The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-13
10000 ACRES
OF POTATOES
READY To DIG
Spnd Crop in Vicinity of
Shawnee Will Reach.
ONE MILLION BUSHELS
Yield Will be Greatest in the
History of the Patch.
ONE MILLION BUSHELS

cuthrie, O. T, June 12.-No crop has
sprung into popular favor as quickly as
the early potato crop. Three years ago
Oklahoma exported 10 potatoes-in fact,
much money was sent out Of the terri
tory for imported potatoes. Potatoes had
been grown ever since the opening OF the
territory 10 settlement, but IN smah
patches and with varying success. Some
who planted early succeeded in harvest
ing a good crop-provided he selected
good seed and of the proper variety. IT
fook wears to learn the three essentials,
VIZ: When TO plant, where to get the
seed potatoes, and what varieties.
when these essentials were learned, po-
tato growing took a boom. Ihe ulfne
10 15aant. so. experience has taught Is IN
February-as early as possible. Rich
sandy loan is best, but any good rich
ground is suitable. The seed must come
from the Minnesota is the favorite
place. The Early Triumph is the variety
that has done best.
Three years ago several carloads Of
potatoes were shipped out Of the North
Canadian valley from near Shawnee.
The growers struck it rich. The next
year the acreage had greatly increased
Last year It had grown into such prolni-
nence as to be factor in the potato mar
ket. This year the potato growers asso-
citation OF the North Canadian valley IS
doing business on its own account defy
ing the potato trust and handling its
crop. The business has spread until now
II reaches from Oklahoma City to Shaw
nee. not of course. taking all Of the avail
able valley lands between the two places.
bat occupying enough Of it to produce at
least a million bushels of potatoes.
This years crop is now being harvested.
II is estimated that 10000 acres have been
planted, fields varying from ten 10 800
acres The poorest crop is showing
100 bushel per acre, while many claim
Yields of 125 bushels. 1t is asserted that
one field Of 10 acres near Spencer is
showing yield Of l5O bushels, while from
Pottawatonlie county comes a report
that one field viii probably yield 200
bushels. One thing is now certain and
that is that the yield viii exceed an aver
age of 100 bushels per acre The first
car was sold for sixty cents per bushel
and sixty-two and a half cents is now the
ruling price.
As previously mentioned, rich ground,
and good seed potatoes are requisites
The seed potatoes cost about $1.25 per
bushel They are put in with a planter
and five or six acres day is about the
speed made. Eight bushels are required
20 plant an acre. Including the seed,
plowiug. narrowing, planting and culti-
waiting costs about S13.75 per acre. The
digging is done with a machine 10 which
four horses are attached. Perhaps dol
lar an acre will cover the cost Of dig
gihg The picking and sack;ng costs four
cents a busheI and the sacks cost about
three cents a bushel. 1t can thus be seen
that with 100 bushels per acre the cost Of
production is twenty-five cents bushel.
ready 10 be hauled to market. The cost
of transportation to the nearest railway
siding depends, Of course, upon the dis
tance
There Is profit in the crop al forty cents
and at sixty cents the profit 100 per cent
where land rentals are placed at eight
dollars an acre
The Oklahoma potatoes get into market
twenty days ahead of the Kaw valley po-
tatoes. FIVE days ahead Of the Fort Smith
field and about fifteen days after the
Texas potatoes are on the market
A few growers plant a late crop. hut
there is no certainty about the late crop.
II may make an enormous yield. but it is
more likely TO turn out bad. If July is
moist ana the crop gets 4 good start.
the late crop may he good. but If July is
dry. and hot. the crop IS a failure.