlying    modern    potato 
hilture  in  Pennsylvania  as  we  know  it 
today.  .    '  •   • 

Agee    Alva  Chessire,   Ohio  and   State 
College,  Centre  Co.,  Pa. 
Potato  Culture. 
Beardslee,  R.  L.  Warrenham.  Bradford 
Co.,  Pa. 
Potato  Culture. 
Bisbing,  Randall  Minsi,  Monroe  Co.,  Pa. 

Potato  Culture. 
Barber,  R.  W.,  White  Springs,  Union  Co., 

Pa. 
Experience  With  Potatoes. 

Burg,  P.  W.  Wrightsville,  York  Co.,  Pa. 

How  to  Grow  Potatoes. 

Berry,  W.  G.,  Houstonville,  Washington 

Co.,  Pa. 
Potato  Culture. 
Brown,  Hon.  Gerald  C,  Yorkana,  York 
Co.,  Pa. 
The  Potato  and  Its  Culture. 
Critchfield,  Hon.  N.    B.,    Jennerstown, 
Somerset  Co.,  Pa. 
Potato  Culture. 
Chapman,  C.  E.,  Perueville,  N.  Y. 
Potato  Pointers— Methods  of  Produc- 
tion. 
Potato  Culture. 


How  To  Grow  Potatoes  For  Nine  Cents 

Per  Bushel.  ^    ^  i.- 

Potato  Planters— Methods    of    Culti- 
vation. 
Cooper,  Calvin,  Bird-In-Hand,  Lancas- 
ter Co.,  Pa. 
Potato  Growing. 
A  Practical  Talk  On  Potato  Culture. 

Comfort,  H.  W.,  Fallington,  Bucks  Co., 

Pa. 
Potato  Culture. 
Engle,  Henry  M.,   Marietta,   Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa. 
Potato  Culture. 
Hill,  W.  F.,  Westford,  Crawford  Co.,  Pa. 

Potato  Culture. 
Hutchison,  G.  G.,  Warriors  Mark,  Hunt- 
ington Co.,  Pa. 
Potato  Culture. 
Hiller,  Casper,     Conestoga,     Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa. 
Potato  Culture. 
Johnson,  W.  B.  K.,  Allentown,  Lehigh 
Co.,  Pa. 
Potato  Culture. 
Jennings,  J.  T.,  New  Milford,  Susque- 
hanna Co.,  Pa. 
Growing  And  Marketing  Potatoes. 

Kern,  D.  N.,  Shimersville,  Lehigh  Co., 
Pa. 

Potato  Culture. 
McCowan,   Howard   G.,   Geigers  Mills,; 
Bucks  Co.,  Pa.  .  I 

Potato  Culture. 
Martin,    Dr.    J.    Myers,    Mercersburg, 
Franklin  Co.,  Pa.  , 

Potato  Culture. 
Moore,  Hon.  Frank  N.,    North    Orwell, 
Bradford  Co.,  Pa. 
Potato  Culture.  j 

Northrup,  H.  W.,  Glenburn,  Lackawan- 
na Co.,  Pa. 
Potato  Culture. 
Richards,  Isaac,  Toughkenamon,  Chest- 
er Co.,  Pa. 
Potato  Culture. 
Thompson,  O.  D.,  Town  Hill,  Luzerne 
Co.,  Pa.  : 

Potato  Culture. 
Weidner,  A.  I.,  Arendsville,  Adams  Co., 

Pa. 
Potato  Culture. 

(Continued  on  page  18) 


PACK 

POTATOES 

IN  PAPER! 

IT'S  THE  WAY  OF 
MODERN 

MERCHANDISING 

Attractively  Printed  Paper 
Bags  Bring  Greater  Returns 
to  the  Grower. 

HAMMOND 
BETTERBAGS 

Combine  High  Grade  Printing, 
Strength  and  Quality 

HAMMOND 
BETTERBAGS 

Will  Sell  Your  Spuds  in  Style 


Hammond  Bag  & 
Paper  Co. 

WELLSBURG,  W.  VA. 

Bags  for 

Lime,  Limestone,  Fertilizer, 

Flour,  Feed  and  Potatoes 


Certified 

SEED 
POTATOES 

Complete  records  now  show  our 
certified  fields  have  produced  a 
good  yield  of  even  sized,  clean  seed. 
Considering  the  foundation  stock 
of  each  crop,  and  with  growers  at- 
tentive to  prescribed  cultural 
methods  and  storage  conditions,  we 
feel  confident  our  spring  shipments 
will  please  exacting  purchasers. 


MAINE 
Cobblers  —  Mountains 
Katahdins     —     Chippewas 

Leading  growers  are  now  mak- 
ing their  selections  of  particular 
crops.  Early  purchases  and  exports 
of  Katahdins  and  Chippewas  mdi- 
cate  an  active  market  on  the  m- 
creased  production. 

MICHIGAN 
Russets  —  Mountains 
These  varieties  will  undergo  a 
heavy  sort  due  to  unfavorable 
weather  late  in  the  growing  season 
and  supply  will  not  be  plentiful. 
Type  and  size  are  more  pleasing 
than  for  the  past  several  years  and 
shipping  tonnage  will  carry  usual 
high  quality. 

Dougherty  Seed  Growers 

Williamsport  Penna. 


18 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


December,  1940 


THE  SPIRIT  WHICH  KlEVAILS^^g 

(Continued  jrom  page  3) 
Another  paradoxical  picture  stares 
one  in  the  face.  There  are  not  enough 
blankets  to  go  around,  not  enough  chairs 
to  sit  on,  not  enough  milk  to  mamtain 
the  health  and  stamina  of  our  popula- 
tion, not  enough  rugs  to  walk  on,  not 
enough  of  any  of  the  vital  necessities 
^f  they  could  only  be  gotten  to  those 
who  need  them.  Here  is  a  wholly  un 
explored  field  waiting  for  a  Sir  Isaac 
Newton,  a  Charles  Darwin,  a  James 
Watt,  a  Christopher  Columbus. 

Too  much  evil,  too  much  injustice,  too 
much  lawlessness,  too  much  untruthful- 
ness, too  much  hate,  too  much  do  unto 
others,  but  do  it  first." 

What  a  little  it  would  take  to  place 
these  items  on  the  credit  side  of  the  led- 
ger .  just  one  word  often  would 
Change  a  lie  to  the  truth,  hate  to  love, 
injustice  to  justice. 

McGuffey  in  his  reader  Paraphras^^^^^ 
the  Fifth,  Sixth  and  Seventh  Chapters 
of  St.  Matthews  as  follows: 


The  Sermon  on  the  Mount 

"And  seeing  the  multitude,  he  went 
up  into  a  mountain:  and  when  he  was 
set,  his  disciples  came  unto  him.  Ana 
he  opened  his  mouth,  and  taught  them 
saying. 
Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit, 

For  their's  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
Blessed  are  they  that  mourn 

For  they  shall  be  comforted. 

Blessed  are  the  meek 

For  they  shall  inherit  the  earth. 
Blessed  are  they  which  do  hunger 
And  thirst  after  righteousness 
For  they  shall  obtain  mercy 
Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart 

For  they  shall  see  God. 
Blessed  are  the  peacemakers 

For  they  shall  be  called  the  Children 
of  God 
Blessed  are  they  which  are  persecuted 
for  righteousness  sake 
For  their's  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
Blessed  are  ye  when  men  shall  revile 
you  and  persecute  you 
And  say  all  manner  of  evil  against  you 
falsely  for  my  sake. 
Rejoice  and  be  exceedingly  glad. 
For  great  is  your  reward  in  heaven. 


Beware  of  false  prophets,  which  come 
to     you     in     sheep's     clothing, 
but  inwardly  they  are  ravening 
wolves.   Ye  shall  know  them  by 
their  fruits.  Do  men  gather  grapes 
of  thorns,  or  figs  or  thistles? 
Therefore,  all  things  whatsoever  ye 
would  that  men  should  do  to  you, 
do  ye  even  so  to  them;  for  this 
is  the  law  and  the  prophets. 
And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jesus  had 
ended  these  sayings  the  people 
were  astonished  at  His  doctrine; 
For  He  taught  them  as  one  hav- 
ing   authority,    and    not    as    the 
scribes. 
McGuffey's    version    of    the    Lord's 
Prayer: 

Our  Father  in  heaven 

We  hollow  Thy  name 
May  Thy  kingdom  holy 
On  earth  be  the  same 
Give  to  us  daily 

Our  portion  of  bread 
It  is  from  Thy  bounty 

That  all  must  be  fed. 
Forgive  our  transgressions 

And  teach  us  to  know 
The  humble  compassion 
That  pardons  each  foe 
Keep  us  from  temptation 
And  weakness  and  sin 
And  thine  be  the  glory 
Forever 

Amen. 


LECTURERS  and  ESSAYISTS 

(Continued  jrovfi  page  16) 
Comfort,  H.  W.,  Fallington.  ^ucks^Co., 

Potato  Culture. 
Commercial  Potato  Growing. 
Baker,  P.  S.,  State  College,  Center  Co., 

Pa.  ^^91^> 

Potatoes— General  Culture. 

Potatoes — Improvement. 
Mattern,  J.  A.,  Fleming,  Center  Co.,  Pa. 

Potato  Culture. 
Cherrington,  Ira  C,  Catawissa,  Colum- 
bia Co.,  Pa. 

Seed  Potatoes  &  Preparation  oi  tne 

Seed  Bed.  . 

Potato   Insects  &  Diseases   &   Their 

Control. 

Cooper,  H.  P.,  State  College,  Center  Co., 

Pa 
Potatoes— Varieties,  Cultures,  etc. 

(ContiniLed  in  next  issue) 


Hardie  Plus  Features  Are 
Like  the  Frosting  on  the  Cake 

#  The  plus  features  in  the  Hardie  1941  line  of  rov\^  sprayers  in- 
clude a  new  square  tubular  axle  easily  and  quickly  adjusted  to 
row  width  and  ground  clearance,  the  new  Hardie  ''Levelrite" 
boom  providing  quick  center  leveling  and  instant  raising  or 
lowering  of  nozzles  on  either  side,  the  new  Hardie  quick-clean- 
ing pressure  line  strainer,  and  many  other  valuable  advance- 
ments that  mean  more  profit  and  more  convenience  for  the 
grower  of  row  crops. 

Write  for  catalog  showing  many  models  and  sizes  with  engine 
drive,  motor  truck  take-off.  Tractor  Trailers  and  traction  op- 
erated for  spraying  2  to  10  rows.  The  Hardie  Mfg.  Company, 
Hudson,  Mich. 


This  new  4-row  Hardie  Tractor 
Trailer  is  specially  engineered 
and  built  for  use  with  all  makes 
of  standard  tractors.  Available 
in  different  sizes,  equipped  with 
150-gallon   or   200-gallon  steel 


tank  as  desired.  Many  other 
models  for  spraying  4  to  10 
rows.  Fully  streamlined.  Take- 
off shaft  equipped  with  safety 
guard. 


PUMPOlHAT  IS  COMPLETELY  LUBRICATED 


20 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


December,  1940 


Grading  Improves 

a'^%nfo 'cl  ?h'l  Potato  Grade  Labehn| 
Act  report  that  practically  all  marKeis 
ta  the^State   show  Potatoes  of  be^^ter 

^'^■^ft  ^%"  ^d"e^7ncf  lorPersylv^'anil 
Sa"oes'l  gSr"'han  in  former  years. 
In  commenting  on  this  marked  im- 
provement, Secretary  Light  stated  that 

\\  t'^ou,^  ctnclr  eS  actionTy 
iSs  SitiaflTand  thr^^^^ 
Association  working  with  the  Depart 
ment  of  Agriculture  aM  the  State  Col 
lege  Extension  Service.  He  jurtner 
declared  that  the  continuation  and  ex- 
rlnsion  of  this  cooperative  effort  to 
further  these  great  marketing  improve- 
mentf  will  do  much  to  strengthen  and 
^abilize  the  potato  industry  in  this 
State. 

Ppnnsvlvania  has  for  years  been  one 
of^thrpri^cipal  potato  Produ-ing  states 
and  with  the  Progress  being  made  m 
grading  and  labeling  this  State  s  pro 
ducts  Ire  meeting  with  constantly  in- 
creased demands. 


of  Markets  of  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture have  assisted  these  local  groups 
in  this  marketing  program. 

Numerous  reports  received  at  the  De- 
partment of  Agriculture  indicate  that 
the  reputation  of  Pennsylvania  potatoes 
is  improving  considerably  over  recent 
vears,  due  in  large  part  to  the  determ- 
ination of  Pennsylvania  potato  growers 
to  improve  their  market  quality  and  to 
their  cooperative  marketing  efforts. 

The   work  of  the  Federal-State  In- 
spectors from  the  State  Bureau  of  Mar- 
kets   has    increased    considerably    this 
season,  indicating  a  larger  volume  of 
properly  graded  Pennsylvania  potatoes 
is  being  marketed  than  in  any  previous 
year.  The  inspectors  report  consistently 
greater   grower   returns   for   the   well- 
Iraded  shipments  over  the  prices  being 
paid  for  "partly-graded"  stock  sold  to 
hucksters  or  local  buyers. 


Increase  Shown 

Manv  new  growers  in  important  coun- 
tie^  of  Pennsylvania,  realizing  that  the 
highest  market  returns  are  often  re- 
cefved  for  graded  potatoes  shipped  m 
from  other  states,  are  setting  up  coopera- 
tivf  grading  and  marketing  organiza- 
tions in  an  effort  to  improve  demands 
for  high  quality  Pennsylvania  potatoes 
for  sale  through  the  Association  for  the 
first  time  this  year. 

The  Association  has  sponsored  nu- 
merous potato  grading  demonstrations 
^nd  Grade  Supervisor  schools  during 
this  season  throughout  the  State  to  edu- 
cate these  Pennsylvania  producers  to 
?he  requirements  of  acceptable  market 
oualitv  The  extension  specialists  of 
State  College  and  officials  of  the  Bureau 


Define  Quantity 

As  a  result  of  numerous  inquiries 
received  by  the  Department  of  Agricul- 
[ure  f rom  growers  of  and  dealers  in  farm 
m-oducts  regarding  the  legal  quantity 
coSed  in  a  bushel,  a  further  explana- 
tion of  the  regulations  has  been  issued 
by  the  Department. 

In  selling  potatoes,  apples,  onions,  and 
other  fruits  and  vegetables  in  the  origi- 
nal standard  container,  the  legal  volume 
is  measured  by  cubic  volume  and  not 
by  weight.  This  change  was  made  by  the 
pLrage  of  the  Volume  Bushel  Bill  by 
?he  Legislature  in  1937,  which  specified 
that  only  after  the  contents  of  the  ori- 
linal  package  have  been  broken  must 
fhe  contentf  be  sold  by  weight  rather 
thin  by  volume.  It  is  further  stated  by 
Department  officials  that  in  the  sale  of 
apples  there  is  a  variation  in  the  weight 
of  a  full  bushel,  depending  upon  the 
variety  and  size  of  the  fruit.  Apples  will 
virv  in  weight  from  40  to  48  pounds 
Ilthough  thi  legal  weight  of  a  bushel 

in  this  State  is  45  pounds. 

In  answering  the  inquiry  of  what  con- 
stitutesT  legal  bushel,  the  Department 
explains  that  a  basket  containing  2^1 5a4^ 
cubic  inches,  or  32  quarts  of  dry  mea 
sure?  packed  level  full,  contains  a  legal 
bushel  of  fruit  or  vegetables  regardless 
of  the  weight. 


YOUR  EXTRA  PROFIT 

FROM  THE  USE  OF  A  BEAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 

WILL  PAY   FOR  IT 


3  CAPACITY  SIZES  OF  BEAN  GRADERS 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  BRUISING 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  CUTTING 

•  YOU  DON'T  LIKE  INACCURACY 
IN  YOUR  POTATO  GRADING 

..YOU  DON'T  GET  IT.. 

WITH  A   BEAN  RUBBER  SPOOL  GRADER 
OUR  CATALOG  SHOWS  YOUR  WAY  TO  PROFIT 

John  Bean  Mfg.  Co. 


LANSING 


MICHIGAN 


22 


THE  GUIDE  POST 


December,  1940 


RAY  D.  HEWES 

The  potato  industry  of  the  entire 
country  has  lost  a  leader.  One  whose 
frankness,  sincerity,  and  honesty,  whose 
devotion  and  loyalty  to  the  industry 
during  a  twenty-year  period,  uplifted  po- 
tato culture  throughout  the  nation  by  the 
improvement  of  agricultural  technique 
and  the  development  of  increasingly 
finer  seed  potatoes. 

Ray  Delmar  Hewes,  of  Presque  Isle, 
Maine,  Treasurer  and  Seed  Department 
Manager  of  Aroostook  Potato  Growers', 
Inc.,  and  authority  on  the  production  of 
seed  potatoes,  was  killed  almost  in- 
stantly when  accidentally  struck  by  a 
stray  bullet,  on  November  17th,  when 
returning  from  a  hunting  trip  at  Ash- 
land, Maine. 

The  tragedy  brought  to  a  close  the 
full  and  fruitful  life  of  a  proven  leader 
in  many  fields,  but  potato  growers, 
whose  advancement  and  uplift  traced 
directly  from  his  knowledge  and  lead- 
ership can  feel  most  keenly  the  great 
loss.  All  Pennsylvania  growers  do  not 
know  the  depth  of  his  foot-prints  in 
Pennsylvania  soil,  but  all  have  shared 
the  good  of  his  endeavors. 

Mr.  Hewes  was  not  only  concerned 
with  good  seed  for  better  potatoes  for 
the  nation;  he  was  interested  in  all  prob- 
lems touching  the  industry's  advance- 
ment. He  was  vitally  interested  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Association  marketing 
plan,  progress  of  which  he  followed 
monthly  in  the  GUIDE  POST,  to  which 
he  was  for  many  years  a  subscriber. 

Hosts  of  Pennsylvanians  mourn  his 
passing,  and  join  in  an  expression  of  deep 
sympathy  to  his  widow,  Mrs.  Esther 
Oilman  Hewes,  and  his  son,  Edgar. 


Association  Bag  Prices 

Prices  Quoted  are  Per  1000  Delivered 


Blue  Label, 
Red  Label, 
Economy  Pack 
Blue  Label, 
Blue  Label, 
Unclassified, 


15's  (2-wall) 
15's  (2-wall) 
15's  (2-wall) 
60's  (2-wall) 
60's  (3-wall) 


$18.00 
$17.50 
$17.00 
$45.50 
$48.75 
$38.50 


60's  (2-wall) 

The  above  prices  are  for  delivery  to 
any  point  in  Pennsylvania  and  include 
the  wire  loop  ties  and  the  commission  to 
the  Association. 


THE 


Annual  Meeting 


of  the 

Membership  of  the 
Association 

Will  be  held  in  Room  F 

FARM 

Show  Building 

Harrisburg,  Penna. 
on  Tuesday, 

January  21, 1941 

at  6:00  P.  M. 

As  a  portion  of 

an  interesting 

Annual  Program 

planned  for  the 

Association 

You  are  urged 
to  be  present. 

E.  B.  Bower, 
Secretary 


equit^leH 


COMPANY 

INCORPORATED 


♦Specialists  in  the  manufacture  of 

POTATO  SACKS 

and  All  Other  Types  of  Heavy  Duty 

Pasted  Bottom  Paper  Sacks 

♦Specialists  because  .  .  . 

We  operate  our  own  paper  mill,  and  control  every 
step  to  the  finished  paper  bag,  giving  Equitable  cus- 
tomers these  three  important  advantages:  uniform 
high  quality,  reUable  service,  and  economy  in  price. 
Our  art  and  research  departments  (a  gratis  service 
to  Equitable  customers)  assure  you  of  a  well  designed 
bag,    efficiently    suited    to    your    particular    needs. 

PROMPT    Deliveries 

RELIABLE  Quality 

ECONOMICAL  Prices 


4700  Thirty-first  Place,  Long  Island  City,  N.  Y. 
Paper  Mills  at  Orange,  Texas 


IRONASE 


Announces 


The  New  Convertible 

HI-SPEED  or  TWIN-ROW  Potato  Planter 

obtained  with  this  new  planter  because  lb  picKer 
aSnot")  are  equipp/with  the  famous  Ir^^^^^ 
improved  Multi-Way  adjustable  pickers.  Result  ^^^ 
lower  planting  cost  with  more  accurate  high  speed 
planting. 

TWIN-ROW— With  Staggered  Automatic  Feed 

^Convertible  to  Twin-Row  or  vice  versa  at  any  time 
this  planter  enables  the  grower  to  plant  more  closely 
and  obtain  larger  yields  Twin-Row  planting  is  ac- 
?omph  hed  at  normal  .speeds  by  applying  divided 
s3s,  shoes  and  exten  non  disc  bearings  to  the  new 
H°Speed  Planter.  Se^ds  are  planted  in  staggered 
positions  in  rows  4"  apart  at  desired  spacing. 

Write  for  your  copy  of  the  New  Hi-Speed  Planter  Bulletin 

A.  B.  FARQUHAR  CO.  Limited,  YORK  PA.