The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-04-07

M. F. Greeley in the North Dakota
Farmers Institute Annual: Potatoes
can be made one of the most profit
able side products of the farm; in fact,
so we'll are North Dakota soils and con-
ditions adapted for perfect potato
growing of the right kind that this in
dustry can, and in few instances is
being made speciality, and with most
satisfactory results.
In the vicinity of Fargo we find
number Of growers who ship as high
30 to $50 cars of potatoes each sea-
son. And as far west as Jamestown,
and north as far as Aneta and Park
River. fields of from twenty to forty
acres are not uncommon. AS far west
as Dickinson one very favorable year.
SO many planted potatoes, owing to a
boom in prices the previous year, that
no satisfactory market could be found
Tor the large crop grown, and the bust
ness was dropped like the traditional
hot potato" Right here, of course.
was the great mistake, and when we
proposed talking potatoes for few
minutes, only at a late Dickinson insti-
tute, a prominent citizen present adj
Vlsed not discussing the subject and
gave the above as the reason. II is
only too evident to the business farm
err that to follow potato growing, or
any other branch of farming, for that
matter. in the Dickinson way, could
result in but one thing-failure and
disgust.
10 make money in potato growing
one, must above all things stick to it.
II the farm labor, teams and other con.
ditions are such that ten, twenty or
forty acres OF potatoes work we'll with
the soil and labor rotation, then ten,
twenty or forty acres should be put in
every recurring spring. wholly regard
less OF prices. II any change is made
in the acreage and attention given it.
there should be more acres and better
attention after low prices rather than
Immediately after high prices. This
applies to almost any crop, but espe-
cially to potato growing.
We know of individual growers who
have taken money enough off of forty
acres of potatoes the past year to
make the business paying one if
they did not get shilling bushel for
the next two or three years. We
should never have our dish wrong side
| up for monument if We want to be
sure to get our share when it rains
| porridge.
Outside of favorable climate and
| soil and the great value of potatoes as
rotation in grain growing, there is
another and very substantial reason
why potato growing is safer thing
in North Dakota than in many other
states, and that is the great demand
springing up for North Dakota grown
potatoes for seed in the South.
! was not at all aware of the extent
of this feeling towards Dakota, partic-
ularly North Dakota, potatoes until
last year, when short trip through
the South and West convinced me that
We have a great field before us in this
line. At Greeley, Colo, perhaps the
liISeSt pOLdlO growing SSCllOn Ill tHe
world. we found that they not only
used Northern grown seed altogether,
but that the growers were just learn
ing that of all Northern grown seed,
that from North Dakota gave the best
| results. The difference in their favor
was so marked that not single grow
er We talked with, who had used
| them, would for moment think Of
using any other kind. We found this
same feeling in Missouri, and have
heard of it at other points. We might
| say right here that this coming North
| for potato seed is no fad; it is a con
dition," as Mr.. Cleveland says, land
| not theory"
The Missouri experiment station
started out some three years ago to
| prove that by growing hardy varieties
| and selecting the best keepers and
keeping them carefully, the objections
to Southern seed might be overcome,
and the result is declaration that
Northern grown seed has given fully
so per cent better results, both in
quantity and quality. T. B. Terry, the
famous Ohio potato grower, who has
shipped much seed to the South. one
year increased his own yield nearly
-~~~~~~~~~~~~>~
FLORENCE CRiTTENDEN HOME.