Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-04-18
MONEY IN POTATOES.

MONEY IN POTATOES.
Chance to secure an Immense starcl
Plant II the Potatoes can be
Raised.
J.J. Guthrie, living three miles casi
OF Rocky Ford, is among those OF oui
farmers who have proved that potatoes
can be successfully grown in the Arkan'
sas valley. Last Saturday he had on
| our streets q wagon load Of his product
! which attracted much attention by reason
Of the sizs and general beauty of the po-
tatoes. The fine crop he WIS then mark
citing WAS planted July LIST. He prefers
10 plant about June Goth but Last year
the shortage Of water prevented planting
at the time desired However the late
planting did not prevent very satisfac-
ground well before planting and then
gives 40 more irrigation until the pots-
toes are in bloom. He says never food
the ground after planting. Never let the
ground get dry but keep the soil moist
By as frequent waterings o. may be
necessary. In the matter Of irrigation
.Mr. Guthrie says TINT common sense is .
most important element. Every farmer
should study the soil and other condi-
tions OF his farm and not blindly follow
any other mans methods. Mr.. Guthrie
thinks that common sense and observa-
ton are as necessary as water In potato
growing. Seed is also important. He
grows only the Burbank Seeding, having
had failures with other varieties. For
seed has used the smaller potatoes, in
some cases cutting of the top when there
is too many eyes. While having good
success with small potatoes he does not
recommend them for planting, preferring
the medium sized, which he cuts accord
ing to size. After planting he harrows
the ground level and cultivates until in
bloom. Then with a one-horse shovel
plow he makes furrow midway between
rows through which he runs the water
for irrigation. In this way no water is
run close to the plants but they are
thoroughly watered by sub-lrigation.
No waste water is allowed TO stand in
the burrows, allowing only 30 much to
run as will be readily absorbed by the
soil As soil differs greatly in different
localities close attention should be given
70 irrigation. Two years ago Mr.. 9th
rie's crop was over 800 bushels to the
acre. This year he will plant 8 acres.
the Experiment Station and the Colo
RADIO Land & Water Co., of Ordway,
should encourage Rocky Ford farmers
to go largely into potato growing. That
it can be made 9 success has been proven.
Each farmer may have to do some ex-
perimenting TO find out the best methods
adapted to his particular soil, but that
potato raising can be made one of the
profitable branches Of Arkansas valley
farming il no longer questionable mat
ter.
Farmers Of the Rocky Ford country
have Just now an incentive to engage
in this branch of farming such as NOT
often offered. Eastern parties are
seekings location for an immense
plant for the manufacture of the
various products Of the potato, the lead
in article being starch. The parties pre-
fer to locate on the line Of the Santa Fe
railroad il they can find point whore 8
keep the plant running. Their demands
arc not small. They will have capacity
of {. 200 bushels of potatoes per day. Il
this demand should exist for six monthi
in the year here would be a market fol
almost one million bushels of potatoes
II the average yield per acre was only
zoo bufhels there would be use for about
5000 acres for potato culture. Suppose
again that 10 cents per bushel was OBJ
tanned for the potatoes there would b,
an income Of $50 per acre, and theil
growing quite profitable at that figure
That the location OF such starch factor.
could be secured at Rocky Ford just nov
il not to be expected, but il our farmer
will very generally add potato growini
to their list Of crops such progress cal
be made in that line Of agricultur
as shall in a few years cause such larg
establishments to seek location in thi
portion of the Arkansas valley.