Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-12
THE IRISH POTATO IN TEXAS.


bureau of Texas there was raised in this
state in 1889 651, 749 bushels of Irish pota-
toes, the selling value of which was $780,
732. We have no figures for 1890, but the
quantity raised in that year was evidently
considerable larger than in the year preced-
ing.
This is certainly a small showing for a
state as large as Texas, and especially for
OF IN which the Irish potato succeeds SO
extremely well as here, but Commissioner
Foster explains it all by saying: lowing
TO the inability of preserving them for any
considerable length Of time in this climate,
The production Of Irish potatoes for the gen.
eral market IS not undertaken az all. The
local markets are supplied with them when
the crop first natures. but beyond this their
production IS ad .usted to the demands Of
the farm on which they are cultivated"
Further on we shall offer a suggestion
which If adopted, will, we think, entirely
do away with that complained Of inability
to preserve Irish potatoes for any consider
cole length OF tine in this climate.
The average yield Of tho Irish potato
crop in Teas for 1859 good, bad and indif-
ferent crops summed toge-her) was l04
bushels 10 the acre. Running in the two
preceding seasons the average for the three
years was = little over one hundred and six
and 4 hulI IC65G) bushels TO the acre,
while the average yield for all the United
States was only little over eighty-seven
1,-.a1 CHI +ln 90
,ir.d in Texas to be largely above the gen
eral average. But this plan Of averaging
gives orc no Kind of correct idea OF a coun-
try capabilities. Il is simply a drawback
on goo8 culture and management. The
average yield for Texas, of the Irish potato
under good culture, may be safely set at
some figure between three aud four hun
GreG bushels 10 the acre.
While very large per cent Of Texas
lands are emiue4t.y stated - the growth OF
Irish potatoes. there are other advantages
here which enable US 10 produce the crop
It Ia. less cost than cha,ucteri1cs It's pro-
dlciiou IL any Of The sg-oa.ied potatoe states
North, and ii Tie same time produce an en-
tirely better articl, One Of these advan-
t.ecs IS found in the fact that With Us The
Irl..l potato IS suhJec: 10 few il any Of the
diseases peculiar 10 il a the North, and
another lof special importaace) is found in
our entire exemption from ravagcs OF the
Colorado po.a-o beetle At the North the
production If nish potatoes involves war
10 the knife through every season against
this incouig!b!e potato pest, but it has
never yet appeared here and never can. AL
wcl-inforucl cn,omologists are now
agreed that It is climatically barred from
the lover South. Surely the Northern
potato grower who through near quarter
century past has annually expended his
money for Paris green and London purple
in which 10 fight, bleed and die in hand to
hand contest with the Colorado potato
beetle. cannot De slow to recognize the
advantages presented by a superior potato
Welding country where there are no insect
enemies whuteycr to trouble his crop.
But. says one what would we do with
our Irish potatoes after we mad pro-
duced them, provided we should under
take to produce them on more extensive
scale than heretofore.
Sell ttem.
There is always a fair demaad for good
Irish potatoes As truck farmers we
could ship them 10 an early market at
the North. We now have railroad facil-
tiles sufficient to enable Us to 10 this easy
enough. Immense quantities might be
sold in this way through period Of Al
least two months. Our surplus, after the
Northern truck market had closed its doors
against Us, could be sold III Texas and other
Southern states.
OF course, Texans would use Texas
grown Irish potatoes were they here 10 be
used We could not help using them, for
tho Texas product would be able to down
al distant competition. Under the old
MANAGEMENT the Texas potatoes are not
here. however, so we send off and buy our
supplies from points a thousand miles or
more away, paying a. round sum to the
common carriers for bringing them to US.
The quantity Of irish potatoes consumed in
Texas ''ouJ of home potato season. SO
called. IS immensc-enough ITO make
Turning pay" in almost any other state of
the Union did they all come from one state,
and even did that state contiae her agri-
cultural operations entirely to the produc-
ton Of Irish potatoes. We are great Irish
potato eaters here, and Texas Is wonder
fully large.
And really there IS no kind OF good ex-
cuse for sending away for our Irish pota-
toes-it is simply pouring immense amounts
Of money into the Golfers OF some other
people for an article which Texas could
produce At horne, and do il with more ease,
and more profit. than admits of its produc-
ton in the distant regions we are patroniz-
ing.
But. according to Commissioner Foster,
Irish potatoes cannot be preserved for any
length of time in this climate.
And row we find ourself at the proper
place for Offering the suggestion promised
a. the opening Of this article
Half dozen years ago the people of
South Alabama thought of keeping Irish
potatoes any considerable length of time
just about as Texans appear to be thinking
OF it to-day. but the Alab2mians are now
getting bravely over that kind of notion
They are finding that they can keep their
early spring potatoes in good condition on
to and through the next winter, if they de-
sire TO do SO. y pioneer in this potato
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