52 THE AMERICAN POTATO JOURNAL

42. Pinn, A. J. and Davis, G. de V. I935. Potatoes and potash. Bene- ficial effect on sprouting. Agr. Gaz. N. S. Wales 45 : i i - i2 .

43. Ramsay, J. T. 1935. M~anurial trials on potatoes. Results for I934-'35. Jour. Dept. Agr. Victoria 33:492-495 �9

44. Rohde, G. I935. The r61e of potash in plant metabolism with special reference to the symptoms of potash starvation on potatoes. Ernahr. Pflanze 31:237-243.

45. Schmitt, L. I935. Die volkswirtschaftliche bedeutung der planmassigen untersuchungen der bodenreaktion. Ergebn. Agrikulturchemie 3( I934) : 71-86.

46. Schreven, D. A. v. i934. Calcium deficiency as the cause of medullary necrosis of potato tubers. Tijdschr. Plantenz 40:225-255.

47. Sekera, F. 1935. Die durchfuhrung und auswertung des mikro- dungungsversuches. (2.mitteilung). Phosphorsaure 5:26I-3II-

48. Sherard, H. I935. The comparative value of calcium cyanamid and ammonium sulphate on the yield of Irish potatoes on Bladen fine sand. Amer. Potato Jour. 12:86-9o.

49. Tennberg, F. 1935. Perunan lannoituksesta paikallisten lannoitus- kokeiden tulosten perusteela. Valt. Maatalouskoet. Julkais. p. 7I :49.

50. Werner, H. O. I935. The effect of temperature, photoperiod, and nitrogen level upon tuberization in the potato. Amer. Potato Jour. i2:274-280.

E F F O R T S TO S T A B I L I Z E T t t E P O T A T O I N D U S T R Y IN CANADA

JOHN TUCKER

Central Experimental Farms, Ottawa, Canada

T I l E NATURAL PRODUCTS MARKETING ACT

The Act was assented to on July 3, 1984. This legislation is designed to deal with interprovincial and export trade and provides permissive powers which, when exercised, become law. These pow- ers are centered in the Governor in Council, the Minister administer- ing the Act, a Dominion Marketing Board and local boards which may be created under the Act. The Dominion Board is created to advise the Minister of Agriculture in the administration of the Act. The powers conferred by the legislation are granted to the Dominion Board and the Board is empowered to delegate these powers to local boards set up by producers or persons engaged in market ing, or by the two groups jointly.

A local board cannot engage in marketing as the powers con- ferred provide only for the regulation of marketing; nor can it restrict production or fix prices. It may, however, designate an agency through which the products may be marketed. In practice, the agencies designated have been the existing agencies that are engaged in marketing. It has the authority to regulate the time and place at which the product may be marketed and the quantity, grade or quality that may go forward to any market at any time.

THE AMERICAN POTATO JOURNAL 53

Provincial marke t ing within a province is under the jurisdict ion of the p rov ince and in order tha t a p roduc t m a y be the subject of regula t ions under the Na tu ra l P roduc t s Act, par t of it mus t move to expor t t rade or outside the province of product ion. Most of the provinces have passed enabl ing legislation and where this has been proclaimed, a scheme for the regulation of interprovincial trade, m a y be given addit ional powers under the Federa l Act.

T h e keynote of the Federa l legislation is local adminis t ra t ion and control ; the local board mus t be elected by the industry. The Domin ion Board acts in a superv i sory capacity, but can wi thdraw the powers given the local board if they are not used in a fair and equitable manner .

TItE ~ASTERN CANADA POTATO MARKETING SCHEME

The ins t rument for the creat ion of a local board is called a " scheme." The peti t ion for a scheme mus t coine f rom a represen ta - t ive group engaged in the product ion or m a r k e t i n g of the product . The Domin ion Board rev iews the scheme and amends it if neces- sary to conform with the requ i rements of the legislation. I t may then be publ ished and hear ings are held if necessary and the scheme again reviewed if any new sugges t ions are incorporated. The scheme m a y then he r ecommended to the Minister who may call for a vo te to ascer ta in the measure of suppor t back of the scheme, or may for- ward it direct to the Governor in Council for final approval .

As a result of the bumper crop of ~934, there was an increase of over eight million bushels of pota toes in the provinces of Prince E d w a r d Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontar io, as com- pared with the ] 933 crop and, lacking organizat ion, the g rowers were confronted with a demoral ized m arke t and inadequate re turns for their potatoes. Meet ings of producers and dealers were held at central points t h roughou t the producing areas and the plan for a pota to m a r k e t i n g scheme was endorsed. The scheme was launched under the title of The Eas t e rn Canada Pota to Marke t ing Scheme and was made effective in the four provinces on J a n u a r y 18, 1935. On AFril 30th, the scheme was amended to include the Province of Quebec.

Unde r the scheme it was expected that order ly marke t ing would be achieved pr imar i ly t h rough control of the grades of pota toes enter ing the commercia l channels of trade. Po ta toes of inferior grades would not be al lowed to glut the marke ts . Cons ignmen t

54 THE AMERICAN POTATO JOURNAL

selling which contr ibuted largely to the price demoral izat ion would be ordered discontinued and sales would have to be made under firm contracts. The scheme also provided for the development of export markets and the encouragement of domestic consumption.

Large stocks were stored by dealers in January in anticipation of improved prices result ing from the action of the local pota to board, but in spite of this the fol lowing improvements in prices paid to the growers , were registered after one month 's opera t ions :

Province January 31, I 9 3 5 February, 1935

Ontario (per 90 lb. bag) I5-I7 cents 35-4o cents

New Brunswick (per I65 lb.)

Prince Edward Island, Four larg- est dealers' reports (per bushel 60 lbs.)

Nova Scotia (barrels for export, including barrels) Per 90 lb. bag

17-2o cents

8-1o cents

75 cents 22 cents

35-45 cents

13-14 cents

$I.00 30 cents

The movemen t remained normal and the improved prices were maintained for a considerable time. The potato starch factories mater ial ly assisted by operat ing day and night, large quanti t ies of potatoes were used for stock feed, but toward the end of the sea- son it was obvious to many of the growers located in the Eas te rn districts far removed from the larger consuming centers, tha t there would be no possibil i ty of disposing of their crops under conditions then prevai l ing and some changes had to be made in regard to consignment selling. The 'scheme in full operat ion undoubted ly had a ve ry s teadying influence on the markets and it would have been even more beneficial had it been star ted at the beginning of the market ing season instead of toward the end of January.

The acreage of potatoes in Canada in 1935 was the smallest planted in 20 years. The yields were also below average because of seasonal conditions. As a result of the exceptional ly short crop harvested and the fact that the ruling prices are considered satis- factory to both producers and consumers, the Pota to Board ha~ decided that it is not expedient for it to function dur ing the 1935-'36 season.

THE AMERICAN POTATO JOURNAL 55

On the Pacific Coast, (the only other area which showed ant iilterest in the marketing of potatoes under the Local Board scheme), a local board was approved in February, 1935, to administer the British Columbia (Interior) Vegetable Marketing Scheme. Prior to the submission of the scheme to the Dominion Marketing Board, the Provincial Marketing Board of British Columbia adopted a scheme to regulate the marketing, within the province, of vegetables produced in the coastal area. The Federal scheme was put into effect to supplement the Provincial scheme; to regulate the mar- keting of vegetables (potatoes only at that time) produced in the described area, that may be exported from the Province of British Columbia, and to grant authority for the collection of tolls and charges. The scheme appears to have worked quite satisfactorily there last season and is being continued again this season. This is now the only potato marketing scheme in effect under the Natural Products Marketing Act, in Canada; however, the machinery is ready, if called upon, to function again in Eastern Canada. The improved grades that were recommended by the Board are being maintained permanently.