.3 beef cattle; very few pigs are raised; a few farmers grow an acre or 10 of turnips for the early fall market to bring in some ready cash. The {.eage of grain has increased greatly, but potatoes are definitely the .j in cash crop.

, This year, 1972-73, has been a good one for the farmers with .17: atoes bringing the best prices in many years, and beef and pork also ' y high. Economically it has been a good year for the farm industry, if,» consequently for all other types of business on the Island. Many of have seen the change over from horse-drawn machinery to mechanical ,ctors, combines, potato harvesters, etc. This, along with all the other

ldern equipment around the farm has truly revolutionized farm life.

{i ; POTATO GROWING

s nd since the late 1700’s, it was not until about 1915 that the seed

“ Although small plots of potatoes were grown on Prince Edward >6. ato industry came to the forefront in this province.

It was in Augustine Cove that the late John B. and Edward Mac- yen pioneered in the early stages of potato production, and much of fame as a potato-growing province can be attributed to the early

rts of these two men. (See story on John B. MacFadyen elsewhere his book.)

. In those early days of farming horses were used in all types of 3: hlnery employed in the producing of crops. Many farmers imported

sles from Western Canada. These would be brought in by train in ,_ ots.

2. One of the greatest problems to potato farmers in those early days “that of transportation. Today, a half century later, it is still a con- , :‘j. Ious issue, but in a much different way.

‘ As there were no motorized vehicles for hauling, all products had 7e moved by horse-drawn vehicles to the nearest rail centres of Cape erse or Albany. Considerable produce was shipped by water from 7h port of Victoria. Due to these conditions, farmers were handicapped lesposing of their crop, and it was not until the inauguration of the :e y service in Bordon in 1917, and the widening of the railway gauge 5 ‘ the potato industry began to expand.

.. This area soon became a very important centre in the potato indus- : f01: the following reasons: the foresight of the early promoters, the fngus1sam and initiative of the farmers and the suitability of the soil '0 1‘0“?ng potatoes.

In 1926 Edward MacFadyen had a large storage warehouse built at

t9“ Siding which was capable of holding a crop of about one hundred m, fifty (150) acres.

{I That Augustine Cove is a prosperous potato-growing district is , need by the presence of many large potato houses in the community. f e Warehouses are owned by: Gerald Murray, George Murphy, Eldon Gordon Dawson, Clair Carruthers, Eldon MacWilliams, Elmer and

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