OCR Text |
Show (An Interview with T. H. Abell, Assist, ant Professor of Horticulture; Utah Agricultural College) During the past few years it has been brought to the attention of the farmers of Utah and Southern Idaho, that some of the best celery in the world can be raised in this section. Celery is one of the few crops whlcn is profitable enough to be raised 00, land where high priced water has to be applied. Heretofore, very little of tho celery of Utah and Idaho has found its way to outside markets. That which has been purchased by jobbers on the Pa, oific coast has very likely been sold as California celery along with other celery grown in that state. If our celery is to become famous, and the market for it increase, it must be sold under our own brand, and by our own organizations. In 1921 there was raised, about two hundred seventy-five acres of celery in Utah and Idaho. Being of a fine quality It found a ready market with California buyers. However, there is a good possibility pos-sibility of replacing this two hundred seventy-five acres of celery by about two thousand acres. A ready market will not be so easily found for this large quantity. The western jabbers .will reach a point where they will get enough to replace their shortages every year, and will not have use for more, even though it be of a superior quality to their own. Then our growers grow-ers will find themselvs with a surplus sur-plus of product and no market for It. Obviously measures must be taken which will avert, this condition. The proper kind of an organization is the only thing which will accomplish this. The celery growers of Utah have re. cently formed an organization and appointed ap-pointed a committee to investagat . market conditions. This is a start in the right direction and they are to be commended for it. The celery growets of Idaho should also get together and work m cooperation with the Utah growers as they have common interests. inter-ests. The organization should expand and widden in its scope as the celery acreage increases. If this is done, there will always be a market for the product, it will be sold under ths brand of the producers, and will become be-come known as the best celery in the world. , Every producer should also be familiar famil-iar with the advantages and disadvantages disadvan-tages of the different methods of celery cel-ery culture. The organization should take it upon itself to see that only seed from perfect plants Is used. Growers get from 2500 to 25,000 plants from an ounce of seed, so the amount of seed necessary will depend upon Us quality. As most growers prefer to raise their own seed they naturally will make every effort to produce ths best. There are several varieties of celery which are grown in this section. For the early crop the White Plume and the iGolden Self-bleaching varietlej are usually employed. For the lata crop the Giant Pascal and the "Utah" are most desirable, the latter being considered the better t the two. Tha .'Utah Celery'' Is popularly supposed to he a "sport" of the Giant Pascal This is undoubtedly the product which has given Utah and Idaho grown eel, ery such a good reputation since it ll crisp, white, not overlarge, not stringyt and has a sweetness not usually found In other varieties. With the natural conditions prerequisite prere-quisite to raising the best celery there Is no reason why we should no4 develop a market, by the proper kind of Investigating and advertising which will take care of tha futnr d vnlanment of tha industry. |